A nightmare may actually be a blessing in disguise for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Vols

March has arrived for Rick Barnes and the Tennessee Vols, and it’s not off to the smoothest start.

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
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The Tennessee Vols experienced their biggest scare of the season this past weekend when true freshman forward Nate Ament suffered a knee/ankle injury in the first half against the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Ament attempted to return in the second half, but he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The former five-star recruit didn’t play in Tennessee’s win over South Carolina on Tuesday night, though head coach Rick Barnes expressed optimism that Ament will return to action before the end of the season.

“Absolutely,” said Barnes when asked if he thinks Ament will play again this season. “I’m telling you, he would’ve played today — he would’ve if they would’ve agreed to let him play today. But that’s who he is. He just wants to play.”

The silver lining of Nate Ament’s injury for the Vols

If the Vols had a time machine, they’d go back in time and tell Ament to not dive for the loose ball that led to his injury. But that’s obviously not how things work.

The injury happened. It is what it is.

The good news for Tennessee is that the injury will force Ament to rest before the NCAA Tournament (it’s unclear when Ament will return to action, or if he’ll return for the SEC Tournament next weekend).

Barnes thinks the rest will be beneficial for Ament.

“I think it can,” said Barnes when asked if the time off before the tourney can help Ament. “He’s had a long year. And I’ve said I don’t think anybody’s gotten beat up in college basketball more than Nate Ament this year. I don’t. But he’s never complained about it one time — I’m the one that’s complained about it, because I think it’s real. But I like to think that it could be a blessing in disguise. But, again, if it were up to him — because Nate’s a tough kid and he would’ve played — I guarantee you if this was our last game of the year, Nate Ament would’ve played.”

Tennessee would probably be wise to let Ament rest until the the start of the NCAA Tournament — it’s not worth risking a setback in the SEC Tournament.

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