Connect with us

Tennessee

Zakai Zeigler on his Madison Square Garden homecoming: Every moment meant something

Published

on

Zakai Zeigler on his Madison Square Garden homecoming: Every moment meant something


Every step Zakai Zeigler took on the court at Madison Square Garden brought back a memory Tuesday. And they weren’t good ones. 

Tennessee’s senior point guard kept going back to two years ago, when the Vols came to New York for the Sweet 16 against Florida Atlantic. Zeigler was only a couple weeks removed from having surgery to repair a torn ACL. 

“I remember (in) my head like, the last time I was here, I was on a scooter, rolling around,” Zeigler said Tuesday night. “Just being able to walk that hallway, being able to warm up, every moment out there just meant something to me.”

Zeigler made every moment count in one final homecoming with Tennessee. The Long Island native scored 13 points, had nine assists and grabbed five rebounds while leading the No. 1 team in college basketball to a 75-62 win over Miami in the Jimmy V Classic. 

Advertisement

“It’s been a tough journey,” Zeigler said, “but no matter what, my mom always told me to be a fighter and never give up. And everything is part of God’s plan. 

“So all the ups and downs in life, no matter what, I’m just thankful to be in position I’m in today.”

Rick Barnes on Zakai Zeigler: ‘I wouldn’t trade him for anybody’

Zeigler was on the floor at The Garden as a freshman in December 2021 in the Jimmy V Classic, coming off the bench to score nine points, with two rebounds, an assist and a steal, in 29 minutes during an ugly 57-52 overtime loss to Texas Tech.

His sophomore season ended with a torn ACL in Tennessee’s final home game of the regular season. 

He had surgery and was away from the team while the Vols beat Louisiana and Duke in Orlando in the opening weekend of the NCAA Tournament, then rejoined his teammates a week later for the East Regional semifinal in New York.  

Advertisement

Tennessee led by as many as nine points in the first half, but was outscored by 12 after halftime as ninth-seeded Florida Atlantic’s Cinderella run to the Final Four sent the Vols home.

“I remember the game and it was pretty tough to watch, honestly,” Zeigler said. “I’m a sore loser.”

Zakai Zeigler this season: 12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 steals per game

This Tennessee team hasn’t lost yet, off to a 9-0 start — the program’s best winning nine straight to start the 2000-01 season — with Zeigler as the front man. He’s averaging 12.1 points, 8.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 2.0 steals in a team-high 33.2 minutes per game. 

“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “ … He has been incredible. His DNA, how he’s impacted our program is unlike many players can ever do. And I’m just happy that we’re able to get him back here to New York, being his senior year, because I know he knows what The Garden is about. 

“He knows it’s a stage instead of court. And just getting him back here is really special for him.”

Advertisement

On Tuesday night it was a stage Zeigler got to star on in front of friends and family — at long last. 

“Being able to come back here,” Zeigler said, “and get a win in front of a lot of hometown friends, family, my grandmother’s here, some people that haven’t got to see my teammates play since high school maybe, it was really meaningful for me, honestly, being able to get that win today and see everybody out there.”



Source link

Tennessee

Things to do in the Chattanooga area this week include Chickapalooza, Amy Grant, Summerween | Chattanooga Times Free Press

Published

on

Things to do in the Chattanooga area this week include Chickapalooza, Amy Grant, Summerween | Chattanooga Times Free Press


COMEDY

‘The Muslims are Coming’

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St.

Advertisement

Cost: $23 for general admission

More info: Showcase of Muslim (and non-Muslim) comedians.

thecomedycatch.com

FILM

‘Toy Story 5’

Advertisement

When: 6:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday

Where: Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St.

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Latest installment in the long-running Pixar franchise about the lives of childhood toys.

tnaqua.org/imax

Advertisement

Bobby Stone Film Series

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Sunday

Where: Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave.

Cost: $13.50 for general admission

More info: Screenings include: “Resurrection” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, “Rear Window” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and “The Sparks Brothers” at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Advertisement

tivolichattanooga.com

–––

‘Supergirl’

When: 5 and 7:15 p.m. Friday-Sunday

Where: Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater, 201 Chestnut St.

Advertisement

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Summer blockbuster about Superman’s cousin, Supergirl.

tnaqua.org/imax

–––

Movie night

Advertisement

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: Chester Frost Park, 7872 Causeway Road

Cost: Free

More info: Hamilton County Parks and Recreation hosts a free movie night screening of “Finding Nemo.” Includes games, vendors and more.

facebook.com

Advertisement

MUSIC

Ramsey & Broemel

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $30 in advance

Advertisement

More info: Musicians Tyler Ramsey and Carl Broemel from Of My Morning Jacket performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Fielder

When: 6 p.m. Thursday

Advertisement

Where: The Woodshop, 5500 St. Elmo Ave.

Cost: $13 for general admission

More info: Nashville-based duo Fielder performs.

thewoodshoplisteningroom.com

–––

Advertisement

Chris Knight

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $30 in advance

More info: Kentucky native Chris Knight performs.

