The Halftime Report: Tennessee vs. Alabama

Tennessee has put together an impressive first half against the nation's top team, Alabama.

If you had told Tennessee fans this morning that they would be tied with Alabama at halftime, they might not have believed you. Momentum has been going against the Volunteers for weeks; they have dropped three of their past four, with all losses coming against unranked teams.

However, there is a different energy in Thompson-Boling Arena tonight. Tennessee has become aggressive and confident, appearing like a different team than the one we see against Vanderbilt and Missouri. They left their fate up to the opposition in the previous two games, but you can't do that against Alabama.

Guard Zakai Zeigler is the No. 1 reason for this development. Zeigler has logged nine points and four assists in one half and has zero turnovers. He looks efficient and poised in transition, looking like the early-season Zeigler that made Tennessee dangerous to begin with.

Alabama forward Brandon Miller has been relatively quiet tonight, though he has had some impressive offensive moments. A player like Miller will always get to his spot and rack up points, but you have to ensure life is difficult for him while he gets those points.

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