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Kevin Ware to suit up for Louisville’s opener on November 9

Louisville v Wichita State

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 06: Injured player Kevin Ware #5 of the Louisville Cardinals waves to the fans after the Cardinals defeat the Wichita State Shockers 72-68 during the 2013 NCAA Men’s Final Four Semifinal at the Georgia Dome on April 6, 2013 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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As the start of the regular season approaches, the return of Louisville guard Kevin Ware does as well.

According to head coach Rick Pitino the junior guard, who suffered a broken leg in the first half of Louisville’s Elite Eight victory over Duke in March, is expected to be in uniform when the defending national champions open their season on November 9 against the College of Charleston.

“He’ll suit up for the first game,” Pitino told ESPN.com. “Whether he gets in or not, we’ll see.”

Ware was cleared medically last week, paving the way for a return to the court sooner than many anticipated. But as Pitino noted in the story, it’s not only about Ware returning to the court. The goal is that when he returns to the floor Ware is in position to flourish and be a contributor on a team that doesn’t lack for talent on the perimeter.

Louisville welcomes back Russ Smith, Wayne Blackshear and Final Four MOP Luke Hancock while adding highly regarded junior college transfer Chris Jones and freshmen Anton Gill and Terry Rozier. Adding Ware would make the Cardinals even deeper on the perimeter, with Chane Behanan and Montrezl Harrell expected to lead the way inside.

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