Heading into Tennessee’s first-round matchup against Miami (Ohio), it was widely known that Nate Ament was dealing with significant ankle and knee issues, but he still chose to play through the pain to support his team.
It quickly became evident he wasn’t at full strength, and he exited early in the second half during the Volunteers’ NCAA Tournament opener.
Fortunately, the situation doesn’t appear too serious, as the CBS broadcast indicated that Rick Barnes and the coaching staff were simply being cautious with Ament due to Tennessee’s comfortable lead.
Even so, his condition raises concerns ahead of their upcoming game against No. 3 Virginia.
Before leaving the game, Ament struggled to make an impact, going scoreless and shooting 0-for-3 in 18 minutes—an unusual showing for a highly touted five-star freshman, though understandable given his injury.
Ideally, Tennessee would have rested him entirely, but the staff believed he was healthy enough to contribute.
Despite Ament’s limitations, Tennessee cruised to a 78-56 victory, thanks in large part to Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who delivered an outstanding performance with 29 points and carried the offensive load.
Looking ahead, Tennessee will need another strong outing from Gillespie if they hope to pull off an upset against Virginia, while Ament’s recovery will be crucial, as he’s clearly not close to full health and his condition could impact the team’s tournament run.
