Tennessee couldn’t get anything going on offense until it was too lately on Saturday. The Vols stumbled out the gate, falling behind 11-0 to the Vanderbilt Commodores and scoring just 22 points in the first half of an 86-82 loss to their intrastate rival.

By the time Tennessee got rolling on offense, it turned out to be too little too late on Senior Day for the Vols, as Tennessee drew to 69-64 with around five minutes left, but could not get key stops nor crucial baskets to finish the comeback.

Fortunately, it appears as though they could have help in a big way next week at the SEC Tournament. According to Rick Barnes after the game, he thinks that freshman Nate Ament will play for Tennessee next week in the tournament.

Rick Barnes said he expects Nate Ament to play in SEC Tournament

“I do, and like I’ve told you guys, Nate wants to play,” Barnes said during his press conference in response to a question about whether Ament will play. “Obviously, we’re going to listen to our doctors and play the long game with it, I guess, is what we would do.

“But again, Nate is a tough kid, and if it were up to him, there’s no doubt he would’ve played against South Carolina, and he would’ve played tonight. But we listened to the doctors. I think he would tell you he’s feeling better. But the tough part this time of year, knock on wood, you don’t want to — I mean, he’s got to practice. He hasn’t done anything in practice since the last game. 

“And maybe it’s a blessing in disguise that we can get to Nashville, get more games in, and give him a chance to get some rhythm back going, because it’s hard this time of year to miss. But I know he’ll do everything he can. It might, for him, for the beating that he’s taken this year, the rest might be great. And so, you’ve got to look at it, I think, in a positive way that the good Lord, whatever part of the plan. But I just know Nate, he wants to play.”

Tennessee has shown in two losses over the last week that they aren’t quite the same team, particularly on the offensive end, with him not on the floor. The Vols got a terrific effort from Amari Evans with 24 points on 9-12 shooting on Saturday afternoon, and Evans could become a third scoring option even with Ament back on the floor.

“Yeah, I think so,” Barnes said. “I’m proud of Amari. He’s not afraid to compete. He’s got a good solid game, and I’m excited about him. I mean, he’s earned it. He’s closer to being a sophomore than he is a freshman, but I think he shows what he can be. I know him well enough to know that he’s going to keep working because he’s a hard worker, and, for a freshman, I think he’s done a terrific job, and I’m excited about his future. I’m excited about him and this team when Nate comes back.”

Barnes may have a point about the rest that Ament is getting this week as he works to get back to a level of health where he can be productive and avoid further injury.

And if Ament’s brief absence helped unlock another weapon in Evans just in time for March Madness, than perhaps it was a blessing in disguise how things worked out.

We’ll find out soon enough, with Tennessee the five seed in the SEC tournament and therefore getting their SEC Tournament play underway in Nashville on Thursday afternoon against the winner of the 12/13 game.

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