Kevin Ware on Crutches After Broken Leg Injury [UPDATE/PHOTOS]: Louisville B-Baller Recovers with Team Post-Surgery, 'I've Never had this Much Support in My Life' [VIDEO]

As Mstars originally reported, NCAA b-baller Kevin Ware suffered a devastatingly gruesome leg injury during the first half of Louisville's March Madness Elite Eight game against Duke on Sunday night (March 31). When Ware attempted to block a three-point shot by Blue Devils player Tyler Thornton, he landed awkwardly on his right leg, resulting in a severe open wound. Ware was transported to a local Indianapolis hospital where he promptly underwent two hours of surgery. On Monday (April 1), Ware was recovering on crutches post-surgery when several members of the Lousiville Cardinals community stopped by for a supportive visit, including Coach Rick Pitino, several teammates, and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Medial Relations at Lousiville Kenny Klein. They presented Ware with the Cardinals' victory trophy over Duke (with a score of 85-63) - the team will now advance to the Final Four tournament. According to an emotionally overwhelmed Ware, "I've never had this much support in my life" (Louisville Courier-Journal).

With just six minutes left in the first half of the b-ball game on Sunday, 20-year-old Ware suffered a severe compound fracture following his devastating fall and was taken to an area hospital near Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for treatment. WARNING - the below clip of Ware's injury is very graphic:

Although Ware appeared to be in severe pain, he remained relatively calm while he was transported onto a stretcher and wheeled off the court. According to Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who was in tears throughout the entire ordeal, Ware kept repeating to his worried teammates, "Just win the game." And that's exactly what they did - Louisville defeated Duke 85-63 and now advance to the Final Four. And according to Coach Pitino, Ware will travel to Atlanta's Georgia Dome with Louisville to support his team in the Final Four this weekend.

"The doctors here have been tremendous. The hospital has been tremendous. And the operated right away on him. He's not in any pain. So, we're real pleased with that," Pitino told ESPN after his visit Monday. "He'll come back tomorrow to Louisville and travel with the team to Atlanta."

Following surgery, where doctors reset the bone (broken in two places) and inserted a rod into his right tibia, Ware remained in "good spirits." Check out the Twitpics posted by Kenny Klein on Monday:

@KKcards: "Louisville Coach Rick Pitino and Richard Pitino visit guard Kevin Ware at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis today."

@KKcards: "Louisville G Kevin Ware up and moving on crutches today after surgery to repair a broken leg yesterday #L1C4."

"He was real excited about (the trophy)," Pitino told the  Associated Press. "I said to him, 'You want me to bring it back or stay with you?' He said, 'It's staying with me.' I said, 'All right, just make sure you don't lose it.'"

Following the gruesome incident on Sunday, Ware told ESPN (via Adam Himmelsbach of the Louisville Courier-Journal), "I jumped and my leg felt kind of funny. When Coach P 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."

Ware was overcome with emotion right before the surgery, especially when he saw his teammates celebrating and Chase Behanan holding up his No. 5 jersey. "Once I was by myself, I let the tears out... Those are my brothers. I love them to death."

Ware will begin rehab soon, and although he may not be hitting the court anytime soon, he'll remain a powerful inspiration for his team - "I've never had this much support in my life," Ware told Himmelsbach. "Like, I'm just so grateful for it, you know?"

Ware also tweeted on Monday:

@_billionairebev: "Again I'm thankful for all the support I'm receiving right now. Never thought I'd be the talk of the country."

Check out a selection of #WinForWare supportive tweets sent out by fans, celebs, and fellow players here.