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.