220 days ago, Kevin Ware suffered a broken leg that left an entire arena shocked to the point of tears, but before the start of Louisville's regular season, he is on the court healthy and playing basketball once again.

Ware entered the exhibition matchup against Pikeville at their home court, the KFC Yum! Center, with 13:49 left to play and his team up 27 points. About five minutes later, he took his first in-game shot since breaking his leg in half, draining a three-pointer.

The crowd erupted.

"It was great. I've never felt like that before," he told ESPN after the game. "I've been waiting for that moment."

Ware has been participating in full-contact practices since being medically cleared to do so, but he was not expecting to play Wednesday night. Ware only finished with six points and four rebounds in ten minutes, but that first three-pointer validated his long road back to the court and put him at ease.

"Once I hit the first shot, it took away all of the jitters," he said.

Louisville's coach Rick Pitino, one of the many left in tears and utter shock upon witnessing the gruesome broken leg, said Ware will suit up for the season opener Saturday against Charleston. He is uncertain if the junior guard will play or not.

"I wanted to get him some minutes just to get him over the jitters in case I need to use him against Charleston," Pitino told reporters after the game.

Ware said he only focused on his physical rehabilitation and never allowed the injury to affect him mentally. He previously told ESPN he will not watch the video of him breaking his leg.

"I can build on this," he said. "I'm just hoping to get out there and show people that I can be the same player I was before the injury."

Whether he plays or not Saturday, he said he expects his entire family to be in attendance. If it is at all possible, the Yum! Center could very well give the young basketball player an even bigger ovation should he check in.

ClLICK HERE to WATCH the video and hear to the ovation Ware received for entering the game and knocking down a three-pointer.