Records are made to be broken, and there’s no real shock about the Tennessee Basketball records that Zakai Zeigler and Chaz Lanier broke in the NCAA Tournament. However, it’s a testament to both, and the pursuit of the records hasn’t slowed them down at all.
Zeigler is officially the all-time assists leader in Vols history. In their 77-62 win over the Wofford Terriers, he passed Johnny Darden, who initially had the record with 715 career assists. Before that career mark, Zeigler had already surpassed Darden’s single-season mark.
Given the fact that Darden played in the mid-1970s, Zeigler’s record is even more impressive. After all, Darden was able to dump the ball off to Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld during that time. That would be enough for anybody to rack up assists, and we should mention those Ray Mears teams always went home early.
Meanwhile, Lanier surpassed the beloved Chris Lofton in single-season three-pointers. He trailed by two before the Vols’ 67-58 win over the UCLA Bruins to push his total to 269, two more than what Lofton had in the 2007-08 season Of course, Lofton was battling cancer that year, but what Lanier did is still impressive.
What really stands out with Lanier and Zeigler, though, is how and when they were able to break their respective records. Zeigler did it with a double-double, a memorable 12-point 12-rebound showing in their season-opening win over Wofford.
Lanier, meanwhile, decided to get red-hot in March Madness, and he shot 4-of-5 from three in UT’s win over UCLA. This kid is something special, and while he is seemingly hot, it appears to be on the early in, so his crash doesn’t look like it will come anytime soon.
Then of course there’s the team history aspect of this. The Vols are the first team in program history to make the Sweet 16 at least three straight times. Barnes only did it for his second time ever. In general, this is truly a match made in heaven, Barnes and this school, and he continues to prove it.
Obviously, records for Tennessee Basketball are nowhere near as hallowed as Tennessee Football, but you’ve still got to chase them for this team to maintain its success. There’s a certain level of focus Tony Vitello requires for his team.
Maybe Barnes has that, maybe he doesn’t. X’s and O’s seem to be the biggest reason he underachieved in March Madness with the Texas Longhorns and early on with Tennessee Basketball. That can hold back records, but Lanier and Zeigler could be the best backcourt in school history to this point. Perhaps they deserve some leeway.
