The Tennessee Volunteers provided an update on star freshman Nate Ament’s ankle injury on Monday night following the Vols’ weekend loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide. Fans in Tennessee felt even more uncertain after the news.
It was revealed that Ament would miss Tuesday night’s Volunteers game against the South Carolina Gamecocks. It did, however, also establish that it was nothing more serious than a high ankle sprain.
However, Ament’s availability for the remainder of the season might make or break Tennessee’s season, even though the South Carolina game wasn’t going to do it.
Ament’s injury could make him focus on Draft instead of March
Ament’s return date from the high ankle sprain was not disclosed by the Vols, so it’s possible that he will play on Wednesday or miss the remainder of the season.
Fans were concerned that Ament, who is a projected first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft, might take his time getting back on the court to make sure his ankle is fully healed (and then some) for the NBA Combine and following draft.
Alternatively, in a more optimistic scenario, Ament might genuinely concentrate on his return to the Vols in order to guide Tennessee through the forthcoming SEC Tournament and subsequent NCAA Tournament, where ESPN’s Joe Lunardi presently has the Volunteers ranked as a five-seed.
Ament will have to watch from the sidelines as his team attempts to upset South Carolina on Tuesday night, no matter what. The Vols would go to 21-9 after the victory, thus solidifying their position as one of the best teams in the SEC.
Whether or not Ament starts, Tennessee will play its in-state rival, the No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores, once more to wrap off the regular season.
