USA Today Sports
Believe it or not, the college basketball season officially begins next month. For the defending National Champions and head coach Rick Pitino, the difficulty and pressure of winning back-to-back titles is at the forefront this season.
Interestingly enough however, is the fact that the Louisville Cardinals may very well be even more talented than they were a year ago. Bottom line is this — can Louisville win a consecutive national championship this season? You better believe it.
One returning player who is surely eager to hit the court is injured shooting guard, Kevin Ware. The staple point for the Cardinals’ motivation late in the NCAA Tournament last spring is eying a mid-October rehabilitation start, but there’s no true timetable for Ware’s return to the hardwood.
Pitino told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that the team is going to take their time with Ware and considering the severity of his injury, that’s probably a wise decision. Pitino did not go as far as to say that the team will redshirt Ware for the 2013-14 season, but certainly that option has not been ruled out entirely.
Ware played a consistent role last season, coming off the bench and giving the Cardinals’ back court some added depth throughout his sophomore season. With Ware and his role here in 2013-14 however, Louisville can be patient, as they should. The talent and depth speaks for itself and Ware does not need to be thrown back into the mix, especially when he recovering from an injury that virtually shocked the college basketball world last March.
Patience is a good thing for Ware, so there’s no need for him to be rushed back onto the court.
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