Kevin Ware could be back on Louisville’s bench for Final Four

Kevin Ware collapsed in front of Louisville’s bench on Sunday after gruesomely breaking his leg in the first half against Duke.

Next Saturday in Atlanta, if all goes well, he’ll be back on the bench for Louisville’s NCAA national semifinal game against Wichita State.

Ware had surgery Sunday night to repair the fracture and is reportedly resting comfortably at an Indianapolis hospital.

“As long as nothing happens infection-wise, we expect him to come home tomorrow to Louisville,” Coach Rick Pitino said Monday on a national conference call with the three other Final Four coaches. “We’re going to leave Wednesday night. Kevin will be with us.”

As horrific as the injury was, Pitino said doctors expect Ware to make a full recovery.

Pitino said Ware has received many phone calls, including one from former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann, who suffered a severe leg break on “Monday Night Football” in 1985.

“A lot of really positive calls that are making him feel good,” Pitino said.

Ware is already up on crutches because doctors want to keep the blood flowing to the break area.

Pitino spent the night with Ware in the hospital and then drove back to Louisville on Monday.

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