ATLANTA — After one of the most thrilling championship games in NCAA Tournament history came one of the most emotional moments.
Louisville’s key reserve, Kevin Ware of The Bronx, was able to cut down the net after university officials wisely asked Georgia Dome officials to lower the basket in front of the Louisville bench.
“They said they got me, and they did,’’ Ware said.
Ware suffered a gruesome compound fracture in his right leg in the Midwest Region final against Duke. As he was sprawled on the floor, the bone protruding through his skin, Ware displayed ultimate selflessness, imploring the Cardinals to get him to Atlanta, where his family now lives.
“If he doesn’t gather us together, I don’t know if we can emotionally come back either,’’ Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. “I couldn’t control it. He got us focused, because you can’t beat Duke if you’re not focused. And he helped us win that game.’’
Unlike the semifinal win over Wichita State — when Ware ditched his crutches and hopped up on to the Georgia Dome court to implore his teammates to dig deep — he stayed on the bench throughout the Cards’ gripping 82-76 win over Michigan.
“There was no need,’’ Ware said. “I felt like there was no need. They got the job done without me.’’
Several of the Cardinals were clearly emotional when the basket was lowered and Ware reached up, scissors in hand, to snip off the final strands of the net.
That was great because Kevin wanted to play so bad today,’’ forward Wayne Blackshear said. “Just for us to win this for him, it’s great for all of us.’’