It could be a changing of the guards - literally - in the Tennessee basketball record books on Friday night. And it's one that involves a pretty important setting.
According to Tennessee Athletics, guard Zakai Zeigler can pass former Tennessee guard Bert Bertelkamp on Friday night for the most assists in the NCAA tournament in program history. Zeigler, who has 24, needs just four more assists to pass the Vol Radio Network commentator for most in tournament history.
Bertelkamp played for the Vols from 1976-1980. During that stretch Tennessee made the NCAA tournament three times: 1976-77 under Ray Mears, and 1978-79 and 1979-80 under Don DeVoe. Bertelkamp's contribution in the 1977 tournament was modest, just four points and no assists in one game. However, it was during his senior year where he had a significant impact in the tournament. He had 24 assists over two games in the 1980 tournament, including 16 in Tennessee's second round loss to Maryland.
So far this season Zeigler has 204 assists and 6.0 assists per game, both of which are career highs. Obviously, Zeigler lost the end of his 2022-23 season with a torn ACL suffered against Arkansas on February 28, but his average per game is still higher this season. He's seeing the court at a high level and has been a massive part of why Tennessee has a legitimate look at the school's first ever Final Four appearance.
It would be fitting if he can etch his name into the school record book for what he's done so well this season. Tennessee fans just hope that assist total turns out to be a huge number that stretches over another four games.
More must-reads: