Men's Basketball

Zvonimir Ivisic Shares Emotions of Learning He Was Eligible and First Kentucky Game, “It Felt Unreal”

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2024

Kentucky Wildcats center Zvonimir Ivisic smiles after hitting a shot in Rupp Arena.

When John Calipari challenged his players to come up with a word to define their new year, Zvonimir Ivisic answered, “Patient”. Demonstrating patience is easier said than done, but the Croatian seven-footer has lived by it since pledging to play for Kentucky on August 1st last year.

First, Ivisic had to wait two-plus months to be admitted to Kentucky, then another three-plus months to be deemed eligible by the NCAA. He could have easily gone back home, but he didn’t. He wanted to be a part of the Kentucky basketball program and he never lost hope of that, “I was hoping for it, I was praying. I didn’t even think about it that it won’t come.”

On Saturday morning, the good news that many doubted would ever come, finally arrived as Ivisic announced he was eligible on social media.

“I’m free.”

💙 pic.twitter.com/XgejubGY24— Zvonimir Ivisic (@zvonimir_ivisic) January 20, 2024

Learning the news from Kentucky Compliance Director, Kevin Sergent, Ivisic was overcome with emotions and shared a moment with John Calipari. “We cried, we both cried,” Ivisic told the media after the game. “It was crazy. I was running like crazy because I was nervous. I didn’t know what to do. I was too happy and excited.”

Happy and excited to step on the court for the first, no one knew what to expect. “I may play him (Ivisic) five minutes. I may play him ten. Let him get his feet wet” Calipari told the team before the game. Ivisic certainly got his feet wet, but by diving in head-first.

Checking in for the first time at the 16-minute media timeout, Big Blue Nation welcomed Ivisic to the court with a loud applause. At that moment, it was real, Ivisic was finally playing for Kentucky. “It felt unreal,” Ivisic told KY Insider after the game. “I was just listening to the crowd. I didn’t even know where to go. I was going to the right, left. I was just watching someone who was in with me, someone calling me.”

Ivisic’s game started with a block. Then a behind-the-back pass to Antonio Reeves for a three. Then four consecutive made shots, including three three-pointers. Within minutes, Ivisic put his name in Kentucky basketball lore in a debut like few have ever seen.

Ivisic finished the game with 13 points (3-4 3P), 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 assists, and 2 steals, in just 16 minutes. After all that he had endured, it was a moment of vindication as his patience and dedication had paid off.

Has Kentucky seen the best of Big Z? “I don’t know. You’ll see,” he said in his postgame interview with a smile.

Related Topics:Antonio Reeves Kentucky Basketball Zvonimir Ivisic

Men's Basketball

Jasper Johnson Makes Final U19 USA Roster Under Coach Mark Pope

Jasper Johnson has advanced in the U19 USA camp for the second time alongside the nation’s best recruits, and under Mark Pope’s wing.

Published

11 hours ago

June 20, 2025

Lane Mills

Instagram: @bruhjasperj (UK Athletics)

In a surprisingly relevant development smack dab in the middle of the offseason, Jasper Johnson has yet again advanced in the pool of players participating in the USA U19 camp.

The program, which could be a described as a sort of extension of the Team USA that just took home the gold in 2024, is comprised of some of the nation’s most anticipated talents set to take collegiate courts in the next couple of seasons.

Blue Gets In

Among them is Kentucky native and commit Johnson, and was also incoming Cat Malachi Moreno, before the latter was cut as a result of a mild injury he obtained throughout the camp’s course. Despite Moreno’s exit, his future teammate continues to impress.

Under the wing of Coach Mark Pope, who’s helmed the team in the camp up to this point, Johnson has now made the final cut after multiple roster slashes – he and only 11 other players remain in the minority that will go forward to actually compete for the team in the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup, which will take place June 28 through July 6 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The pre-competition camp serves not only as a trial of play before these athletes disperse to their own respective rosters this fall and next, but for Johnson, as a preview of what it’s like to play under Coach Pope. If his current success is any indicator, Kentucky fans may be in for something special when the pair tackle opposing teams together for the blue and white.

In similar noteworthy news, also attending the event are Taylen Kinney and Tyran Stokes, two Kentucky-born athletes with ties to Kentucky that the program is heavily recruiting. Jasper’s strong performance, combined with Coach Pope’s presence, can only help the Wildcats’ chances on that front, too.

To say the least, Mark Pope has found a way to facilitate Kentucky’s influence far beyond the boundaries of Lexington. He and Johnson, for the time being, will continue to press turn heads on the national stage, and it’s very likely that fans aren’t the only ones paying attention.

Men's Basketball

Archie Goodwin and Kahlil Whitney Set to Join La Familia This Summer

La Familia continues to add more firepower to the 2025 roster.

Published

1 day ago

June 19, 2025

Kai McClelland

James Crisp (Left), Adam Hunger (Right) | Associated Press

As the start of the 2025 TBT Tournament inches closer, La Familia has been slowly but surely adding star Wildcats to the roster.

Usually, we see announcements for new additions to the squad roll out on social media in some form, whether it be a post from La Familia’s official accounts or in form of Ansley Almonor’s announcement, which took place on BBN Tonight.

However, this time, Archie Goodwin and Kahlil “The Dragon” Whitney were added to the roster on the TBT website without any announcement, surprising Big Blue Nation as the news leaked and began to circulate.

They were removed from the website afterwards, but as of Thursday, June 19, appear on the website as listed members of the roster.

Goodwin has been an active member for years, highlighted by his semifinals appearance last year where he averaged 13.8 points per game en route.

Whitney is a name that may cause some to shed a tear, with so much potential surrounding the former five-star leading up to his debut. Ultimately, he left the program after appearing in just 18 games for Kentucky.

La Familia is competitive as all get out, shown by chippy play with guys who have nothing to lose but everything to win for the place they call home. Goodwin and Whitney, now added to that list of guys, will look to redeem themselves with one goal in mind. Win.

The official La Familia roster as of June 19:

– Willie Cauley-Stein (2012-15)

– Doron Lamb (2010-12)

– DeAndre Liggins (2008-11)

– Aaron Harrison (2013-15)

– Andrew Harrison (2013-15)

– Ansley Almonor (2024-25)

– Archie Goodwin (2012-13)

– Kahlil Whitney (2019-20)

Men's Basketball

Former Kentucky Star, 10-year NBA Veteran Eric Bledsoe Arrested and Charged with Felony Domestic Violence

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

Tristan Pharis

Former Kentucky guard Eric Bledsoe has been arrested and charged with felony domestic violence.

Scott Utterback | Courier Journal

Eric Bledsoe, a key part of the 2009-10 Kentucky team that reinvigorated the Big Blue Nation following the Billy Gillispie era, was arrested on Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the California Highway Patrol investigated a report of domestic violence. The investigators were led to a gas station on a Los Angeles-area freeway where they discovered Bledsoe with a woman who was suffering from “bruising and swelling” to her face, and who said that Bledsoe allegedly hit her. Bledsoe was booked on a felony domestic violence charge and held on $55,000 bail.

Bledsoe was previously arrested on a similar charge back in 2022, but that case was later dropped when prosecutors said the alleged victim gave “inconsistent statements about whether there was a physical altercation.”

Bledsoe was part of Kentucky’s La Familia team last year in the TBT, and was announced to return again this season.