Add food poisoning to Zvonimir Ivisic's "buzzard's luck"

Zvonimir Ivisic may not have been cleared by the NCAA yet, but prior to tonight’s exhibition vs. Kentucky State, John Calipari told Tom Leach that Big Z would at least go through the layup line with his teammates. That did not happen. A UK spokesperson said prior to the game that Ivisic was suffering from food poisoning and stayed back in the Wildcat Coal Lodge, which John Calipari confirmed after the game.

“Z was supposed to warm up with us and he practiced with us yesterday, had a great shootaround today,” Cal said. “He ate — this kid’s got like buzzard’s luck. He got food positioning. ‘Where is he?’ ‘He got sick.’ The doctor told him to go back to the lodge.

“But he’s doing better. At practice, it was nice, the people that were there watching us, it’s nice to have him back.”

Even if he was cleared to play, Kentucky didn’t need Big Z tonight. The Cats cruised past the Kentucky State Thorobreds 99-53 in a game that was never close.

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Calipari confident Big Z will be cleared

If you’re keeping track at home, until he is cleared by the NCAA, Ivisic is allowed to practice with the team. After Kentucky’s first exhibition win over Georgetown College, Calipari said he is confident the NCAA will (eventually) give Big Z the green light.

“No, no,” Calipari said when asked about a potential injury or medical concern last week. “Again, what happened was, we asked a question, scrimmaging and the exhibition, and there was some miscommunication. We were told yes [he could play in exhibitions]. And then two nights ago, we’re saying, he can’t play in the exhibition until he’s cleared too. So that’s what the issue was.

“There was no, you know, nothing crazy. He’s doing good and if he were cleared — I’m not sure how many European players have been cleared yet, not many — but if he were cleared, my guess is he would probably be able to play at the next exhibition. But you gotta get cleared first.”

Kentucky tips off the season for real on Monday night vs. New Mexico State at 8 p.m. on SEC Network.

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