Tennessee's senior point guard Zakai Zeigler's every step at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday brought back memories. It was a mix of both good and not-so-good ones. Two years ago, when the Vols came to New York for the Sweet 16 against Florida Atlantic, Zeigler was just a couple of weeks removed from having surgery to repair a torn ACL.

Zeigler's Return to Madison Square Garden - A Tale of Triumph and Struggle

Zeigler's Freshman Experience at Madison Square Garden

In December 2021, as a freshman, Zeigler was on the floor at Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic. He came off the bench and scored nine points, with two rebounds, an assist and a steal in 29 minutes. However, the team suffered an ugly 57-52 overtime loss to Texas Tech.This experience was just the beginning of Zeigler's journey at the famous arena. It set the stage for what was to come in the following years.

Zeigler's Injury and Recovery

Fifteen months later, during Tennessee's final home game of the regular season, Zeigler's sophomore season came to an end with a torn ACL. He had to undergo surgery and was away from the team. But the Vols went on to beat Louisiana and Duke in Orlando during the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament. A week later, Zeigler rejoined his teammates for the East Regional semifinal in New York.This period of recovery was a tough one for Zeigler, but his determination and the support of his team and family kept him going.

Zeigler's Senior Season and Recent Success

This season, Zeigler has been the front man for the Tennessee team. With a 9-0 start, the program is having its best start since winning nine straight to start the 2000-01 season. Zeigler is averaging 12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a team-high 33.2 minutes per game.His performance in the Jimmy V Classic against Miami was outstanding. He scored 13 points, had nine assists and grabbed five rebounds, leading the No. 1 team in college basketball to a 75-62 win.

Zeigler's Thoughts and Emotions

Zeigler has always been a fighter. His mom always told him to never give up, and he has taken that to heart. "It's been a tough journey," he said. "But everything is part of God's plan. All the ups and downs in life, I'm just thankful to be in the position I'm in today."On Tuesday night, in front of his friends and family, Zeigler got to star on the stage at Madison Square Garden. He left town with good memories, knowing that he had achieved something special. "Being able to come back here and get a win in front of a lot of hometown friends and family was really meaningful for me," he said.