What People are Saying about Zvonimir Ivisic and his Kentucky Debut

Kentucky basketball fans weren’t the only ones left shocked and astonished by what happened Saturday night at Rupp Arena. The entire basketball world is buzzing about Zvonimir Ivisic.

There’s a cacophony of praise coming in from all corners of college basketball. Even Kentucky’s haters cannot contain their compliments.

“Big Z is just Jokic 2.0,” Jeff Goodman Tweeted. It was one of a handful of posts he shared on X during the game as he watched starstruck by the Wildcats’ new sensational 7-footer.

“Absolute clinic in Lexington by Kentucky,” said the Field of 68 analyst. “It’s crazy how much fun this team is to watch. (They) Move and share the ball, have guys who can make plays off the bounce and have guys who can shoot it from deep. And now they have BIG Z.”

Big Z picks up his first point, rebound, assist, block and flagrant 1 in his first game at Kentucky.

Well-rounded debut. pic.twitter.com/GHM3HfsTeH

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) January 21, 2024

When Myron Medcalf isn’t on ESPN radio with Matt Jones, he’s writing about college basketball for the four-letter network. Earlier this week he dove into the legacies of the Sheppard and Wagner families. Last night all he could do was marvel at what John Calipari has created.

“John Calipari casually debuting a seven-foot European NBA prospect who can pass, dribble, shoot and move in mid-January feels unfair,” Myron Tweeted. He later added, “Kentucky has 86 points in 28 minutes. Man.”

Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is buying all of the Zvonimir Ivisic stock he can get his hands on. “Kentucky now has four options — Tre Mitchell, Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso, and Zvonimir Ivisic — at the 5 to go along with an incredibly deep and talented perimeter,” he shared. “Not many teams in college basketball have a higher ceiling than the Wildcats.”

Rothstein is in synch with his CBS colleague Matt Norlander. The latter penned a column on what Zvonimir Ivisic adds to the Wildcats. In awe during what he described as “one of the best scenes/stretches to come out of Rupp in John Calipari’s 15-year tenure,” Norlander believes Kentucky has asserted itself as one of the hardest outs in March.

With the Croatian sensation ready to light up college hoops for the remainder of the winter, one of college hoops’ most watchable teams now doubles as one of its most dangerous. Big Z is free and Kentucky basketball is fun, fearless, fantastic.

Matt Norlander, CBS Sports

Also amazing https://t.co/spBko3wrAo

— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 21, 2024

Tom Leach has seen some miraculous sporting events as The Voice of the Wildcats. Last night he did not expect Zvonimir Ivisic to light the world on fire. The big guy would probably play a few minutes and receive an ovation from the crowd. Instead, Leach got a front-row seat to watch Big Z “turn into Victor Wembanyama.”

“There’s always the debate about what’s the loudest it’s ever been at Rupp Arena, and this one might be in the conversation,” Leach told The Athletic Saturday. “Probably as close as you could get to that Tayshaun Prince barrage of five straight 3s to start the game against North Carolina. Both times, you’re seeing something that really no one would’ve ever expected to see.”

Zvonimir Ivisic isn’t just captivating the college basketball audience. NBA scouts are now salivating at the opportunity to see the sensational 7-footer. Sam Vecenie, who covers the NBA Draft for The Athletic, told KSR+ that Ivisic’s debut was the most fun he’s had watching college basketball this season. He now expects the NBA’s attention on this program to amplify dramatically.

“NBA scouts and executives will definitely be flocking to Kentucky sooner rather than later in order to get eyes on him,” said Vecenie. “This draft is wide open, so Ivisic has every chance to make a leap into first-round discussions with further standout performances.”

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