Pitino: Louisville's Kevin Ware has 'clean bill of health'

Oct. 4, 2013
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Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware reacts after Louisville won the championship game in the 2013 NCAA mens Final Four against the Michigan Wolverines at the Georgia Dome. Louisville Cardinals won 82-76. / Bob Donnan, USA TODAY Sports

by USA TODAY Sports, USATODAY

by USA TODAY Sports, USATODAY

Seven months after suffering a compound leg fracture in the 2013 NCAA tournament, Louisville guard Kevin Ware is ready to play basketball again.

"He has a clean bill of health," coach Rick Pitino said Friday. "He can play all-out at the end of the month."

Pitino said Ware has been cleared to begin basketball workouts immediately, but while he may be physically ready to return to the court, Pitino cautioned he may still need to get past his injury mentally.

The 2013-14 Cardinals will take to the Yum! Center floor for the first time Saturday during the annual Red & White scrimmage. However, one player who won't be on the court is Luke Hancock, who the coach said does not need the extra playing time, but does need some more time to heal.

"He's just gonna smoke a cigar and relax," Pitino joked.

The coach said he is planning to alternate Behanan and Harrell at foward with Van Treese at center. He said he does not want to play both Behanan and Harrell at the same time this season. One team also will have a guard combination of Wayne Blackshear and Russ Smith, while the other will feature Terry Rozier and Anton Gill.