On Saturday, Kentucky's Zvonimir “Big Z” Ivisic made an impressive debut (13 points, 3-for-4 from 3) in the Kentucky Wildcats' 105-96 win over the Georgia Bulldogs at Rupp Arena. After months of waiting, the 7-foot-2 European NBA prospect finally got clearance from the NCAA to play in his first game.
His career began with a flurry of 3-pointers, a behind-the-back pass, a block and a dunk, all in just 16 minutes of action. As a result, he and his nickname quickly went viral.
Big Z's Wildcat debut. ONE MOMENT.@zvonimir_ivisic pic.twitter.com/fql7ZbWJi2
— Kentucky Men's Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 21, 2024
But another school has apparently claimed the “Big Z” nickname. Purdue tweeted about Wooden Award winner Zach Edey sealing his ninth Big Ten Player of the Week honor this season, suggesting the Boilermakers believe they have their own Big Z.
No. 9️⃣ for Big Z.
✅: Zach Edey wins the ninth Big Ten Player of the Week award of his career. pic.twitter.com/bG8uiCr3CQ
– Purdue Men's Basketball (@BoilerBall) January 22, 2024
There are similarities between the two. Ivisic and Edey are legitimate NBA prospects. They are both 7 feet tall. Their skills are different, but Edey is a dominant force within the sport and Ivisic possesses a talent that could soon make him one of the best players in the country.
While it is unclear when Ivisic earned the nickname, the Kentucky fan base has called him Big Z since he signed with the program in August.
But Edey's mother, Julia Edey, actually called her son Big Z in a 2019 tweet.
Maybe the big Z's of college basketball will meet in the postseason. Purdue is currently ranked No. 1 in ESPN's Joe Lunardi's most recent bracketology, while Kentucky is ranked No. 3. Edey hopes to lead the Boilermakers to a national title while also winning back-to-back Wooden Awards, a feat not It has been possible. achieved since Ralph Sampson Jr. achieved it 40 years ago.
Ivisic gives Kentucky, a team with three projected first-round picks in ESPN's latest NBA mock draft, another talented player on a team that aims to lead the Wildcats back to the Final Four for the first time since 2015.
Let's hope these two meet in the NCAA tournament and settle the debate.
And don't worry: both fan bases will be reasonable about all of this.
