PHILADELPHIA — Ask Tennessee star freshman Nate Ament about his right leg injury and he’ll give you a standard answer. His leg is feeling pretty good. Tennessee’s medical and strength team is doing a great job helping him rehab it.
Press him a little bit more and Ament opens the curtain a bit more about his right leg injury and the pain that he’s playing through.
“I mean, my ankle’s pretty banged up,” Ament told RTI Thursday. “My knee hurts, especially after like I play a game, it gets really sore and stuff like that.”
Ament first suffered his right ankle injury on Feb. 24 against Missouri, but returned and played the remainder of the game. Then four days later against Alabama, a Crimson Tide player fell on Ament’s right leg when he was on the ground trying to corral a loose ball.
The freshman’s ankle injury became worse afterwards and he also injured his knee on the play. Since then Ament has meticulously and consistently rehabbed, trying to return to the court.
That included a session with strength coach Garrett Medenwald after Tennessee’s regular-season finale loss against Vanderbilt. Ament is currently getting treatment for “multiple hours a day” usually in two-or-three different sessions.
“Nate Ament has handled this like a NBA player,” Tennessee assistant coach Gregg Polinsky said last week before the SEC Tournament. “He’s been in here three times a day. Chad (Newman), coach Garrett, G, they have been working, like I said three times a day. He is doing everything he can do with all the resources we have and Nate has made rapid progress.”
Ament has wanted to play every game since suffering the injury against Alabama but Tennessee has had to hold him back a bit. They finally let him loose last week in the SEC Tournament. The Second Team All-SEC selection promptly totaled 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a come from-behind win over Auburn.
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But he struggled the next day against Vanderbilt, making just one of his 13 field goal attempts while finishing the game with a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Playing consecutive days was a challenge for the injured Ament. Rick Barnes said that they might not have played him Saturday versus Florida even if they had advanced past the Commodores. Ament specifically mentioned the aftermath of games and the importance of recovery.
“It’ll be tough, but the recovery process is essential and they’ve been doing a good job with me,” Ament said. “Especially with the soreness of having it after games and doing a good job of getting rid of it.”
It’s clear that the injury is going to affect Ament for however long Tennessee stays alive in the NCAA Tournament. A projected lottery pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, Ament scoffs at the notion of sitting out the rest of the season to begin preparing for the draft.
“I mean, I want to win for this team, for this fan base,” Ament said. “Tennessee has given me so much, and I want to be able to give them something back, especially my group of teammates. I want to be able to say that I gave it my all for them on every possession.”
Tennessee begins play at the NCAA Tournament on Friday afternoon when they face off against Miami (Ohio). Like every other basketball fan, Ament grew up loving the NCAA Tournament. He’s eager to make his own mark in March Madness lore.
“Every basketball fan— March is their favorite time of the year,” Ament said. “Especially for me, I just want to be able to leave a lasting legacy on the month.”