Advertisement

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Barkley Cove

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: The Woodshop, 5500 St. Elmo Ave.

Advertisement

Cost: $10 for general admission

More info: Folk ensemble Barkley Cove performs.

thewoodshoplisteningroom.com

–––

Nightfall

Advertisement

When: 6 p.m. Friday

Where: Miller Plaza, 850 Market St.

Cost: Free admission

More info: Free summer concert series Nightfall continues, with The 42 as opener and Zach Person as headliner. Also features food trucks and market vendors.

nightfallchattanooga.com

Advertisement

–––

Chelsea Drugstore

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $15 in advance

Advertisement

More info: Chelsea Drugstore, a tribute to the Rolling Stones, performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

R&B vs. Hip Hop

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Advertisement

Where: Barrelhouse Ballroom, 1501 Long St.

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of show

More info: DJ experience, pitting R&B against Hip Hop.

barrelhouseballroom.com

–––

Advertisement

Struggle Jennings

When: 8 p.m. Friday

Where: The Parlour at The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Ave.

Cost: $24.50 for general admission

More info: Grandson of Waylon Jennings, Struggle Jennings, performs.

Advertisement

thesignaltn.com

–––

KPop Demon Hunters

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Parlour at The Signal, 21 Choo Choo Ave.

Advertisement

Cost: $25 for general admission

More info: Family friendly DJ experience, featuring the music of the hit Netflix animated film.

thesignaltn.com

–––

Riverfront Nights

Advertisement

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Ross’s Landing, 201 Riverfront Parkway

Cost: Free

More info: Free summer concert series Riverfront Nights continues for the 2026 season. Sloppy Street Tacos opens, and Jump, a tribute to Van Halen, headlines.

riverfrontnights.com

Advertisement

–––

Paul McDonald

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Songbirds, 206 W. Main St.

Cost: $20 in advance

Advertisement

More info: Paul McDonald and the Mourning Doves performs.

venue.songbirds.org

–––

Amy Grant

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Advertisement

Where: Walker Theatre, 399 McCallie Ave.

Cost: $61+

More info: Singer-songwriter Amy Grant performs.

tivolichattanooga.com

OUT & ABOUT

Advertisement

Nooga Splash

When: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays

Where: Chester Frost Park, 2389 Gold Point Circle N.

Cost: $14+

More info: Floating water park Nooga Splash continues for the summer season. Main season operating hours continue through Aug. 4.

Advertisement

noogasplash.com

–––

Family Potluck

When: 4-9 p.m. Monday

Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.

Advertisement

Cost: Free

More info: Post Nuclear Family Potluck, an all-ages chosen family potluck. Features games, dinner and a movie.

barkinglegs.org

–––

Battle of Badges

Advertisement

When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday

Where: Walker County Sheriff’s Office, 105 S. Duke St., LaFayette

Cost: Free

More info: Walker and Catoosa county Sheriff’s Offices host a blood donation drive.

donor.bloodassurance.org

Advertisement

–––

Farmers market

When: 3-6 p.m. Thursday

Where: Chattanooga Choo Choo, 1400 Market St.

Cost: Free admission

Advertisement

More info: Farmer and farmer-adjacent vendors at the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

facebook.com

–––

River market

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays

Advertisement

Where: Tennessee Aquarium Plaza, 1 Broad St.

Cost: Free admission

More info: Chattanooga River Market continues, featuring various vendors. Market open Saturdays only from April-October.

chattanoogamarket.com

–––

Advertisement
Staff file photo / Jan Fowler, left, and Curtis Fowler shop items at the Chickamauga Art and Folk Festival on Aug. 16, 2025. This year, the festival, now called Chickapalooza, is set for 10 a.m.-sunset Saturday around the Gordon Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga.

Chickapalooza

When: 10 a.m.-sunset Saturday

Where: Gordon Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga

Cost: Free admission

More info: Chickapalooza Art and Music Festival, featuring a lineup of live music, artists, food and more.

Advertisement

facebook.com

–––

Staff file photo / From Point Park atop Lookout Mountain, a viewer can see the Tennessee River curve around Moccasin Bend on May 21, 2025. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has a program set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., focusing on the forces that created the mountains and ridges of the Tennessee River Valley.
Staff file photo / From Point Park atop Lookout Mountain, a viewer can see the Tennessee River curve around Moccasin Bend on May 21, 2025. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park has a program set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tenn., focusing on the forces that created the mountains and ridges of the Tennessee River Valley.

History program

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Point Park, 110 Point Park Road, Lookout Mountain, Tenn.

Cost: $10 park entrance fee

Advertisement

More info: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park hosts program about the forces that created the mountains and ridges of the Tennessee River Valley.

nps.gov/chch

–––

Radio Field Day

When: 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

Advertisement

Where: Chattanooga Valley Lions Club, 265 South Ave., Flintstone

Cost: Free

More info: Tri-States Amateur Radio Club hosts an amateur radio field day, showcasing how the technology works.

ag4dw@arrl.org

–––

Advertisement

Summerween

When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Where: Patten Square, 818 Georgia Ave.

