Nate Ament prepared for first No. 24 Tennessee-Kentucky clash
Tennessee freshman Nate Ament has played just 17 college games, but the forward has made a veteran-like impact for coach Rick Barnes' squad.
Four days after taking over against Texas A&M in a double-overtime win, the 19-year-old Ament leads the No. 24 Volunteers against Kentucky in the first of their two fierce border battles on Saturday afternoon in Knoxville, Tenn.
A 6-foot-10 product, Ament has adjusted well to life in the Southeastern Conference as Tennessee (12-5, 2-2 SEC) faces the Wildcats (11-6, 2-2) for the first time since the Vols earned the NCAA Tournament regional semifinal win in Indianapolis.
Tennessee enters with momentum after Ament netted 10 of his 23 points in the two overtimes when Volunteers beat visiting Texas A&M, 87-82, on Tuesday. That followed a humbling 24-point setback Saturday at then-unranked Florida.
Ament (15.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg) has made a good impression on Barnes, who said the young man was well prepared for the grind of SEC play -- even when he was moved to the frontcourt's more physical No. 4 spot.
"He's never not wanted the ball," Barnes said after the Texas A&M win. "Nate is, I don't know what people say, people have no idea how hard he works, how good of a kid he is. And how he comes right out of high school game-planned for every game.
"(His physicality) was better tonight, I felt, really fighting to drive, trying to get there, trying to get to his spots. But I mean Nate, he drew 10 fouls. Think about it, 23 points. But you asked why we put him there (at the No. 4), basically because our frontline has been so inconsistent."
Ja'Kobi Gillespie (team-leading 18.2 points) shot poorly against the Aggies - 5-for-19 from the field -- and missed a deep ball that would have won the game in regulation.
Kentucky has won the past three matchups in Knoxville -- Tennessee's last home victory was in the 2022 campaign -- and the Wildcats will bring serious momentum to Rocky Top.
It might be a stretch to call Wednesday's stunning win at LSU a season-saver, but the clash with the last-place Tigers was about as must-win as it gets for the Wildcats.
Down 18-3 early and trailing by 18 points early in the second half, Kentucky pulled within 74-73 -- but had 1.6 seconds and a full court to go after LSU missed two free throws.
Malachi Moreno caught the long inbounds heave near the foul line, turned and swished an 18-footer for the shocking game-winner.
The play was reminiscent in its distance, execution and lack of time to Christian Laettner's jumper in Philadelphia -- from about the same length in the key -- that sent Duke to the 1992 Final Four over Kentucky in a wild 104-103 game.
"It's been an emotionally taxing season for our guys, understandably so, a lot of it brought on ourselves," Wildcats coach Mark Pope said. "But our guys have responded to tests. There were a hundred times they could have said this is not our night, and they refused to do it.
"I think this will help us moving forward."
Kentucky has lost two more key players as Pittsburgh transfer Jaland Lowe (8.0 points, 2.4 assists) is lost for the season after reinjuring his shoulder. Likely lottery pick Jayden Quaintance (knee) is sidelined indefinitely.