Tennessee Basketball Faces Ament's Injury Crisis

0:00On March 2nd, Tennessee basketball faces a big question mark heading into their next game. The number 25 goals lost the close one to Alabama, 71-69 on February 28th. Star freshman Nate Aiman got hurt in his right leg and ankle during that match-up, playing just 11 minutes. His status remains unclear after he skipped practice on March 2nd. They take on struggling South Carolina on March 3rd at 6 p.m. Eastern time. Coaches are rallying the team for an all-hands effort if Aiman sits out. Associate head coach Justin Gainey stressed that everyone needs to contribute, especially on defense. Freshman Amari Evans stepped up big in Aiman's place against Alabama, logging a career high 28 minutes with 7 points, 8 rebounds, and an assist. Teammates raved about Evans' energy, saying it lifted the whole squad and showed what they need moving forward. The balls can't afford a third straight loss, particularly to the SEC's lowest seed.

1:00Without Aiman, though lean harder on leading scorer Jacobi Gillespie, who averages 18.4 points per game, and nearly had a triple-double last timeout. Details on Amari's injury are still coming together. It happened when his leg got trapped under a pile fighting for a loose ball, and he also re-aggravated a prior ankle tweak. An MRI is underway, but swelling has made it hard to pinpoint the bigger issue. The 6-foot-10 forward has started all 29 games, putting up 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. Players like Evans, Gillespie, and others inside are ready to fill the gap, keeping Tennessee's postseason hopes alive as they hit the court tomorrow. tomorrow tomorrow