Indiana Center Kel'el Ware Battling Ankle Injury Before Illinois Game Saturday

After missing Friday's game at Wisconsin with an ankle injury, Indiana's starting center Kel'el Ware's availability is in question for Saturday's game at Illinois.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana is preparing for a trip to Illinois on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, but the status of starting center Kel'el Ware is up in the air.

Ware did not play during Indiana's loss at Wisconsin on Friday, and he wore a walking boot on the sidelines to protect his ankle injury. Indiana coach Mike Woodson shared an update on Ware Thursday.

"He was on the floor a little [Wednesday]," Woodson said. "He did some warm up drills with us. Nothing where he's had contact where he has to cut and block out and block shots. Things of that nature, no. He just basically did some endurance stuff on the floor with us during our warmups. So I'll get a better feel [Thursday] once we get down there and see where he is."

Ware has played a key role for the Hoosiers this season after joining the team as a transfer from Oregon. He plays 30.9 minutes per game and averages 14.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 blocks per game. He's shooting 54.5% from the field, 67.6% free throw line and 41.7% from 3-point range on 24 attempts.

Indiana Hoosiers center Kel'el Ware (1) dribbles the ball while Morehead State Eagles forward Dieonte Miles (23) defends in the second half at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall / Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Ware has started 17 games for Indiana and missed two due to injury. When healthy, he's difficult for opponents to contain on pick-and-roll alley-oops, and he's Indiana's best rim protector, something the Hoosiers' defense missed in a 91-79 loss at Wisconsin. 

The 7-footer seven double-doubles this season, plus four 20-point games, including a career-high 28 points in a neutral site win over Harvard in November. Ware was recently slotted at No. 26 overall on The Ringer's 2024 NBA mock draft. 

If Ware is unable to play, prior situations suggest Woodson will start 6-foot-10 junior Payton Sparks. The Ball State transfer started both games when Ware was out with injury. Sparks scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots in 14 minutes against Kennesaw State on Dec. 29, and he scored seven points with two rebounds against Wisconsin in 29 minutes before fouling out. 

Illinois' style of play could allow Woodson to opt for a smaller lineup if Ware is out, perhaps implementing a three-guard lineup with a combination of Xavier Johnson, Gabe Cupps, Trey Galloway and CJ Gunn.

Illinois is coming off a 96-91 overtime loss at Northwestern on Wednesday.

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