Big Man Update: Aaron Bradshaw's Pregame Sighting and Big Z's 104-Degree Fever

For the sixth time this season, Kentucky played a basketball game without a player taller than 6-9 as Aaron Bradshaw, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Ugonna Onyenso sat out yet again from competition, this time in the Wildcats’ 118-82 defeat of Marshall.

However, there were two major updates regarding Bradshaw and Ivisic prior to tip-off. One was positive; the other was not positive. Some of you may even find it somewhat unbelievable.

We’ll start with the good one.

Pregame Aaron Bradshaw Sighting

Hours before the game began, Aaron Bradshaw was on Cawood’s Court with Kentucky assistant coach John Welch going through a light shootaround. It was the first time Bradshaw had done any activity prior to a game this season.

Kentucky freshman Aaron Bradshaw putting up shots with UK assistant John Welch about two and a half hours before tipoff.

First time Bradshaw has gone through serious pregame warmups this season. pic.twitter.com/8cag0yga5S

— Ben Roberts (@BenRobertsHL) November 24, 2023

Bradshaw’s pregame appearance comes after John Calipari said the five-star freshman began non-contact practice earlier in the week. As Bradshaw gets closer, there is growing speculation that he will debut soon, likely in early December.

One to watch: The game at Penn on December 9 is a homecoming game for Bradshaw, who played his high school ball and grew up across the Ben Franklin Bridge in Camden, Jersey.

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Zvonimir Ivisic’s Buzzard Luck

Now for the other freshman big, Zvonimir Ivisic. His buzzard’s luck is back. According to John Calipari, Ivisic is sick again. First, it was food poisoning that kept Ivisic from appearing in Rupp Arena for the preseason exhibition against Kentucky State on November 2. Back then, Calipari told the fan base that Ivisic would warm up for that game, but he was not in the building whatsoever. Food poisoning. Buzzard’s luck.

Tonight, Ivisic was again M.I.A. and Calipari again blamed illness. Calipari told Tom Leach on the pregame radio show that Ivisic had a fever of 104 degrees and that his buzzard’s luck was so bad that it needed a new name. All of this, while Ivisic still awaits NCAA eligibility.

Ivisic served Thanksgiving dinner with the team on Thursday.

Calipari’s Postgame Comments

In his postgame press conference, John Calipari would only say “I don’t know” to questions about Bradshaw’s timetable. He said Bradshaw is now practicing, “but not live.”

“No competitive, man-on-man, body-to-body,” Calipari explained.

On Ivisic, Calipari admitted to worrying about how Big Z will fit in if he is ruled eligible to play.

“How ready would he be? I don’t know yet.”