“ I started to fight more ‘: how Zvonimir Ivisic increased his role with the Basketball of Arkansas

Fayetteville – Arkansas basketball The Zvonimir Ivisic center scored three points in total and on average 6.8 minutes through the first four games of the dry. In the last three Razorbacks conference competitions, Ivisic scores 10.3 points in 26.3 minutes per game.

Until this race, the last time Ivisic scored 10 points in a match was a victory on the road on December 3 against Miami.

There are simple explanations for the increased production of Ivisic. The Flander Boogie leader came out with an inch injury, and although they play different positions, the razorbacks (12-8, 1-6 sec) need more shooting outside and offensive juice. The other large do not contribute regularly to the score column, and John Calipari has only eight players available.

But Ivisic provided another simple perspective on the reason why he saved more playing time, which led to three consecutive performances.

“I feel like I started to fight more,” said Ivisic. “You know, as the coach said to me at first:” I want you to be physical. I want you to be hard, not soft. I don’t want you, you know, be pushed. “And I think I improved.

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Calipari clearly agrees with this self-assessment. The coaches staff want more physicity against the opposition of the dry, and the Arkansas brought together solid consecutive performances on the defense, holding Georgia and Oklahoma at 65 points.

In a surprising turn, Ivisic has become a main factor in the strong defense of pigs.

“If I look there and they lead a lay-up and my big guy does not leave his feet or don’t go, I put (ivisic) because that’s what he does for We.

Ivisic had three blocks to reach 11 points and four assists during the defeat of 65-62 against Oklahoma. He made two 3 points, and a triple in the middle of the second half gave the Arkansas his biggest advance of the night at 50-44. The Hogs ran from half-haired sets to get the ball on the block and behind the arc.

Calipari attracted two games in the last minute to try to get the ball with the pigs with the pigs at a point. Oklahoma denied the collar at the start, but Ivisic found Johnell Davis during a rear beast on the second opportunity after a dead time. Davis missed the lay-up and Sooners Released from Bud Walton Arena with a victory on the road.

There is clearly an increased confidence that develops in the Croat of 7 feet 2 inches, but Calipari do we lose confidence in its other big?

If Ivisic is the best rim protector of the team, what is wrong with Jonas Aidoo? The transfer of Tennessee was part of the SEC All-Defensive team in 2024, ranking third from the conference with 66 blocks.

Aidoo treated a pre-season injury and did not look like the player who helped the volunteers reach the last Elite Eight match. Aidoo did not play in the second half against Oklahoma, and according to Calipari, Ivisic is now the favorite defensive option when the guards enter the paint.

Ivisic’s progress is a good sign, but Arkansas needs all the grown -ups to come to life in the next six weeks if he wants to join a spit in the NCAA tournament.

The next opportunity is a road trip to Kentucky, which will be a meeting for Calipari and Ivisic.

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: “ I started to fight more ‘: Zvonimir Ivisic finds a role with Basketball of Arkansas