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John Calipari Says Zvonimir Ivisic Is Suffering Mentally Amidst Eligibility Case, Criticizes NCAA

Published

11 months ago

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John Calipari coaching Kentucky big man Zvonimir Ivisic at Kentucky Basketball practice.

Zvonimir Ivisic arrived in Lexington 71 days ago, with the understanding that he would have the file to be eligible with the NCAA, but also the expectation that he would be available to play fairly soon. Once thought to be the first seven-footer Kentucky would have in the lineup with Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso still recovering from offseason injuries, he has still not been cleared by the NCAA.

According to John Calipari, it’s starting to take a toll on Ivisic mentally and physically.

“All that he’s been through — He was 242 (pounds). He went down to 219. Not sleeping, struggling to eat. You know what I am saying,” Calipari said. This comes after Ivisic, on Wednesday, said he would be going home for Christmas, which Calipari says he is good with. “The best thing for him, not for me. He needs to get home. He needs to be around his family.”

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Ivisic will return in time for the Illinois State game next Friday, and Calipari says they hope to hear something by then. However, chances are slim to none that will happen as the NCAA Eligibility Center is closed until January 2nd.

That said, Ivisic’s eligibility case is now past the point of frustration, it is unfair to a young man who clearly wants to be a part of the Kentucky program. At this point, the hold-up seems to be the amateurism aspect. According to the NCAA, to receive an amateurism certificate, an athlete cannot receive money that exceeds “actual and necessary expenses.”

That is a broad rule and one that does not fit in the current collegiate athletics landscape with NIL.

“You do know juniors/seniors make hundreds of thousands in high school. High school,” Calipari stated. “‘Well, it’s stated different’. Stop it. That’s why we are in this position. The Supreme Court and every court says no, you can’t do it that way.”

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Ivisic is not the first international player to seek NCAA eligibility in the NIL, but the vast majority have been cleared. For example, just look at UCLA who brought in Aday Mara (Spain) and Berke Buyuktuncel (Turkey) this offseason, who have both since been cleared.

Both played for European club teams, had agents, and received money. Mara specifically was even sued by his former club team for breach of contract, seeking a $608,000 exit fee.

The best case scenario is that Ivisic is cleared. Even if he is denied, there is some belief that Kentucky would sue the NCAA. However, nothing can be done until an answer is given one way or another. The further Ivisic’s case goes without an answer, the less likely it is that he will play for Kentucky.

Until then, we can only hope.

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky Basketball Players Say They Think About Winning National Championship “Every Second”

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3 days ago

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November 18, 2024

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Kentucky basketball players celebrate after their big over Duke.
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The expectations at Kentucky are the highest of any school in the country, and there is good reason why. The winningest college program ever. Eight national titles, under five different coaches. Seventeen Final Four appearances. You get it, a lot of success.

Fans want the players to have those same expectations. Despite not having the elite talent or preseason hype of great Kentucky teams past, this year’s team still has their eyes set on doing something “people will remember forever”, winning a national championship.

Asked on social media, if hanging banner #9 was all the players thought about “every second”, Ansley Almonor had a response.

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“We do.”

It takes a lot to win a national championship, including some luck, but this team is certainly going to be loved for their desire to live out their dream of playing at Kentucky and their unselfishness. Those two things can take them a long way this season .

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Men's Basketball

Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart Seemingly Takes Shot at John Calipari, “Anybody Can Recruit”

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5 days ago

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November 16, 2024

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Mitch Barnhart sitting next to basketball coach John Calipari.
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John Calipari and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart had their differences over fifteen years, but success can hide a lot of things. Not that they hated each other, but they each had vastly different personalities. As that success weaned towards the end of Calipari’s tenure, those issues started to be noticed publically.

If you need evidence of that, despite their efforts to dispute it, there is the infamous press conference where Barnhart talked about “entitled” coaches, shortly after Calipari publicly called for a new practice facility. Then, there were multiple times when Calipari expressed that the administration was not on the same page and that he was facing “headwinds”.

That said, Calipari is now at Arkansas, but those differences and some disdain remain. During an interview on the Kentucky Football pregame show, Barnhart seemingly took a shot at Calipari when asked about Mark Pope’s recruiting philosophy and prioritizing fit.

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“I tell people all the time, ‘Anybody can recruit, not everybody can evaluate,’” Barnhart said. “You can recruit. You can be phenomenal at bringing people to your program. But if it does not fit you, it’s really not helpful.”

Of course, Calipari is one of the best, if not the best, recruiters in college basketball history. At times, he prioritized talent and athleticism over fit.

Quite the coincidence.

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Men's Basketball

ESPN’s Jay Williams Gives Message to Kentucky Fans, “You’re Not Going to Like It…”

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7 days ago

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November 15, 2024

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ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams gives a message to Kentucky fans after the Wildcats win over Duke. "You won't like it."
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Back in April, opposing fanbases like Duke, told Kentucky fans to “cope with Pope” following the hire of Mark Pope and the corresponding initial shock. On Tuesday, those same fanbases had to watch as Mark Pope outcoached Jon Scheyer and Duke in the final minutes of the Champion’s Classic to get his first marque win in just his third game at Kentucky.

Of course, shortly after the game, Duke fans began to rationalize the loss by highlighting their team’s youth. While true, it sounded like an echo chamber of what Kentucky fans said for years under John Calipari. One notable example was former Blue Devil Jay Williams.

At halftime, while Duke was leading 46-37, Williams called this year’s Duke team the most talented since the 2001 team that he was a part of at halftime. To his credit, he complimented Kentucky on the comeback victory, specifically on their offense and maturity, but then 36 hours later he posted a message to Kentucky fans on social media.

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“Let me put you on to something,” Williams started. “Whether you like it or not, networks are going to sell Cooper Flagg. He’s going to be the number one pick in the draft. You’re going to talk about whether he won the or whether he lost the game, regardless of the outcome.”

“You’re not going to like it. There should be more kudos to Mark Pope and Kentucky,” Williams continued. “Regardless of whether you won the game or not, they’re still going to sell Cooper Flagg because he is selling the sport. Sorry.”

William’s statement is true. That said, it comes off as ‘sour grapes’ about losing. Cooper Flagg is a great talent and will likely be the first pick in the NBA Draft, but most Kentucky fans would say they would much rather have the win than the marketing.

Futhermore, Kentucky and its ‘brand’ has raised the level of multiple players and coaches, and will continue to do so. A deeper impact than Cooper Flagg will have on Duke in just one season.

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