Photo: Michelle Hutchins UofL Athletics
With the 2012-13 college basketball season quickly approaching, The Cardinal Connect will provide a brief preseason player profile for all 15 members of the team. We’ll take a look at each player’s production from last season and provide what their reasonable expectations should be in 2012-13.
#5 Kevin Ware, 6-foot-5, Guard, Soph.
2011-12 Season Review: Because of academic issues, Ware wasn’t allowed to enroll at Louisville until after the first semester of school. There are situations where some kids just have to sit out the first semester, but Ware wasn’t even allowed to enroll in school, meaning he didn’t actually get to practice with the team until Mid-December. Considering the circumstances, I think Ware had a better than expected freshman season. The talent and potential was there, but without the off-season and preseason workouts in Pitino’s system limited Ware’s production. As a freshman, he averaged 1 point in 5 minutes per game. Ware’s best game of the season came against DePaul where he scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. I don’t know many other players that could show up mid-season and actually be able to receive minutes in his first game.
2012-13 Expectations: I’m a little nervous for Ware as he enters his first full season with Louisville. His improvement was on display last weekend at the first Red – White game, but if you consider how highly Coach Pitino has praised Ware recently, I hope the fan base doesn’t have unrealistic expectations for him this season. I don’t think Ware is going to lead the team in scoring, but I think he can stuff the stat sheet and do a lot of things for the Cards. Ware has tremendous speed and athleticism and is solid on ball defender. There are certain aspects about his game that make him a lot different than any other player on the Louisville roster. Pitino has told the media that Ware will start at the two-guard this season. I’m not sure if he’ll start for the entire season, but regardless, Ware is a guy that is going to get plenty of minutes and will be a big contributor.
October 21, 2012 at 9:23 pm
After seeing Ware in the scrimmages it looks like he has improved his mid-range game. He still doesn’t seem to be threat shooting the three ball, but hopefully that will come. I see ware being a crucial piece to our team this year. He plays great defense which will be bad news for other teams considering Russ and Peyton already cause enough problems for other teams,leading the Big East in steals last year. Ware has great athleticism which shows up in his ability to rebound for his size, block shots and get the basket. I think Ware will have a breakout season and contribute all across the board.