Ryan Kalkbrenner
Photo by: Steve Branscombe
Ryan Kalkbrenner Named BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
3/7/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Bluejay center leads the BIG EAST with 80 blocked shots
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton sophomore Ryan Kalkbrenner has been named the 2021-22 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year after a vote of league coaches. The center's recognition marks the third time in the past six seasons that a Bluejay has won the award, joining two-time honoree Khyri Thomas (2016-17, 2017-18).
Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST with 80 blocked shots, which ranks 10th-most nationally. He's also sixth in the BIG EAST with 8.0 rebounds per league contest. Creighton leads the BIG EAST in field goal percentage defense (.400) in all games and its 67.5 points allowed per league game is second-best, with the St. Louis, Mo., native anchoring the Bluejay defense.
Kalkbrenner had a blocked shot in 26 straight games at one point, Creighton's longest streak since 1984-85, and his 80 blocked shots have only been surpassed by Benoit Benjamin (three times) in Bluejay history.
The 13 men listed on the All-Conference teams that faced Creighton this season averaged 13.3 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent against the Bluejays, compared to 15.8 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting in all other games.
Three other award were announced on Tuesday. Justin Lewis of Marquette has been selected BIG EAST Most Improved Player. Jared Bynum of Providence has won the BIG EAST Sixth Man Award. Georgetown's Donald Carey has been named the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.
The BIG EAST will announce the remaining individual awards: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and outstanding Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Madison Square Garden.
Fourth-seeded Creighton (20-10) will meet fifth-seeded Marquette (19-11) on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Central in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden and can be heard on KOZN (1620 AM) and watched on FS1.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Kalkbrenner, CreightonÂ
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Justin Lewis, MarquetteÂ
BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Jared Bynum, Providence  Â
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Donald Carey, Georgetown
Kalkbrenner leads the BIG EAST with 80 blocked shots, which ranks 10th-most nationally. He's also sixth in the BIG EAST with 8.0 rebounds per league contest. Creighton leads the BIG EAST in field goal percentage defense (.400) in all games and its 67.5 points allowed per league game is second-best, with the St. Louis, Mo., native anchoring the Bluejay defense.
Kalkbrenner had a blocked shot in 26 straight games at one point, Creighton's longest streak since 1984-85, and his 80 blocked shots have only been surpassed by Benoit Benjamin (three times) in Bluejay history.
The 13 men listed on the All-Conference teams that faced Creighton this season averaged 13.3 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent against the Bluejays, compared to 15.8 points per game on 45.7 percent shooting in all other games.
Three other award were announced on Tuesday. Justin Lewis of Marquette has been selected BIG EAST Most Improved Player. Jared Bynum of Providence has won the BIG EAST Sixth Man Award. Georgetown's Donald Carey has been named the winner of the BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award.
The BIG EAST will announce the remaining individual awards: Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Freshman of the Year and outstanding Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete at a Wednesday afternoon press conference at Madison Square Garden.
Fourth-seeded Creighton (20-10) will meet fifth-seeded Marquette (19-11) on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Central in the quarterfinals of the BIG EAST Tournament presented by JEEP. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden and can be heard on KOZN (1620 AM) and watched on FS1.
BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year
Ryan Kalkbrenner, CreightonÂ
BIG EAST Most Improved Player
Justin Lewis, MarquetteÂ
BIG EAST Sixth Man Award
Jared Bynum, Providence  Â
BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award
Donald Carey, Georgetown
Players Mentioned
C
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