Zakai Zeigler

Tennessee's Igor Milicic Jr. sits on the bench in the closing minutes of the second half in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Houston Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tennessee’s streak of falling short of Final Four continues as shooting woes prove insurmountable

Tennessee never saw the NCAA Midwest Region final against Houston unfolding the way it did. The Volunteers missed 19 of their first 22 shots and scored just eight points in the first 15 minutes of their 69-50 loss.
 
Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson holds the Midwest Region championship trophy after defeating Tennessee in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Houston’s defense carries Cougars into 7th Final Four with 69-50 March Madness win over Tennessee

 
Purdue's Braden Smith (3) looks to the basket as Houston's Mylik Wilson (8) defends during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Houston and Tennessee will match elite defenses in their bids to reach the Final Four

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) celebrates with Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey (11) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UCLA, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey is a sixth man in name only. His coach and teammates consider him a star

 
Auburn center Dylan Cardwell celebrates a win against Michigan after the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Top-seeded Auburn rallies in 2nd half to beat Michigan

 

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Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler (5) heads to the basket past Kentucky's Koby Brea, center, and Amari Williams, right, during the second half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament Friday, March 28, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Tennessee is heading back to the Elite Eight as defense clamps down in 78-65 win over Kentucky

 
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) gestures towards his teammates bench during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UCLA, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Kentucky and Tennessee ready for 3rd meeting this season as they seek Elite Eight berth

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) celebrates with Tennessee guard Jordan Gainey (11) during the second half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament against UCLA, Sunday, March 23, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Chaz Lanier making most of his only shot at March Madness with No. 2 seed Tennessee

 
Houston guard Milos Uzan (7) dives for a loose ball against Gonzaga forward Emmanuel Innocenti during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Wichita, Kan. (AP Photo/Travis Heying)

No. 1 seed Houston holds off Gonzaga comeback

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) celebrates scoring against UCLA during the first half in the second round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Tennessee is March Madness dancing to program-best 3rd straight Sweet 16 with 67-58 win over UCLA

 
Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) chases a loose ball against Wofford during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Not 1 but 2: Tennessee has pair of nation’s top defenders for March Madness

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) drives against Wofford center Kyler Filewich (14) during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Chaz Lanier and No. 2 seed Tennessee breeze past No. 15 seed Wofford 77-62 in March Madness

 
McNeese State guard Brandon Murray (23) takes a shot over Clemson defenders during the first half in the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 20, 2025, in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

No. 12 seed McNeese holds off Clemson to earn first March Madness victory

 
Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) shoots a layup against LSU forward Corey Chest (11) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Peter Forest, File)

Johni Broome of Auburn, Cooper Flagg of Duke unanimous picks to lead the AP All-America team

 
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) celebrates after a basket against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Zakai Zeigler eager to finish his March Madness tenure getting the Vols to their 1st Final Four

 
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) celebrates after a basket against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the semifinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

No. 8 Tennessee downs No. 3 Auburn 70-65 to reach SEC Tournament championship game

 
Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) and head coach Bruce Pearl walk off the court after losing to Alabama in overtime in an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

SEC coaches pick Auburn’s Johni Broome as player of the year and Bruce Pearl as coach of the year

 
Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) is congratulated by Chaz Lanier after Mashack scored the winning three-point basket as time expired in the second half to give Tennessee a 79-76 win against Alabama in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

Jahmai Mashack hits long 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift No. 5 Tennessee past No. 6 Alabama, 79-76

 
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) shoots against LSU guard Jordan Sears (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Baton Rouge, La., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)

Zeigler scores 17 and No. 5 Tennessee overcomes LSU’s strong defense in a 65-59 victory

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) makes a basket over Texas A&M forward Solomon Washington (9) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

Chaz Lanier leads No. 6 Tennessee to 77-69 victory at No. 7 Texas

 

Zeigler scores 22 to rally No. 5 Tennessee over Vanderbilt 81-76

 
Kentucky's Ansley Almonor (15) shoots while defended by Tennessee's Jordan Gainey, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Tuesday, Feb.11, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

Almonor and Oweh score 13 points each as No. 15 Kentucky beats No. 5 Tennessee 75-64

 
Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler (5) drives against Kentucky guard Koby Brea (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Knee injury sidelines Zeigler for No. 8 Tennessee against No. 5 Florida

 
Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) reacts after scoring a basket during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

No. 1 Auburn slips past No. 6 Tennessee 53-51 and extends its winning streak to 11 games

 
Alabama's Jarin Stevenson (15) drives on Kentucky's Jaxson Robinson, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

No. 4 Alabama downs No. 8 Kentucky 102-97

 
Vanderbilt guard Jason Edwards, right, hugs teammate guard AJ Hoggard, left, after the team's win against Tennessee as fans storm the court after an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Jason Edwards scores 18 points as Vanderbilt holds off No. 6 Tennessee 76-75

 
Iowa State guard Curtis Jones shoots over Kansas guard Zeke Mayo, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

No. 2 Iowa St gets win over No. 9 Kansas

 
Tennessee forward Cade Phillips (12) dunks over Georgia guard Blue Cain during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

No. 6 Tennessee overcomes slow start and beats No. 23 Georgia 74-56 in SEC matchup

 
Alabama guard Mark Sears (1) and teammate Aden Holloway (2) react toward the student section of Texas A&M after a win in an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

No. 5 Alabama beats No. 10 Texas A&M for 8th straight win

 
Tennessee guard Jahmai Mashack (15) puts up a shot against Texas forward Arthur Kaluma (6) during the first half an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Michael Thomas)

Zeigler and No. 1 Tennessee recover from blowout and pull away late for 74-70 win at Texas

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) drives against Arkansas forward Adou Thiero (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Chaz Lanier of Tennessee is the AP men’s college basketball player of the week

 
Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier (2) drives against Arkansas forward Adou Thiero (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

No. 1 Tennessee beats No. 23 Arkansas 76-52 to match best start in program history

 
Kentucky's Koby Brea (4) celebrates his 3-point shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Florida in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/James Crisp)

No. 10 Kentucky takes down No. 6 Florida 106-100

 
Norfolk State guard Sin'Cere McMahon (13) has the ball knocked away as he's defended by Tennessee guards Zakai Zeigler (5) and Bishop Boswell (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

Chaz Lanier scores 24 to lead No. 1 Tennessee over Norfolk State 67-52

 
Kansas guard Dajuan Harris Jr. (3) looks to shoot under pressure from West Virginia guard KJ Tenner, center, and center Eduardo Andre (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Javon Small hits go-ahead FT with 1.8 seconds left, sending West Virginia to 62-61 win over No. 7 KU

 
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