Vols Have Two Of Four Finalists For National Defensive Player Of The Year
Image: UTSports.com
By Cody McClure
What do you know… Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler continue to make history.
Today it was announced that the senior guard duo will make up two of the four finalists for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year.
It is the first time in the award’s history that two teammates have been named finalists.
So Tennessee has two guys that are regarded as top four defenders in the country.
Remarkable.
I’d say there’s a good chance that one of them wins the award (roughly a 50 percent chance) but who deserves it most?
When you’ve got two guys that play defense at such an elite level it’s really hard to say.
The other two award finalists are Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner and Houston’s Joseph Tugler.
The winner of the 2024-25 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year distinction will be announced April 6 in San Antonio, Texas, during Final Four weekend, according to a UT release.
Pretty damn cool. Way to go, fellas.