Zakai Zeigler sends clear message on what Tennessee will bring in the Elite Eight

So, how about the Tennessee Vols? This was a showdown that a lot of people thought would come down to the wire, but Zakai Zeigler and Co. had no issues taking down the Kentucky Wildcats in the Sweet Sixteen.

Would you believe it if we told you the Vols only trailed for 32 seconds of the entire game? Yeah, that's how dominant they looked. Right after the final whistle while speaking with Evan Washburn, Zeigler and Chaz Lanier were all smiles while surrounded by their teammates.

Zeigler spoke with his usual confidence and you could tell he was fired up over beating Kentucky. He was asked about what this group as a whole will be able to get done in the Elite Eight against either Houston or Purdue and his response is sure to bring a smile to your face:

Zakai Zeigler and Tennessee continue to push for a trip to the Final Four

As you can see, Zeigler is ready for the Vols to bring toughness and grit to the regional final. A trip to the Final Four is on the line come Sunday, as Tennessee is hoping to reach that stage of the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever.

The standout point guard was brilliant in the win, scoring a game-high 18 points and adding 10 assists. ZZ also made some awesome history early on in the action, becoming the new single-season leader for assists in the SEC.

It's getting hard to put into words just what this young man means to the program. Whenever Zeigler takes the floor, he's ready to create a ton of magic with the ball in his hands. He's the floor general for the Vols and everyone trusts him to deliver for Rick Barnes.

Zeigler is in his last season with the team and the thought of him no longer donning a Vols jersey is tough to think about. The emotional goodbye will come at a later date. Before that, he's ready to push for a trip to the Final Four and he's locked in on playing well in the Elite Eight.