With 6:39 remaining in the first half of the Elite Eight matchup with Duke, sophomore guard Kevin Ware contested a three point shot by Duke player Tyler Thornton. Upon landing, Ware’s leg snapped in two places, thrusting the game out of the attention of everyone in attendance. The injury sent the crowd into shock, Duke into disbelief, and teammates and Coach Pitino into tears. But with a newfound motivation to play, the Cardinals would out play Duke in the second half winning 85-63, all in effort to “Get Kevin home” to the Final Four in Atlanta.
“All he kept saying – and remember the bone is six inches out of his leg – all he’s yelling is ‘win the game, win the game!’ I’ve never seen that in my life. We’re all distraught and all he’s saying is ‘win the game’ while the bone is out of his leg – pretty special young man.”
-Coach Rick Pitino
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Photo by Austin Lassell/The Louisville Cardinal