Cost: Free

More info: Celebrate Halloween in the Summer at Summerween, featuring costume contests, a watermelon-carving contest, live music and more.

Advertisement

rivercitycompany.com

SPORTS

Lady Red Wolves

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

Where: CHI Memorial Stadium, 1 Stadium Way

Advertisement

Cost: $10+

More info: Chattanooga Lady Red Wolves take on the Southern Soccer Academy.

chattanoogaredwolves-sc.com

–––

Lookouts

Advertisement

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Erlanger Park, 2658 Pipe Way

Cost: $7+

More info: Chattanooga Lookouts take on the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. Promotions include: World Soccer Night and Las Montanas de Chattanooga on Tuesday, a blanket giveaway on Wednesday, a cell phone bag giveaway, drink specials and Never Text and Drive Night on Thursday, Unum Night and fireworks on Friday, Dino Weekend and a pre-game concert on Saturday and Dino Weekend and a canned food drive on Sunday.

mlb.com/milb/chattanooga

Advertisement

–––

Football Club

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Where: Finley Stadium, 1826 Reggie White Blvd.

Cost: $8+

Advertisement

More info: Chattanooga Football Club takes on the Chicago Fire Football Club.

chattanoogafc.com

THEATER & ARTS

Dungeons and Drag-ons

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Advertisement

Where: Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave.

Cost: $15 for general admission

More info: Dungeons and Dragons-inspired drag showcase for ages 13 and older.

barkinglegs.org

______

Advertisement

Have an upcoming event? Email calendar@timesfreepress.com to be considered for one of our listings or go to timesfreepress.com/calendar for immediate posting online.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Tennessee

Tennessee baseball adds pitcher Ricky Ojeda, UC Irvine transfer

Published

on

Tennessee baseball adds pitcher Ricky Ojeda, UC Irvine transfer


Tennessee baseball received a commitment from UC Irvine pitcher Ricky Ojeda on June 19.

Ojeda, who is eligible for the MLB draft in July, announced his decision on social media. He visited Tennessee on June 15-16.

The lefthanded Ojeda had a strong 2026 season primarily as a reliever, posting a 3.77 ERA with 62 strikeouts and 20 walks in 62 innings. In 2025, he became the first reliever to be named Big West Pitcher of the Year after going 13-1 with a 3.55 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 66 innings, which also earned him a third-team all-American nod from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Perfect Game.

Advertisement

Whether Ojeda makes it to Tennessee remains an open question. Perfect Game ranked him as the No. 179 prospect for the draft. That would place him in the sixth round.

Should Ojeda join the staff, however, he would instantly become one of the team’s top options out of a bullpen that struggled immensely in 2026. The pitching staff is also under new leadership under pitching coach Austin Knight, who was hired from ECU.

Ojeda is the fourth player to announce they will transfer to Tennessee this offseason, joining two-way Mercer transfer Braydon Kersey, Northwestern State pitcher Brody Trosclair and Air Force infielder Wyatt Hanoian.

Who’s leaving Tennessee baseball

  • UTL Jay Abernathy (Oklahoma)
  • RHP Nic Abraham
  • INF Ariel Antigua (Arizona)
  • INF Finley Bates
  • RHP Ari Bethea
  • OF Hutson Chance
  • RHP Sawyer Deering (San Diego State)
  • OF Nate Eisfelder
  • 1B Evan Hankins (Virginia Tech)
  • UTL Hunter High
  • RHP Brayden Krenzel (Arkansas)
  • INF Manny Marin
  • INF Ethan Moore (Missouri)
  • UTL Chris Newstrom
  • LHP Taylor Tracey
  • C Cash Williams (West Virginia)

Who’s joining Tennessee baseball

  • RHP/DH Braydon Kersey
  • LHP Brody Trosclair
  • INF Wyatt Hanoian
  • LHP Ricky Ojeda

Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Tennessee

Shooting Hunger event aims to prevent childhood hunger in West Tennessee

Published

on

Shooting Hunger event aims to prevent childhood hunger in West Tennessee


JACKSON, Tenn. (WBBJ) – An exciting day of sporting clays in West Tennessee is doubling as a major fight against hunger.

Today’s “Shooting Hunger” event took place at the Carroll County Shooting Sports Park in Huntingdon. It’s a partnership between Tennessee Farm Bureau, Tennessee Farmers Co-Op, Farm Credit Mid-America and Rural First.

Shooting Hunger at Carroll County Shooting Sports Park(Gray News)

Since 2015, Shooting Hunger has helped provide more than three million meals to Tennesseans with money going to food banks, backpack programs, and local hunger relief. A $500 scholarship will also go to the top youth shooter in each flight.

“We’re joining together to raise money for school backpacks to feed hungry kids. We do these, we actually do three of these across the state of Tennessee so at the end of the day we take, we take all the money we put it into a pile and when we divide equally amongst all 95 counties across the state of Tennessee,“ said Bryan Wright, executive vice president for the Tennessee Farm Bureau.

Advertisement

Organizers say events like this matter because one in six children in Tennessee struggle with hunger.

Copyright 2026 WBBJ. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending