Louisville put the finishing touches on the Final Four by rolling past Duke 85-63 to win the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Kevin Ware #5 of the Louisville Cardinals talks with teammate Luke Hancock #11 as Ware is tended to by medical personnel after he injured his leg in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils
Kevin Ware #5 of the Louisville Cardinals talks with teammate Luke Hancock #11 as Ware is tended to by medical personnel after he injured his leg in the first half against the Duke Blue Devils (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Russ Smith scored 23 points to lead the way while Gorgui Dieng had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Louisville managed to pull off the overwhelming win despite seeing teammate Kevin Ware suffer a gruesome broken leg in the first half.

The injury occurred as Ware tried to contest a shot and the leg buckled when he landed, bending almost at a right angle.

Louisville coach Rick Pitino said after the game that the bone broke in two places and was protruding out of Ware's leg.

Louisville spokesman Kenny Klein said hospital officials told the school that Ware was "resting comfortably" and that the pain is "under control."

As the final seconds ticked down, Chane Behanan put Ware's jersey on and stood at the end of the Louisville bench as screaming. Cardinals fans chanted Ware's name.

The Cardinals earned their second straight trip to the Final Four and will meet surprising Wichita State in the semifinals on Saturday.

The Michigan Wolverines bench celebrates their 79 to 59 win over the Florida Gators
The Michigan Wolverines bench celebrates their 79 to 59 win over the Florida Gators ( Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Earlier, Michigan earned a trip to Atlanta next week with a by dominating Florida 79-59 to clinch the South Regional title.

Nik Stauskas led the way to the Wolverines seventh Final Four appearance with 22 points, including six three-pointers. Big Ten player of the year Trey Burke added 15 points while Mitch McGary chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The win moves Michigan into a Saturday's national semifinal meeting with Syracuse.

 

 


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