Indiana basketball releases injury report ahead of matchup with Illinois

The Indiana basketball program hits the hardwood for game number 20 of the 2023-24 season on Saturday afternoon and released its official injury report this morning.

The Big Ten began with its weekly availability report for football this season and announced that it would be conducting the same schedule with basketball. It was announced that programs will have to release their injury reports three hours before tip.

For Indiana, its injury report listed forward Kel’el Ware as questionable.

Update: Per Jeff Goodman, Indiana sophomore center Kel’el Ware is expected to miss today’s matchup at Illinois.

Ware, who missed Friday night’s 91-79 loss to No. 11 Wisconsin with an ankle injury, had been off the practice floor for most of the last week after suffering a ‘twisted ankle’ in practice leading up to last week’s game.

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On Thursday morning, Woodson said Ware had returned to the floor but in a ‘non contact’ capacity.

“He was on the floor a little yesterday (Wednesday),” Woodson said. “He did some warmup drills with us. Nothing where he’s had contact where he had — has to cut and — 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 warm up.

“So I’ll get a better feel today (Thursday) once we get down there and see where he is today.”

Ware has been an extremely consistent player for Indiana this season, currently averaging 14.2 points, 9.4 rebound and 1.6 blocks per game.

The 7-foot center has seven double-doubles this season.

Ware has scored in double-figures in 14 of his 17 appearances this season. He is averaging 13.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game in Big Ten games.

Ware has missed two games this season — both times seeing Payton Sparks start in his place.

Indiana basketball faces Illinois at 3:00 pm ET on FOX.

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