Mike White on facing Zvonimir Ivisic: ‘We didn’t see that coming’

Poor Mike White and Georgia didn’t know what hit them in the first half of their game against Kentucky thanks to a surreal debut performance from Wildcat big man Zvonimir Ivisic.

The man known to fans as “Big Z” was awarded his eligibility by the NCAA in a surprise decision Saturday morning months of radio silence on the situation. However, when a certain billboard went up across from the NCAA Eligibility Center in Indianapolis this week, the organization happened to pump out a decision on Ivisic just days later.

The circus around his recruitment and eligibility was crazy enough, but even the most optimistic Kentucky fan could have never expected his blitz of remarkable plays in the first half vs. Georgia later that day.

Big Z got things started with a block, then left everyone’s jaw on the floor with a behind-the-back pass to a wide open Antonio Reeves, who cemented the highlight in Wildcat lore by knocking down the three. A couple minutes later, it was Ivisic himself who stepped behind the arc to knock down three straight 3s while mixing in a long 2 where he had his foot on the line.

After the game, Georgia coach Mike White was asked about the shocking nature of Ivisic’s performance given that he wasn’t even cleared to play as of that morning.

“We read it, probably like everyone else did, and we gathered some film in a hurry,” White said. “We knew he was very talented and skilled player but to anticipate him coming in and firing from the deep immediately with the confidence level that he did was something we did not see coming.”

Saturday was a special environment, even for Rupp Arena, and White credited the Kentucky fans for pushing the home team over the edge.

“A few times it got about as loud as it gets in college basketball. It was incredibly loud,” White said. “When a big fella comes into the game, a guy who hasn’t played all year, and makes a couple of shots, those were unique moments.

“I noticed the fans who were anticipating his ability to contribute to the team made it especially loud out there,” he added. “We didn’t handle all those adversities out there as well as we need to in order to stay within striking distance.”

Even aside from Ivisic, the Kentucky offense was cooking with gas once again on Saturday, and built a 96-68 lead with eight minutes to play before letting their foot off the pedal to allow Georgia to erase 19 points of that lead by the end in a 105-96 final tally.

Still, as White noted, there’s just no planning for a 7-foot-2 Croatian to come off the bench and drain one jumper after another in his very first college game in the middle of the conference season.

Take a look at these highlights on your way out:

7’2 Freshman Zvonimir Ivisic Made his College Debut today for the 2024 Champ frontrunners today vs Georgia..

13 PTS (5-7 FG, 3-4 3PT)
5 REBS
2 AST
2 STLS
3 BLKS

How we feeling bout his game after seeing his debut????? pic.twitter.com/CRspZeRcpj

— Frankie Vision (@Frankie_Vision) January 21, 2024