Tennessee maintained control during the game’s final 20 minutes, preventing Kentucky from closing the gap. By halftime, Tennessee held a 15-point lead, and despite the strong Kentucky presence in the crowd rallying behind the Wildcats, Zeigler and the Vols consistently responded with crucial plays to silence the opposing fans.

“There are a lot of talented point guards who can manage a game effectively,” Mashack stated. “But the way Z plays, his defense, his ability to navigate screens, and his offensive control … it’s on another level.”

A defining moment of Tennessee’s performance came with just over 10 minutes remaining. As expected, Zeigler was at the center of it. With Kentucky narrowing the margin to 12 points, Chaz Lanier aggressively drove to the basket but missed, hitting the floor hard. Fortunately, Okpara was in the right position to score on the putback. Lanier quickly recovered, deflecting Kentucky’s outlet pass as they attempted a fast break. The ball landed in Zeigler’s hands, and he promptly drained a three-pointer, extending Tennessee’s lead to 17 and effectively putting the game out of reach.

“That was unbelievable,” Milicic remarked. “That was the dagger.”

Zeigler’s final stats reflected his dominant play: 18 points, 10 assists, and only two turnovers, with one occurring late when the game was already decided. His performance brought Tennessee closer than ever to a historic achievement—securing the program’s first trip to the Final Four. Each season under Zeigler’s leadership had seen the Vols progress further, from the second round in his freshman year to the Sweet 16 as a sophomore, and a heartbreaking Elite Eight loss to Purdue the previous season. Now, he has an opportunity for redemption in Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup and a potential trip to San Antonio. Regardless of the outcome, Zeigler’s impact as one of the nation’s top point guards was on full display.

“He’s the best point guard Tennessee has ever had,” assistant coach Rod Clark declared.