Tennessee's star freshman is playing in the NCAA Tournament banged up.
ForwardNate Amentis pushing through the Big Dance with an injury that has been bothering him for nearly a month, and kept him out of the last week of the regular season. While he did play in the first round game against Miami (Ohio), he clearly wasn't 100%. Ament didn't score in the 18 minutes of action.
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It was a concerning outing, and will be something to monitor as the Volunteers continue their March Madness run. So how will it affect Ament's status for thesecond round matchup against Virginia?
A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
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A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's2026 NCAATournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.
Will Nate Ament play today vs Virginia?
Yes, Ament will play. The All-SEC freshman is still dealing with soreness but expects to play against the Cavaliers and through the rest of the tournament.
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"There's no chance I'd sit out a March Madness game,"he said. "It's about what can we do to get back to 100%, or as close to it as we can."
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes called the injury a "problem," and Ament won't be fully healthy until he gets time off at the end of the season. While he will play, it's unknown if there will be a minutes restriction, as it will all depend on how he looks and feels
"We need Nate. He knows it, but he will give us everything that he can, and that's really all I can say about it. If it's up to him, he would play every minute if he could. We'll see game time," Barnes said.
What happened to Nate Ament?
Ament suffered a high ankle sprain against Missouri on Feb. 24, and then hurt his knee in the next game against Alabama on Feb. 28. He missed the final two regular season games as a result.
Ament averages 17 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds per game.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Nate Ament injury update: Will Vols star play vs. Virginia in March Madness?
