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Three-time Big East DPOY Ryan Kalkbrenner announces return to Creighton in social media post

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•05/01/24
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Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner is On3's preseason Big East Player of the Year (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Creighton Bluejays got a massive boost on Wednesday evening, when their superstar big man, Ryan Kalkbrenner, announced his return to the program for one more year. The three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year posted the announcement on his social media page with three words: “Not. Done. Yet.”

He’s been one of the most dominant players in college basketball for the past few seasons and his return is without a doubt, big-time for the Creighton roster. Last year, he averaged 17.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists for the Bluejays. He also shot 64.6% from the field, ranking him sixth in the country in that stat. From beyond-the-arc, he averaged 29.6%, decent numbers for a player of his size, 7-foot-1, 270 pounds.

His real dominance has been displayed the past few seasons on the defensive end, where he’s averaged at least 2.0 blocks per contest in three straight seasons. Last year, he averaged 3.1 blocks per game, ranking him second in the country. The only person ahead of him was Isaiah Cozart of Eastern Kentucky, who averaged 3.9 blocks per game.

In his recent way-too-early look at the Top 25 rankings for the 2024-2025 college basketball season, James Fletcher III listed the Bluejays at No. 10. While they lose Baylor Scheierman, Creighton returns Trey Alexander, Steven Ashworth, Kalkbrenner, and Mason Miller. They’ve also brought in a few additions in Jackson McAndrew, Jamiya Neal, and Pop Isaacs.

“Creighton moves into the Top 10 of the updated way-too-early Top 25 thanks to a pair of backcourt additions. Pop Isaacs and Jamiya Neal promise to keep things moving as the team reloads in the Big East title race,” Fletcher wrote.

The Blue Jays have enjoyed back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16 and they’re one of the more consistent programs in college basketball. This year, Kalkbrenner helped guide Creighton all the way to the Sweet 16, where they lost to the Tennessee Volunteers 82-75. He also posted a double-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks) in his team’s double-overtime victory in the Round of 32 against the Oregon Ducks.

In the 2023 NCAA Tournament, Creighton advanced all the way to the Elite Eight, where they lost 57-56 to the San Diego State Aztecs. The Bluejays have won at least 24 games in the last two seasons.