Kentucky taking long-term approach with Zvonimir Ivisic after being put at "God status"

Zvonimir Ivisic‘s Kentucky debut was the stuff of legend — a performance that everyone who was in attendance to witness will likely remember for a long, long time.

Ivisic announced himself to the college basketball world against Georgia a couple of weeks ago (even though it feels like months at this point). The 7-foot-2 Croatian big man finished with 13 points (hitting a trio of three-pointers), five rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and two steals in just 16 minutes. It was enough to make at least one prominent outlet project him as a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.

But in his three games played since, Ivisic hasn’t produced to the same level — an understandably difficult feat to match. He’s posted a combined four points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 19 total minutes played against South Carolina, Arkansas, and Florida. The freshman didn’t even take the floor against Tennessee over the weekend as he was dealing with yet another illness.

Expectations were tempered for Ivisic coming into his debut on Jan. 20. They were adjusted after he shined against Georgia, and then once again after less impressive outings in the games that followed. Fair or not, that’s part of what comes with playing for the Wildcats.

“You know you’re at Kentucky now, ya’ll put him at God status,” UK assistant Bruiser Flint said of Ivisic during Monday’s press conference. “Ya’ll put him at God status and then he sort of came down a little bit. That was an unbelievable debut, right? I mean what can you say? But again even in that game — I know you guys didn’t know — he was in the wrong spot he just made shots. But I think Z, when it’s all said and done, I think he’ll help us. But we have a pretty good game plan for him going forward.”

That plan? Continue easing him into the rotation (and getting his body where it needs to be). Ivisic was the last of three seven-footers to get incorporated into the lineup. He’s behind all of his teammates in terms of game reps and practice time. Minor injuries and getting sick a couple of times haven’t helped either.

Kentucky’s hope is that Ivisic can begin to make a more consistent impact later in the season as he ramps up to speed.

“I think for Z, it’s probably long-term more so than short-term,” Flint said. “Because it’s hard to bring somebody in in February. Even when you’re practicing. Unfortunately, Z’s been a little injured and he’s been a little sick, so he’s missed his practice time too. I think for Z, it’s down the road.

“Saying look, we’re gonna try to slide you in slowly but down the road when we really get into it — SEC Tournament, NCAA Tournament — we’ll see where we are for him to make an impact. But he’s got a lot to learn. And like I said, it’s unfortunate he’s been sick at times, got injured a little bit. That’s one of the things that’s been hard.”

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