Kentucky's Zvonimir Ivisic announces he has been ruled eligible by NCAA

Kentucky fans, coaches and players can finally rejoice, because Zvonimir Ivisic, also known as “Big Z,” has been freed by the NCAA and is cleared to play for the Wildcats, starting with tonight’s home game vs. Georgia.

Ivisic announced the news himself via the following post on Twitter (or X). You can read what he said right here or watch the clip down below:

“Hey BBN, guess what? I’m free. See you all tonight at the game and I thank you all for the support. Go BBN!”

💙 pic.twitter.com/XgejubGY24

— Zvonimir Ivisic (@zvonimir_ivisic) January 20, 2024

Shortly after the video from Ivisic, Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart confirmed the grand news and posted the following tweet regarding the Wildcat big man’s eligibility:

“We’re happy to share that Zvonimir Ivisic is eligible to play. Want to thank everyone at the University of Kentucky, our UK Athletics staff and the NCAA for working through this. Exciting time for @UKCoachCalipari, @KentuckyMBB and #BBN. Go Big Blue!”

Ivisic’s eligibility case took on a life of its own among the Big Blue Nation, as Kentucky fans have rallied all season long to try and get their foreign freshman eligible and on the basketball court. In early January, a group of fans, led by an account named “Big Blue Buddy” even raised enough money to erect a billboard in Indianapolis across from the NCAA Eligibility Center which read: “Free Big Z.”

The billboard went up earlier this week and pictures of it spread like wildfire in Kentucky twitter circles. Just a few days later and… voila! Big Z has now been freed.

Ivisic himself even acknowledged the effort as his Twitter account liked a number of tweets associated with the billboard fundraising.

Buddy has also spoken about the effort on the record with Kentucky beat reporter Kyle Tucker of The Athletic. “The funny thing is we don’t really think it’s going to change anybody’s mind,” he told Tucker of the effort. However, Buddy notes “there were three reasons we wanted to do it.”

Those being: “The first is just that we really want to see Zvonimir play, and we want him to know we appreciate that he’s stuck it out with Kentucky.”

The second: “It’s just fun to troll the NCAA.”

And lastly: “Kentucky is back. Not just Cal with his No. 1 class and a team that’s got four or five or six first-rounders and is playing great, but Big Blue Nation is back, too.”

John Calipari often repeats a certain phrase about the BBN, that “you people are crazy.” Well, here’s some more evidence. Crazy, but also, remarkably supportive.