Zvonimir Ivisic on the day he was freed: "I was sweating like crazy"

It’s been five days since Zvonimir Ivisic‘s thrilling debut as a Kentucky Wildcat. Tuesday’s loss to South Carolina may have taken some of the pep out of the Big Blue Nation’s step, but hearing Big Z talk about the moment he found out he was free will put a smile back on your face.

The Croatian seven-footer went on the “KT and Tone” podcast this week with Koron Tate to discuss his debut and the stressful months that led up to it. He shared some new details on the meeting with John Calipari and Kevin Sergent, UK’s associate athletic director of compliance, in which he got the good news.

“A few of us went to Coach Cal’s office because we got called there by the guy from compliance, Kevin Sergent. He called us there and he was like sad, like he was acting a little bit because he got good news. So, he was kind of sad, kind of nervous, [and said], ‘So, effective immediately, Z, you are eligible, you are free to play tonight.’

“So I just stood there and was in shock because I didn’t know. I was expecting something else and then I was just happy. I started crying. And then I found out that I was going to play for a little bit and then after that, I had like three hours until I could go to the gym so I was sweating like crazy. I was sweating like crazy. I was nervous.”

Big Z said the nerves continued right up until he checked in. From there, they disappeared.

“I can’t lie. I mean, I was really nervous but then I went into the game and it was cool. I wasn’t nervous at all. It was just me. Having fun.”

You could tell. After checking in, Ivisic blocked a shot and on the other end, dished a ridiculous behind-the-back assist to Antonio Reeves, who buried a three. He admitted that he wasn’t sure if Reeves was in position when he initiated the play.

“I don’t know. I just got it. I threw it there and I was praying he was there. I didn’t see him at all. I didn’t know he was there. So when I turned around and I was like, ‘Thank God.’ Because I knew it was going in. It had to go in. I believe in him.”

The legend of Big Z grew when he hit three three-pointers, with an additional long jumper later ruled a two.

“I surprised myself there too,” Ivisic said of the threes. “I had an amazing game. It felt amazing, especially a home game. I really enjoyed it, especially in front of the fans. It meant a lot to me.”

Just when you thought Big Z was superhuman, he accidentally squirted himself with a water bottle, the clip of which quickly went viral.

“Bro, I was just deep in my thoughts,” Ivisic said, laughing. “I was thinking about the game. I was locked in and I can’t remember. I just felt something in my face and I was looking around. And then I saw and I was like [wow]. And then when I got back to the locker room, I went to the media immediately, when I came back and someone showed me, I was like, come on, bro. And then two hours ago Overtime posted it. Everyone is on it.”

How big is Big Z on social media? Before Saturday’s game, Ivisic had roughly 16,800 followers on Instagram. Now, he’s approaching 30,000.

Christmas break in Croatia provided a “reset”

Saturday marked the end of a long and exhausting journey for Ivisic as he waited to find out if he could play. After the Louisville game, John Calipari agreed to let Big Z return to Croatia to see his family and friends, expressing concern about the freshman’s mental state and weight loss.

“It was a tough year for me,” Ivisic admitted to Tate. “A really tough year mentally so I went back home a little bit to be with my family and my friends, of course. I got a reset there. When I came back, I was fresh.”

“[It] helped me a lot,” he added of his time back home. “If I didn’t go home, I’m not sure what would have happened.”

Ivisic said the support from his coaches and teammates was also extremely helpful as he waited to hear news from the NCAA. The “Free Big Z” billboard was pretty awesome too.

“They helped me a lot too, especially my teammates and coaches and stuff. And then BBN, of course. I mean, you saw the billboard, right? Crazy stuff. Appreciate the BBN. Love you all.”

Ivisic — and Kentucky — came back down to Earth on Tuesday night in the loss to South Carolina. This podcast was taped before that game, but Ivisic said he is confident this group will do something special.

“There is chemistry there, there are connections, and there is everything that one team needs. We are special. I really think we are a special team and I think we are going to make something out of it, for sure. I really believe it.”

Enjoy more from Big Z and Koron below.