LouLife [1]

Kevin Ware Returns Triumphantly in Exhibition Match Against Pikeville [2]

Posted On: 7 Nov 2013 - 10:36am

LouLife [1]

By Elizabeth Myers [3]

Last night Kevin Ware played in his first game since that gut-wrenching leg fracture [4] over seven months ago at the Cardinal's Elite Eight match against Duke. In an exhibition game between the Louisville Cardinals and the Pikeville Bears, Ware made his first shot, and went on to score six points with four rebounds. Ware told ESPN.com [5]that "It was great. I've never felt like that before. I've been waiting for that moment. Once I hit that first shot, it took away all the jitters."

Junior Guard Kevin Ware (5) passes the ball in the second half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky

Louisville beat Pikeville 90-61. Ware was given a standing ovation by a pumped-up crowd at the Yum Center.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a jumper in the second half of the game against University of Pikeville. Jones was the leading scorer for the Cards last night with 19 points.

Kevin Ware's public injury became a flash point for Cardinal Support during the 2013 NCAA Championship, with #winforware trending on twitter. According to the Courier Journal, [6] Ware says "I just want to be treated like a regular basketball player. That's what I came to Louisville for. That's all I really want."

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a layup in the second half of the matchup against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville

Photos by Adam Creech/Louisville Athletics Social Media. All photo captions by Adam Creech

Slideshow:

The Louisville mascot pumps up the crowd before the game against the University of Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
The Louisville mascot pumps up the crowd before the game against the University of Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Sophomore Forward Montrezl Harrell (24) goes up for dunk in the game against Pikeville last night. Jeff Goodman of ESPN named Harrell the number one breakout player of the year.
Sophomore Forward Montrezl Harrell (24) goes up for dunk in the game against Pikeville last night. Jeff Goodman of ESPN named Harrell the number one breakout player of the year.

Junior Guard Kevin Ware (5) attempts a free throw in last night’s exhibition against Pikeville. Ware returned to the court for the first time since March, after experiencing a gruesome leg injury in the Elite Eight game against Duke.
Junior Guard Kevin Ware (5) attempts a free throw in last night’s exhibition against Pikeville. Ware returned to the court for the first time since March, after experiencing a gruesome leg injury in the Elite Eight game against Duke.

Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) dunks the ball in the second half of play against the University of Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) dunks the ball in the second half of play against the University of Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Coach Rick Pitino watches the game last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Pitino was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Coach Rick Pitino watches the game last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky. Pitino was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame earlier this year.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a layup in the second half of the matchup against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a layup in the second half of the matchup against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a three point attempt in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a three point attempt in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville Guard Tim Henderson (15) goes up for a three point attempt in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Louisville Guard Tim Henderson (15) goes up for a three point attempt in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) dribbles the ball in the matchup against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) dribbles the ball in the matchup against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a layup in the second half of the game last night. Jones, who is new to the Cards this year, was the Junior College Player of the Year last season.
Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a layup in the second half of the game last night. Jones, who is new to the Cards this year, was the Junior College Player of the Year last season.

Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) rushes past Pikeville Guard Elisha Justice (22). Justice played for the Cards as a walk on two years ago, before transferring to Pikeville.
Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) rushes past Pikeville Guard Elisha Justice (22). Justice played for the Cards as a walk on two years ago, before transferring to Pikeville.

Louisville Guard Tim Henderson (15) rushes past a defender in the first half of the game last night. Henderson is a walk on player for the University, and was instrumental in the rise to the National Championship last season.
Louisville Guard Tim Henderson (15) rushes past a defender in the first half of the game last night. Henderson is a walk on player for the University, and was instrumental in the rise to the National Championship last season.

Louisville Forwards Stephen Van Treese (44) and Akoy Agau (22) go up for the rebound in the second half of last night’s final preseason exhibition against the University of Pikeville.
Louisville Forwards Stephen Van Treese (44) and Akoy Agau (22) go up for the rebound in the second half of last night’s final preseason exhibition against the University of Pikeville.

Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) goes up for a layup in last night’s exhibition against the University of Pikeville. Smith was named an AP Preseason All American earlier this week.
Senior Guard Russ Smith (2) goes up for a layup in last night’s exhibition against the University of Pikeville. Smith was named an AP Preseason All American earlier this week.

Louisville Guard Terry Rozier (0) goes up for a jumper in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Louisville Guard Terry Rozier (0) goes up for a jumper in the first half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) sets up for a three point attempt in the second half of the game against the University of Pikeville last night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.
Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) sets up for a three point attempt in the second half of the game against the University of Pikeville last night at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky.

Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a jumper in the second half of the game against University of Pikeville. Jones was the leading scorer for the Cards last night with 19 points.
Louisville Guard Chris Jones (3) goes up for a jumper in the second half of the game against University of Pikeville. Jones was the leading scorer for the Cards last night with 19 points.

Sophomore Forward Montrezl Harrell (24) gets horizontal after dunking the ball in last night’s matchup against Pikeville. Harrell was the MVP of the game with 18 points, one block, and six rebounds.
Sophomore Forward Montrezl Harrell (24) gets horizontal after dunking the ball in last night’s matchup against Pikeville. Harrell was the MVP of the game with 18 points, one block, and six rebounds.

Junior Guard Kevin Ware (5) passes the ball in the second half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky
Junior Guard Kevin Ware (5) passes the ball in the second half of the game against Pikeville last night in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ky