Vicky Graff Photo
The previous three games Zvonimir Ivisic had played a combined three minutes and the 7-2 freshman center did not have a point or rebound.
Yet Kentucky coach John Calipari said he woke up Friday morning and decided against Alabama on Saturday that Ivisic would be his first “big” sub when Ugonna Onyenso came out of the game.
Ivisic not only got in the game early but he made the most of his opportunities in Kentucky’s 117-95 win. He set a career high in points (18), field goals (seven), blocks (four) and minutes played (20).
“I had a lot of fun to be honest. My time finally came, I enjoyed my teammates, I had a lot of fun,” Ivisic said.
It was certainly his most fun since his UK debut on Jan. 20 against Georgia when he scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting, grabbed five rebounds, blocked three shots, made two steals and dished out two assists in 16 minutes. Since then he had played a total of only 41 minutes and scored 22 points (11 came against Vanderbilt).
Calipari said he knew his decision to play Ivisic early in a big game could draw media/fan criticism but he trusted his “gut” instincts.
“Even if you don’t agree with me I am playing him,” Calipari said on his postgame radio show. “That is the great thing about being king, I can do what I want. Both he and Aaron (Bradshaw) are really skilled players.”
The problem in the SEC is that Calipari said the two freshmen have to face “26 year old, 6-10, 250-pound men” most games.
“If you can’t handle that, that’s when Ugo goes in,” Calipari said.
The UK coach said Ivisic had “waited his turn” and he wasn’t worried about any pushback over playing the freshman from Croatia, especially since he knew Alabama was a team similar to Georgia in some ways.
“Georgia wants to hard show pick and rolls, so what’s open, the middle. Well Z is really good there. That’s why I said him and Aaron may play more this game because of that,” Calipari said. “There have been other games Ugo played 36 minutes because of how they (other teams) played. I’m just happy that he got a chance.”
Ivisic said he just tried to “stay focused, practice and stay locked in” when he was not getting to play a lot or sometimes none at all.
Former UK All-American Jack Givens said Ivisic gives Kentucky a “new option” on the screen and roll.
“Aaron does not want to handle the ball out there and the team doesn’t want Ugo handling the ball that far out but you can give it to Z and let him work and create,” Givens said.
He noted Ivisic hit a 3 and made some “great passes” to give UK options that Bradshaw and Onyenso do not. However, Givens also agreed with Calipari on one key point.
“Now Alabama was not real physical and was not going to body up and gave him freedom. Not a lot of teams will play him that way,” Givens said.
Mississippi State certainly will try to knock Ivisic around Tuesday if Calipari decides to use him again. However, Ivisic was just glad to contribute Saturday in a statement win for Kentucky.
“I think if we play like this, we are going to do something special this season. So we just need to stay locked in like how we were an hour ago and great things will happen,” Ivisic said.
7 Responses
We had Rupps Runts, The Fiddling Five. This team is King Cals Bipolars.
If you going attacked this team, get off the bandwagon and move on. If your so damn perfect why ain’t you on the floor or. Coach. No your just sour couch potato wants ‘s to complain. Life too short for it
What are you so shook up about? Read the article above. Calipari called himself "King"
As a member of BBN I WILL criticize when I feel it’s necessary.
You are definitely a member of the BBN. Big Boo Hoo Narcissists!
And I’m at every game cheering for our team. NOT on the couch.
I quit reading this when I saw that quote: WOW. I hadn’t heard about that as of yet–but I have to work weekends so I miss a lot of the games, so I have to do alot of catching up with reading: "THATS THE GREAT THING ABOUT BEING KING, I CAN DO WHAT I WANT"!!!!! I shouldn’t be amazed, but sometimes just the fact he has the gall to say things like that publicly on the UK Radio network is truly amazing. I mean, all these things ppl like me and the rest of u guys get dogged for saying Abt the KING–the DUDE STRAIGHT-UP ADMITS ALL OF IT!!! he is KING and he knows it! And he ain’t afraid to shove it in our face. As I have said many times, just the fact he survived the kneeling and the worst record and worst loss in history of KY bball, and an 8-yr run where one Elite 8 was the best that was achieved, and one SEC tournament win, and one reg season championship–yes he is KING, because no one else in history would have survived a stretch like that. I’ll give him this much–at least he admitted it! I will see u guys down the road–when the KING’s ways have brought down the empire, and we r on the other side of the rebuild with somebody new, somebody who not only we can ALL respect, but who HAS respect, period—Respect for others, respect for fans, respect for players. CAL, u could win every game and every championship from here on–for people like me, u dug your grave, gave your middle finger, and showed how u feel about the fans 3 yrs ago with your actions and your results–and no one at KY should be allowed to survive that. As long as this is allowed to continue, I will continue to cheer for, rather than wins, but instead what’s best for the program in the long term. It amazes me he continues to get the support that he gets. The funny thing is, these same blind followers of the KING would NEVER stand for these same actions, behaviors, and quotes from ANY OTHER MAN. but I think at this point, it’s gonna take more than just one coach going away, it’s gonna take an overhaul of the entire athletic program—Barnhart’s gotta go. He is really the one who has WRECKED the bball program.
I know what it’s like to work weekends.