Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler had heartbreaking reactions to Vols loss vs Houston

You've got to feel for both of these guys. For the past four seasons, let us say that it has been an absolute pleasure watching Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack make plays for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team.

In today's college sports landscape, it's easy for guys to spend a year or two with a program and then jump ship. That never happened with Mashack and Zeigler, who arrived in Knoxville in 2021 and they spent their entire college careers playing for the Vols.

Unfortunately, their journey has come to an end, as Tennessee suffered a 69-50 loss to Houston on Sunday. As things were coming to a close and Houston was celebrating the trip to the Final Four, Mashack and Zeigler looked heartbroken over the defeat. They left it all out on the hardwood for this team:

Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler will always be remembered as Vols legends

Again, it's easy to feel bad for these guys. However, let's make it clear that the loss to Houston, one of the best teams in the country and in the hunt to win the natty, doesn't take away a single thing from what these Zakai and Jahmai got done in Knoxville.

In the past four seasons, Mashack and Zeigler helped Tennessee win an SEC regular season title, an SEC Tournament and they posted three appearances in the Sweet Sixteen and two berths in the Elite Eight. It's a darn shame they never reached a Final Four.

Despite that, Zeigler is now the Tennessee all-time leader in assists and he set several SEC records too. Mashack said he wanted to leave his mark on the program and he did just that. His game-winner against Alabama will never be forgotten.

Along with Zeigler, he's one of the best defensive players in the nation. The entire senior class, including Chaz Lanier, made a huge difference in 2024-25. We've got to give special love to Zeigler and Mashack, though, as they'll always be remembered as Vols legends.