Daniel Shirey-USA Today Sports
One of the more memorable moments of this past year’s NCAA Tournament — albeit a heartbreaking one — was the leg injury suffered by Louisville Cardinals sophomore guard Kevin Ware.
While contesting a three point shot in the Elite 8 round, Ware left his feet in an effort to block the attempt, but he landed awkwardly and snapped his leg so viciously along the sidelines that the bone protruded from the skin. Ware’s injury was undoubtedly one of the most gruesome sights in all of sports, but it quickly became a moment of motivation and inspiration, especially for a Cardinals squad that rolled its way to a National Championship just over a week after Ware’s injury.
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Despite the horrific scene and a long road to recovery, Ware will take the court again in a Louisville uniform with still two years of eligibility remaining. Well, according to Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, Ware may even be ready to practice by October. He said that the bone is apparently healing well and Ware could expand his rehabilitation in a month or so. Ware has currently been working on some lighter rehabilitation workouts, which includes riding the stationary bike.
This is certainly encouraging news, not just for Ware and his recovery, but for the Cardinals as a whole. Despite the losses of Peyton Siva and Gorgui Dieng to the NBA, Louisville is simply reloading for the 2013-14 season and Ware is expected to be a consistent contributor for a team that will have a shot at back-to-back National Championships.
If Ware can return to practice by October and be ready for the regular season, there’s no doubt that it would culminate an incredible road to recovery. Even with Pitino’s upbeat attitude, there is still no official timetable for Ware’s return to the hardwood this fall.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
