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Louisville Rallies Around Injured Teammate As Final Four Is Set

Danny Lee |
March 31, 2013 | 9:35 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Head coach Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals rallied around teammate Kevin Ware's injury to earn a spot in the Final Four. (bradjward/Creative Commons)
Head coach Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals rallied around teammate Kevin Ware's injury to earn a spot in the Final Four. (bradjward/Creative Commons)
Louisville guard Kevin Ware underwent successful surgery Sunday night to repair an open fracture of his right tibia he suffered during the Cardinals' 85-63 win over Duke in the Midwest Regional final, USA Today reported.

Ware, who is expected to remain in Indianapolis until at least Tuesday, had the bone reset and a rod inserted into his leg during the roughly two-hour operation. The wound in his lower leg caused by the bone puncturing through his skin was closed.

Although Ware will now have to undergo a lengthy recovery with no timetable set, the injury is not expected to be career-ending. The Bronx, N.Y. native was leaping to challenge a 3-pointer from Duke's Tyler Thornton with 6:33 left in the first half before he landed and his leg buckled beneath him.

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and Ware's teammates wiped away tears as they witnessed the gruesome injury, while Duke players were also visibly shaken up.

WARNING: Graphic video of Kevin Ware's leg injury

The Cardinals recovered by defeating the Blue Devils to earn a spot in next week's Final Four in Atlanta, Ware's hometown. They will play Wichita State on April 6 with tip-off scheduled for 3:09 p.m. on CBS. Syracuse will face Michigan in the other Final Four matchup afterward.

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