Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes made a notable comment last week at the Big Orange Tipoff Club, saying that star freshman Nate Ament gets as bad of a whistle as anyone in the entire country.
Following Tennessee basketball’s 73-63 win over LSU, Barnes elaborated on why he believes Ament gets a bad whistle and how he would like to see referees officiate Ament differently then they have.
“I was on the rules committee, and I always said a foul is a foul,” Barnes said. “And I think if you get any kind of contact on the three-point line, why is that not the same call at 12 (or) 15 feet? And I believe this; when you’re out there by the three-point line, fans react because they can see it. A lot of fans can’t see what’s going on inside, but you know, I could guard some guys if you allow me to walk under them. I could.
“They’re going to say, guys go straight up. Well, they’re straight up here, but the bottom is where, you got to referee from the ground up. And I think that’s where calls like that are (missed).”
Ament shoots a significant number of midrange jump shots which is why Barnes emphasizes protecting jump shooters 12-to-15 feet from the basket the way you would a three-point shooter.
The freshman wing is slender and is still in the process of adding weight and getting stronger. Dealing with physicality has been an issue for Ament at times this season which, in turn, has led to opponents being more-and-more physical with them.
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They grab him on cuts and coming off screens. They try and push him off his spots as well as getting up under him to limit his ability to drive. That is often where Ament is taking jump shots that would be called fouls on the three-point line.
“I get it, and I think it’s a hard game to officiate, but when you got a guy that you’re playing through a lot, and Nate’s worked hard, I think he should get a better whistle,” Barnes said.
Ament is certainly not getting a terrible whistle either. He’s attempted 185 free throws this season including 104 free throws in 12 SEC games. Ament attempted double-digit free throws in games against Arkansas, Texas A&M, Auburn, Ole Miss and LSU.
The five-star freshman has found his footing in SEC play. After a shaky first two SEC games, Ament has scored 16-plus points in the last 10 games. In 12 SEC games, Ament is averaging 20.2 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Ament and Tennessee basketball are back in action Wednesday night when they face Oklahoma in Knoxville. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. ET and ESPN2 is broadcasting the game.
