October 1, 2026
March Madness brings out the best moments in college basketball. It also presents an opportunity for some to spread the gospel while on the grand stage.
Following Tennessee’s win over Iowa State on Friday night, a video circulated on social media of the players in the locker room reciting the “Lord’s Prayer.” Although a viral moment on social media, it was a moment that’s typical for the Volunteers regardless of the outcome.
Tennessee reached the Elite Eight for the third time in four years but fell short of a first appearance in the Final Four with a 95-62 loss to Michigan on Sunday.
"Just to know that a good performance, bad performance, win or loss, Jesus is always there for you,” Tennessee freshman standout Nate Ament said. “Your worth isn't in how you play as a basketball player, but it's what Christ has done for you. You're a child of His. If we all understand that it kind of allows us to play with more confidence and play for something that isn't a win or a loss, but to play so we can glorify Him.”
Ament, one of the most sought-after prep players in the Class of 2025, chose the Volunteers not just to play the sport he loves, but to play for Tennessee coach Rick Barnes, a coach who isn’t afraid to profess his faith despite his standing as a future Hall of Famer.
“It's one of the reasons I chose Tennessee because of coach Barnes and his faith,” Ament said. “It trickles throughout the whole coaching staff. I think as a team, you're trying to glorify something bigger than yourself.
“When you're playing for something other than your own glory and the glory of others, the glory of your teammates, the glory of Christ, only good things can happen from there if you're being selfless and trying to take care of each other — to see how it affects our locker room and how we've grown as a team because of it means so much. I'm truly grateful for it.”
Bishop Boswell also chose Tennessee because of Barnes and his faith influence on and off the court.
“Another reason why I came here, you could be unafraid to kind of show your faith, and (we say the Lord’s Prayer) before and after every game. It's just something that I personally value, and a lot of the guys value in being able to share that with these guys. Whether you believe in Jesus Christ or you don't. It's a safe space for everybody to have conversations. It's huge.”
Boswell added that the team also participates in “power talks where we can hear about the Lord and things of that nature and are able to tie it into basketball.”
“It's just His will be done,” Boswell said.
Barnes, now 71, said his faith is more meaningful now than ever and wants his players to understand the value of being a faithful servant at an early age in life.
“It is the most important thing in my life,” Barnes said. “I’m at a stage in my life where that's really the most important thing in my life. I do want our players to understand it because if I could go back ... I've learned a lot more through the rearview mirror than I have looking forward. I wish, at their age, I would have gone much deeper into a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Barnes began power talks when he took over the Volunteers in 2015, a program spearheaded by Chris Walker, Scott Jackson, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on the Knoxville campus.
“Our governor (Bill Lee) had a great quote a couple of weeks ago,” Barnes said. “He said there are very few things in life that matter. We should be about them. I really took that to heart because to me, the most important thing is to love God with all my heart, soul, and mind. That's where I am right now in my life, and it's the most important thing.”
Barnes is thankful his players are discovering that truth at an early age.
“I’m proud of these guys because as they get older, they're going to find out that it's really the main thing, and I think that we all need to learn how to keep our thoughts on the main thing.”
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This story appeared in Kentucky Today.
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