Ivisic Confident He Will “help a little bit at least” As He Waits For NCAA Approval To Play

Vicky Graff Photo

Several times Kentucky coach John Calipari has said he’s not worried about the NCAA clearing 7-2 freshman Zvonimir Ivišić of Croatia to play for the Cats this season.

So maybe it’s no big deal that UK athletics issued this statement Thursday one day after UK’s Media Day:

“As a department, we want to clarify, Zvonimir Ivisic has been cleared to practice and play in all intra-squad games. That said, he can not compete against outside competition, including exhibition games, until he is approved by the NCAA. There was miscommunication in this regard and, as we always do, we plan to adhere to NCAA rules. Until he is fully cleared, Zvonimir will be withheld from games against outside competition.”

This likely is just the normal process that takes a lot longer at times than coaches/fans want for the NCAA to make a ruling. Still, it’s interesting that UK felt it needed to issue the statement.

Ivisic said at Media Day that workouts at Kentucky have been tougher and longer than anything he’s been used to. He said he’s had some hard times but is confident “everything will come into place, so I am not worried.”

He has learned U.S. basketball lingo as he talked about UK having “some dogs” on the court and how talented his teammates are. Calipari and others have warned that Ivisic is far behind other UK players in every area.

“I’ll do my best to help the team so I’ll give 100 percent, of course. I’m gonna help a little bit at least,” he said.

It was interesting listening to him explain how he was overwhelmed at Big Blue Madness, his first introduction to UK fans. He didn’t do a lot but still was amazed by BBN. Same at the Blue-White Game last week even though he did not play and likely will not play in Friday night’s exhibition game against Georgetown.

“They (players) told me all these good things, like, there is a big crowd always watching. Everybody’s going to know me on campus. Everybody wants to take pictures with me, sign autographs and that stuff,” he said. “I was expecting some people, but it was crazy.”