Ware lay in agony right in front of his team's bench, his teammates all turning away abruptly, horrified by the scene Louisville sophomore Kevin Ware spoke on his basketball-playing future for the first time since suffering a gruesome leg injury that left teammates crying while simultaneously jolting the sports world.
"This is a minor setback for a major comeback," Ware told the New York Daily News on Monday. "I have to have the right approach to it. (Doctors) told me things are gonna be good for me. This is not a lifetime injury where I can never play basketball again. ...But getting to where I want to be and where I need to be is gonna take some time."
INTERACTIVE: What's ahead for Louisville's Ware
LOUISVILLE: Cardinals turn tragedy into victory, reach Final Four
PHOTO: Touching image of Ware from hospital bed
With 6:33 remaining in the first half of Louisville's Elite Eight clash with Duke, Ware jumped up for a block before landing awkwardly on one leg. He broke his right leg through the skin below his knee—leaving his leg flailed in an unnatural direction. The horrific scene caused teammates and coaches to break down.
"I jumped and my leg felt kind of funny," Ware told ESPN.com. "When Coach (Pitino) tried to help me up, he gave me a funny kind of look. I'm looking at him and then I look down and I see my bone sticking out. It wasn't a hurt feeling. I just went into shock. In the moment, you don't know what's wrong with you. You're just looking, thinking, 'How did this happen?' I never watched the replay. I never want to."
Coach Rick Pitino, who had tears in his eyes, and said he "almost threw up" on first reaction to seeing Ware's leg, said Ware was in "great spirits" Monday morning and "on crutches walking." Pitino expects Ware, a native of Atlanta, to be watching the team play on the weekend.
Ware had a steel rod inserted in his leg during a two-hour surgery late Sunday night.
Ware's mother, Lisa Junior, was not present at the game and told the Daily News she felt "distraught" in response to the injury.
Ware, who had already directed his team to "go win" after the injury, told his his mom to "calm down"
THE BEST NCAA TOURNAMENT ELITE EIGHT PHOTOS 
Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Luke Hancock gives encouragement to guard Kevin Ware as Ware is taken off the court on a stretcher in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino gets a hug from forward Chane Behanan and guard Russ Smith after the Midwest regional final against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals head coach Rick Pitino gets a hug from forward Chane Behanan and guard Russ Smith after the Midwest regional final against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee shoots against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee shoots against the Louisville Cardinals during the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Louisville won 85-63.]()
Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Mason Plumlee against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium. Louisville won 85-63.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng shoots against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng shoots against the Duke Blue Devils in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players celebrate with the Midwest regional championship trophy and the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Ware after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players celebrate with the Midwest regional championship trophy and the jersey of injured teammate Kevin Ware after defeating the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players Chane Behanan, bottom, Peyton Siva, right, and Russ Smith react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players Chane Behanan, bottom, Peyton Siva, right, and Russ Smith react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng wrestles for a loose ball on the floor with Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals center Gorgui Dieng wrestles for a loose ball on the floor with Duke Blue Devils guard Rasheed Sulaimon in the second half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Brian Spurlock, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals players Russ Smith, left, Gorgui Dieng, center, and Chane Behanan react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals players Russ Smith, left, Gorgui Dieng, center, and Chane Behanan react after an injury suffered by teammate Kevin Ware in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional against the Duke Blue Devils at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Louisville Cardinals guard Peyton Siva shoots against Duke Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry holds the ball away from Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.]()
Duke Blue Devils guard Seth Curry holds the ball away from Louisville Cardinals guard Russ Smith in the first half during the finals of the Midwest regional at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots a three-point shot against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Nik Stauskas (11) shoots a three-point shot against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) blocks the shot of Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) in the first half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) blocks the shot of Florida Gators forward Will Yeguete (15) in the first half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Corey Person (32) celebrates as his team defeats the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Corey Person (32) celebrates as his team defeats the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) celebrates in the first half against the Florida Gators during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) starts the fast break defended by Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) in the second half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Michigan defeated Florida 79-59.]()
Michigan Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (10) starts the fast break defended by Florida Gators center Patric Young (4) in the second half during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium. Michigan defeated Florida 79-59.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4), Nik Stauskas (11) and the bench celebrate as they defeat the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4), Nik Stauskas (11) and the bench celebrate as they defeat the Florida Gators 79-59 to advance to the Final Four during the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) tries to tip the ball loose from Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the second half of the South regional final game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Michigan Wolverines forward Jordan Morgan (52) tries to tip the ball loose from Florida Gators guard Scottie Wilbekin (5) during the second half of the South regional final game in the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Kevin Jairaj, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Florida Gators guard Casey Prather (24) dunks the ball between Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) and Glenn Robinson III (1) in the first half of the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.]()
Florida Gators guard Casey Prather (24) dunks the ball between Michigan Wolverines forward Mitch McGary (4) and Glenn Robinson III (1) in the first half of the South regional final of the 2013 NCAA Tournament at Cowboys Stadium.
Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall celebrates cutting down the net after beating Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall, left, celebrates winning the West Regional final 70-66 over Ohio State.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Wichita State head coach Gregg Marshall hoists the West Regional trophy after the Shockers topped second-seeded Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate after topping Ohio State 70-66 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State's Demetric Williams, right, celebrates after topping Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.]()
Wichita State players celebrate on the bench in the second half of the West Regional final vs. Ohio State. The Shockers won 70-66 to advance to the Final Four.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State guard Aaron Craft is defended by Carl Hall (22) and Cleanthony Early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Related story Fullscreen ![Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.]()
Ohio State's Aaron Craft shakes hands with teammate Shannon Scott early in the second half of the West Regional final at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Related story Fullscreen ![Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half.]()
Wichita State's Carl Hall is elbowed in the chin by Ohio State's Deshaun Thomas as he attempted a shot in the second half. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports
