Louisville's Kevin Ware likely back; Behanan remains suspended

University of Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware is healed from a gruesome compound leg fracture suffered in last season's NCAA Tournament and could begin live team practices by the end of this week, coach Rick Pitino said.

Pitino, whose team will play NCAA Division II Kentucky Wesleyan at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the KFC Yum! Center, said Ware is participating in individual instruction for the first time and showing little sign of a player of who had such a devastating injury only seven months ago.

"He's healed. He's healed," Pitino told reporters Monday afternoon. "His leg is as good as your leg or my leg."

Pitino said he doubts Ware will have any lasting mental obstacles to clear before he feels comfortable playing at full speed.

"I don't think he's going to be bothered too much psychologically," the coach said. "He wants to get out there and play. I think he'll be OK.

"He is dunking the ball with relative ease, and that tells you right there."

Pitino said Ware was initially landing on one foot after jump shots when he starting working out, but now he's landing on two.

Pitino said he envisions him being a contributor this season, but first he must overtake senior walk-on Tim Henderson, who has been playing very well in practice, as the Cards' fourth-best guard.

In other roster news:

— Pitino also said junior power forward Chane Behanan remains indefinitely suspended, although he believes Behanan is making positive changes in his behavior.

"I have no idea when he's coming back, but I'm really, really pleased because this is incorporating a lot of changes in his life that need to be made," Pitino said. "One was discipline. Another was being on time or being early, I should say. Another was respecting everything you do in the right way because there are consequences and your team is suffering without you. Your team has high expectations, and you let them down. To time management. There are a lot of positives coming out of this, and I think a changed Chane Behanan will be really, really good for him.

"...You don't like to see anybody be suspended indefinitely, but I think this is about a thing as could ever happen to him because he'll be a much better person … in terms of responsibilities because he is a dad. This is a godsend for him. … I'm totally pleased with everything that's going on in his life right now."

— Pitino said senior wing Luke Hancock will miss the KWC exhibition as he recovers from an ankle injury but could begin practicing again this week, the same time Ware returns.

— Junior-college point guard transfer Chris Jones has been in a walking boot as a precaution but is expected to start on Tuesday. Pitino said his is one of several minor injuries the team has dealt with this preseason.