It sounds like he should return soon.
Tennessee went on the road and won without star player Nate Ament on Tuesday, dominating South Carolina in the paint on their way to a 19-point victory. The Volunteers did exactly what they needed to do, but Ament’s status was still on everyone’s minds following the game.
Rick Barnes offered a positive update during his press conference after the win, suggesting that Ament could have played tonight.
“He looks good today,” Barnes said on Tuesday night. “We obviously knew he was not going to play. Our doctors and trainers will tell us on that. I could just tell you, if it were up to Nate, he would have played today. I’ve told you guys all year, he’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever been around.”
Ament went down against Alabama, getting tangled up in a loose ball situation. He aggravated an injury to his ankle, while also tweaking his knee. Ament would actually return to the game, but eventually left for good in the second half.
“The fact that he played in the Missouri game after that high ankle turn, he wanted to play the other night,” Barnes continued. “Obviously, doctors didn’t think it was the wisest thing to do. I can tell you, if it were up to him, he would have played today. Obviously, the right decision was not to play him.”
Tennessee, playing South Carolina who is 3-13 in conference play, probably got a little fortunate with the schedule. The Volunteers leaned on their size to dominate the Gamecocks and frankly didn’t need Ament on the floor. That will change going forward, starting on Saturday against Vanderbilt.
“I think if you asked him right now, it’s more of a high-ankle sprain,” Barnes said of the injury. “I think the knee is fine. But that’s what I think from just talking to him. What he was feeling last night and today, he was moving a lot better. It was more of the high-ankle sprain.”
Ament took a bit to get going, but when he did, it was special. The 6-10 freshman is averaging 17.4 points per game, but that number is well over 20 points over the last six weeks. Now the question becomes this — will he be the same guy when he comes back from injury? Tennessee certainly needs him to be with the SEC and NCAA Tournaments looming.
Category: General Sports
