Fansided

Louisville’s Kevin Ware expected back for opener

By Matt Cowlishaw

facebooktwitterreddit
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware reacts after Louisville won the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Louisville Cardinals won 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 8, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware reacts after Louisville won the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Louisville Cardinals won 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

According to a report from ESPN.com, Louisville guard Kevin Ware will suit up and possibly play for the Cardinals in their opener on November 9th against Charleston.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino expects Ware to at least be in uniform for the game.

“He’ll suit up for the first game,” Pitino said. “Whether he gets in or not, we’ll see.”

Ware famously suffered a horrific open fracture to his right leg on national television in the Cardinals’ Elite Eight game against Duke back in March.  From the look of the injury – which was emblazoned in the mind of everyone that saw it – it appeared as though Ware would have an extremely difficult time even playing basketball again.  So this news comes as a pleasant surprise.

Just seven months after the injury, Ware has been cleared for basketball activities.  This really speaks to the gut and determination of the Louisville guard, as anyone suffering from an injury like that – especially with the entire world to see – must go through some serious mental anguish in addition to the obvious physical ailment.

“He’s taking it slow,” Pitino said. “People want to see him on the court healthy. We want to see him flourishing.”

Whenever this happens, one has to salute Ware for making it back to the court after an injury like that.