Ryan Kalkbrenner of Creighton Bluejay named Defensive Player of the Year
OMAHA, Neb. (Nebraska) — Creighton Men’s Basketball Center Ryan Kalkbrenner is one of four Naismith Trophy Men’s Defensive Player of the Year finalists.
The young center has already picked up his second consecutive Eastern Defensive Player of the Year award this season, becoming only the 11th player in history to win it more than once.
Kalkbrenner averages 2.2 blocks per game, which is the best in the Big East and 18th in the nation. He ranks second in Creighton history in career blocked shots with 192.
Kalkbrenner also ranks second among the Jays in rebounding this season, averaging 6.2 per game.
UCLA junior Jaylen Clark, senior Northwestern alumnus Chase Odidge, and Rutgers fifth year Caleb McConnell, all guards, are also being considered for DPOY.
The winner will be announced on Sunday, April 2 at a brunch during the Final Four in Houston.
Creighton (21-12) will face North Carolina State (23-10) on Friday in Denver in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
The start is scheduled for 15:00 Central time on TNT.
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