Zvonimir Ivisic, left, cheers for his teammates during Thursday’s win over Louisville. (Vicky Graff Photo)
If John Calipari had his way, Zvonimir Ivisic would not be going home to Croatia for a few days during Kentucky’s Christmas break.
“I’d rather him be with me, stay with me. But for him, the best thing for him is to get home. He needs to be around his family,” Calipari said Thursday night after UK’s win over Louisville.
‘He was 242 pounds, he’s 219 (now). He’s not sleeping, not eating.”
Ivisic is still waiting for the NCAA to rule on his eligibility. He arrived at UK in mid-October but the NCAA has yet to make a decision. Calipari said the 7-2 Ivisic plans to be back at UK before the Illinois State game Dec. 29th.
“Hopefully we’ll hear something.”
It was obvious Calipari is more than just a bit miffed at the NCAA’s logic.
“Here’s the crazy thing: juniors are making hundreds of thousands — in high school,” Calipari said. “Seniors, hundreds of thousands. High school. It’s different (outside the U.S.). That’s why we’re in this position.
“That is why the Supreme Court and every court says, ‘No, you can’t do it that way.’ I am hoping they look at this.”
Calipari’s statement could mean the NCAA is concerned about pay/benefits Ivisic may have received while playing basketball in Croatia before coming to the United States to hopefully play for Kentucky.
6 Responses
Wonder if he’ll come back
Apparently NCAA wasn’t concerned when they clear one of the international players a UCLA play the same league as big Z didt
I wonder if coach used his on denaro for transportation? Curious to how that works? I figured since he buying pants at Costco, he did. Ya gotta feel sorry for this guy. If he’d stay with me, I’d venture him around to certain G League teams, go to games, eat KFC. Of course i’d work him silly around the perimeter playing "around the world" one of my favorite shooting games/drill. The Mad Ants would be the first stop in Indianapolis. And of course we’d visit Wooden’s statue. I’d also tell him about the time I got John Wooden’s autograph at UofL’s dinner banquet. Last, it’s only $700 to join the NBA Combine/tryout. He should comeback and join the team for the experience eligible or not. Get his weight back then head to the combine. I’ll pony up the cash.
Someone who toots their own horn, has no horn.
Jimmy! Jimmy!! What does that mean??? We all know that you are a Calipari lover, but Calipari toots his own horn more than any coach in Division 1! Does that mean that Calipari no longer has a "horn"???
Z is history. He will go home for Christmas and never come back. It’s just as well. The F’ing hoosiers that run the NCAA are never going to let him play at Kentucky. I bet if he were to come back next season to play for another team, he would get cleared immediately.
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