An Injury Carries Louisville to the Final Four

When we look back on the 2013 NCAA College Basketball tournament, it will be clear that the most important player only averaged 4.9 points per game. The unimaginable lower leg injury suffered by Louisville guard Kevin Ware not only inspired a memorable team performance by the Cardinals to advance to the Final Four, but also revealed why we love college sports compared to professional leagues.

The injury was gruesome. Utterly shocking. Ware challenged a jump shot out on the right wing, and landed awkwardly on his right leg. He was left with a broken lower right leg, with his bone protruding two inches out of his skin. A routine play resulted in an injury that prevails Joe Theismann’s and Marcus Lattimore’s twisted knees.

Ware’s teammates’ reactions were more hard-hitting than the injury itself. Louisville players were left face down on the court, partially due to piercing sound of Ware’s leg snapping in half, but mainly because of the sorrow they felt for their fallen teammate. However, Ware refused to leave his team in this state. He was heard shouting, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be ok. Get the win.” Slowly, the tears filled eyes of Russ Smith, Peyton Siva, and Rick Pitino slowly turned into faces of determination and heart. A wave of intensity took over the Louisville team as the half came to an end.

During halftime, Pitino had only one message: Bring Kevin Home. Ware played high school hoops just 29 miles away from Atlanta, Georgia, where the Final Four is being held this year.

Louisville played inspired basketball the entire second half, with relentless play on both offense and defense. Smith and Siva penetrated the paint at will, and Dieng dominated the boards. Louisville ran away with game, ultimately winning 85-63. The Cardinals celebrated not by cutting down the nets, but hoisting Ware’s jersey next to their Final Four trophy.

Louisville’s response to Ware’s injury revels the main difference between NCAA Basketball and the NBA. While All-Stars in the NBA are playing for millions of dollars, college players play for the guys next to them on the court, and that’s it. Kevin Ware’s stats label him as essentially an unimportant player on Louisville’s team; 5 points a game is easily replaceable on any Big East team. However, Ware is a true teammate, a brother to all of those on the Louisville team. While the idea of a team is lost in the NBA, as teams are only defined by their top 2 or 3 players, everyone is important on a college basketball team looking to win a National Championship.

Kevin Ware will not play in this year’s Final Four, but he is just as important as any other player on Louisville for helping his team reach this incredible achievement.

-Will Noglows

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