Ware makes big, bad Louisville the people’s choice

ATLANTA – Louisville already had the bigger names, the better team and some unfinished business after coming up short in last year’s Final Four.

All Wichita State had was the cute-and-cuddly underdog angle. Now the Shockers don’t even have that.

Kevin Ware is everybody’s favorite player since he broke his leg in gruesome fashion last weekend yet summoned the strength to encourage his teammates, and having him at the Final Four has given the top-seeded Cardinals (33-5) added motivation to claim the title that eluded them last year.

“We really want it, especially since we’re back here for a second year,” Louisville forward Wayne Blackshear said Friday. “With Kevin going down, especially the way he did, it’s just making us play harder.”

Louisville plays Wichita State (30-8) in the first national semifinal today. The Cardinals are 101/2-point favorites.

Wichita State has one player (Carl Hall) who salvaged his career after working in a light-bulb factory and two more (Ron Baker and Malcolm Armstead) who paid their way to come to school and started on the team as walk-ons. Its coach has invited fans into the locker room after big wins. Yes, this is a school with all the makings of a team the entire country could get behind.

Problem is, in this case, Louisville and Ware are already tugging on America’s heart strings.

“I’m just glad to know Kevin Ware now even more because he’s probably the most famous person I know,” Peyton Siva cracked. “You know, when you have Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama call you, it’s pretty good to say you know that person.”

Louisville’s trip to last year’s Final Four was something of a surprise, coming after the Cardinals skidded into the Big East tournament just two games over .500. So when they got to the NCAA tourney and finally got bounced by archrival and top-ranked Kentucky in the national semifinals, it wasn’t a shock. Or a huge disappointment.

This year, however, the Cardinals – and everyone else – expect Louisville to win it all.

This is the first Final Four appearance for Wichita State since 1965, but the ninth-seeded Shockers are no fluke. They’re big, they’re athletic, they rebound and, of late, they can shoot 3s better than just about anyone. Just ask Pittsburgh, a first-round victim of the hot-shooting Shockers. Or No. 1-seeded Gonzaga and No. 2-seeded Ohio State, who the Shockers sent packing.