Men's Basketball
Tre Mitchell Calls Zvonimir Ivisic Debut “Just The Beginning”
Published
1 year agoon

The saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait,” as was the case for Zvonimir Ivisic. After months of waiting, Ivisic made his long-awaited Kentucky debut this past Saturday against Georgia and did so in a big way. Prior to the game, John Calipari told the team he would play and “get his feet wet.”
Ivisic certainly got his feet wet, but by diving in head-first.
It 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 had 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 sixteen minutes.
The best part of the game? Ivisic said it was when his teammates mobbed him and celebrated with him on the court. “I know it meant a lot to them, for me to cheer for them. It meant a lot to me, for them to cheer for me,” Ivisic said.
Following the game, his teammates went on to talk about the impressive debut, including Tre Mitchell. “You seen it,” Mitchell said. “You know Z brings, he brings a lot to the table for us, and him being free finally is great.”
“Props to him in that he’s been patient throughout the whole process, and has stayed ready the whole time. So, his play speaks for itself.”
However, while Ivisic was patient, Mitchell wondered if he would ever be able to play. “There were times I was just like, ‘Is this ever going to happen?’ It was almost like a test for him, mentally. He passed the test and is reaping the rewards. This is just the beginning.”
If this is just the beginning, teams will be wishing Big Z was never freed.
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Men's Basketball
Otega Oweh Declares for NBA Draft, Maintains College Eligibility
Arguably the centerpiece of last year’s team, Otega Oweh has declared for the NBA Draft… but that doesn’t mean he’s officially gone.
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Published
5 days agoon
April 16, 2025Few players have taken the Big Blue Nation by storm like Otega Oweh did with his arrival this past season. A lot was new in Lexington last year, but #00 stuck out for a number of reasons; namely, his infectious energy on the court and the high odds that he was going to put an opponent on a poster on any given night.
Now, Oweh has declared for the NBA Draft. He made the announcement on social media, calling Kentucky fans the “best fans in the world.”
While this may seem dire for folks keeping tabs on next year’s roster, that last line in Oweh’s announcement is crucial: “…while maintaining my NCAA eligibility.” Essentially, Otega’s time in Lexington is far from over, at least for the time being.
Whether or not “Tegatron” returns to Rupp will likely depend on what he hears during the draft process, and where exactly he wants to land. In the modern college basketball landscape, it’s become common practice for players to “test the waters” in the draft, just to get an idea as to where they stand with the league, before returning to college for another year of development.
Take, for example, Jaxson Robinson just last season. Before his eventual transfer to Kentucky, Robinson declared for the draft out of BYU, maintaining his eligibility, before pulling from the process in order to spend his senior year at Kentucky. It happens all the time.
While that doesn’t necessarily set Oweh’s return in stone, it at least gives the Big Blue Nation to take a breather and keep calm, as his departure is far from official. Either way, #00 is a Lexington legend whose first go-around in Kentucky blue was as memorable as anyone’s could be. The “Oweh, Oweh, Oweh” chants will go on regardless.
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Men's Basketball
Four Star Forward Visiting Kentucky Amidst Recruitment Rumors
Mark Pope is looking to close out a strong sophomore effort in the transfer portal, and this freshman guard may be the final piece.
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Published
5 days agoon
April 16, 2025As the transfer portal trucks on (and the NCAA races to find ways to regulate it), Mark Pope is looking to tie a bow on his already highly-ranked 2025-26′ roster. The latest potential addition becomes in the form of a freshman who, after pulling his commitment from West Virginia, will be on an official visit to Kentucky today, Wednesday, April 16.
Braydon Hawthorne, the 6’8″ forward at hand, is a lengthy, scoring wing with high upside on the offensive end. His 7’3″ wingspan opens opportunities for development on the defensive end, too – he’s an investment opportunity of the highest order. On3 currently has him at 48th on their ranking of 2025 recruits.
In addition to Kentucky and West Virginia (where Hawthorne is from), schools such as Virginia Tech, Arizona State, Marquette, Dayton, Old Dominion, Mount St. Mary’s, and more have thrown their hats into the ring, although the general consensus seems to be that Kentucky has the strongest pull/interest in the prospect for the time being.
Whether or not that actually means he’ll be in blue and white is unfortunately unsure – as that’s how the transfer portal operates – but an in-person visit is a good indicator of mutual interest. Plus, with Kentucky “losing out” on Lamar Wilkerson, who committed to Indiana, a scoring spot in the back court remains open… and Hawthorne is a compelling candidate to fill it.
While Wildcats fans wait patiently for a potential commitment, all eyes are on Coach Cody Fueger’s X account for a trademark “boom” post.
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Men's Basketball
Brandon Garrison Announces Return To Kentucky For The 2025-26 Season
Published
1 week agoon
April 12, 2025Brandon Garrison isn’t going anywhere.
The 6-foot-10 forward will be returning to the Kentucky Wildcats for his junior season in the 2025-26 campaign.
Garrison took to social media first, posting a story on his personal Instagram that showed a simple graphic reading the words “I’m back.”
Brandon Garrison announces via his Instagram story that he will be returning to Kentucky for the 2025-26 season.#BBN #KentuckyWildcats #BrandonGarrison pic.twitter.com/AkDzaU4GAd— KY Insider (@KyInsider) April 12, 2025
Speculation and rumors have swirled around the Oklahoma native all offseason, and with the addition of Andrija Jelavic, Big Blue Nation worried that Garrison would be hitting the portal sooner than later.
Now, with his returning announcement public, Garrison will look to assert himself in the offseason as a dominant force that deserves the starting role.
Last season, he backed up Amari Williams, coming off of the bench and averaging 5.9 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game in just 17.3 minutes a night.
It’s unclear if he’s guaranteed anything in regards to a starting spot. However, having played a year already in Mark Pope’s system, Garrison may get a nod for the role over one of the transfer pickups.
Pope and the coaching staff have been publicly confident in the development of “BG” and see him as a vocal leader on and off the court.
With a full offseason ahead where he’ll be harnessing his skill set and bettering his game in any way possible, Kentucky fans will be glad that Garrison chose to stick around another year.
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