That right foot, among the most scrutinized in college basketball lately, still had its shoe as an otherwise relaxed and relieved Nate Ament sat in a cheerful locker room at Bridgestone Arena.
“It’s super frustrating to have to sit out,” said Tennessee’s star freshman, speaking as if the worst from his troublesome foot was finally in the past. How big is that? Let’s just say everything else for the Vols this week, including their pending quarterfinal against Vanderbilt, looms secondary to the revelation.
