'God really heard me': Louisville teammate pictured comforting Kevin Ware after injury wins NCAA game for his team...as his friend prayed from the sideline

Injured Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware has told how he was unable to watch the final moments of his team's win against Wichita State last night - but he was praying for the teammates.


And it was Luke Hancock - who was pictured comforting Ware last week - who made the crucial last defensive play of the game with eight seconds to go.


'I kind of feel like that's when God really heard me,' Ware told USA today.

Last week Ware was in an unimaginable amount of pain as he broke his leg in front of millions.


But how things have changed for Louisville guard Kevin Ware as he took things easy on the sidelines with glamorous CBS sidleine host Tracy Wolfson.




A hard life: Kevin Ware cosies up to CBS's Tracy Wolfson at the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game against Wichita State



Last week: Luke Hancock comforts ware after his horrific injury last week



This week: Hancock (11) celebrates with teammates afterhe played a crucial roel in his team's defeat the Wichita State Shockers



Taking things easy: Louisville's Kevin Ware sits on the bench at the court before the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game against Wichita State

There was a loud cheer when Ware, on crutches and surrounded by a crowd of photographers, followed his teammates onto the floor before the Cardinals' matchup against Wichita State.


Ware's team won by 72-68 in a tight match.


He sat in a chair by the Louisville bench, with his injured leg resting on a stack of towels in another chair.


Ware said he feels "great."

"Obviously, it's great to be home," he said in a brief, pregame interview on CBS.


"I've had a lot of support, and I really appreciate it."


Ware signed with Louisville from Rockdale County High School, about 30 miles east of Atlanta.


Throughout much of a back-and-forth first half, Ware watched the game passively. He was unable to join the Cardinals during timeouts, with the team huddled on the raised court above the bench at the Georgia Dome.







Kevin Ware celebrates as his team advances to the NCAA final


Ware's right tibia snapped and broke through his skin in last Sunday's Midwest Regional victory over Duke. The brutal injury ended his postseason as a player but didn't end his role as a teammate. Before he was taken off the court that evening, he told the shocked Louisville players to "win this game."


Louisville players paid tribute to Ware, No. 5, before their national semifinal, wearing


T-shirts over their jerseys in pregame warmups with the words "Ri5e to the Occasion."




Fanfare: Injured Louisville Cardinals guard Kevin Ware comes to the court ahead of his team's NCAA men's Final Four basketball game against the Wichita St. Shockers in Atlanta



Members of the Louisville Cardinals wear the number 5 on their warm up shirts to honor injured teammate Kevin Ware before the NCAA men's Final Four basketball game against the Witchita State






Louisville Cardinals guard/forward Wayne Blackshear (20) misses on a slam dunk against the Wichita State Shockers in the first half of their NCAA men's Final Four basketball game

Louisville's pep band also wore the T-shirts.


A Louisville fan held a sign reading "Wa5e them out!"


Ware had surgery Sunday night, was released two days later and on Wednesday flew with the team to Atlanta.


He also found time to read the top 10 list of "Thoughts going through Kevin Ware's mind" on David Letterman's TV show after he broke his leg. His No. 1 item: "At least my bracket's not busted."


The surgery, travel and sudden celebrity combined to leave the sophomore drained by the time he reached Atlanta.


Ware was so exhausted he fell asleep at the team's dinner table on Thursday night.


That convinced team officials to decide he needed a full day of rest Friday so he would be able to attend Saturday's game.



Louisville's Russ Smith (2) shoots against Wichita State during the first half of the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball semifinal game