Ryan Kalkbrenner

[HinkyDinky]

Let’s just call Kalk the best defensive player ever at Creighton. Doug is the best offensive player.

I like this. A true and fair solution to the GOAT dilemma. Both players were transformational to the program.

Doug, for firmly entrenching his dad as a successful coach at Creighton, bringing the program successfully into the BE and gaining national attention, buying time for Mac to build a BE-caliber roster through recruiting etc, and being a Creighton face in the NBA.

Kalk, for re-establishing post play at Creighton after too many years of using stretch 4's at the 5, unprecedented postseason success and defensive honors, and demonstrating loyalty to the program and city at the advent of the Wild West NIL/portal era.

True that one is the greatest on each side of the ball, but this is like putting 10 people on first-team all conference. You need to make choices in life and its Doug and then Kalk, edging 3x First-team All-American, one of 5 in NCAA to avg 20/20, #10 round pick, 3x NBA champ, 2X all-star and 16 year NBA player Paul Silas.

[Alphawalt]

Let’s just call Kalk the best defensive player ever at Creighton. Doug is the best offensive player.

I like this. A true and fair solution to the GOAT dilemma. Both players were transformational to the program.

Doug, for firmly entrenching his dad as a successful coach at Creighton, bringing the program successfully into the BE and gaining national attention, buying time for Mac to build a BE-caliber roster through recruiting etc, and being a Creighton face in the NBA.

Kalk, for re-establishing post play at Creighton after too many years of using stretch 4's at the 5, unprecedented postseason success and defensive honors, and demonstrating loyalty to the program and city at the advent of the Wild West NIL/portal era.

True that one is the greatest on each side of the ball, but this is like putting 10 people on first-team all conference. You need to make choices in life and its Doug and then Kalk, edging 3x First-team All-American, one of 5 in NCAA to avg 20/20, #10 round pick, 3x NBA champ, 2X all-star and 16 year NBA player Paul Silas.

Silas was probably one of the top 2 highest rated players ever to sign with Creighton. (Benoit Benjamin the other). He was a high school all-American. The 20/20 accomplishment is one we are not likely to see again. (It was last achieved over 50 years ago). In addition, he was always viewed as one of the consummate professionals and gentlemen in the NBA, and thus an amazing ambassador of Creighton values. Although he never had a good team as an NBA coach, he was highly respected as a coach. Thus, if one chooses to consider both college and NBA accolades, Silas probably is the GOAT. (Korver likely second).

I am just glad we have had some really outstanding players and human beings at Creighton.

[JacobPadilla]

Put together a video and thread of all Ashworth's alley-oops with Kalkbrenner for fun. Think some of the context in the thread will be interesting to people.

[SeattleJay]

You can vote for Kalk for DPOY once a day until 4/1:

https://naismithfanvote.com/

[Trifecta]

Everyone set calendar reminders on your phones. Get to voting!

[Wizard of Westroads]

https://gocreighton.com/news/2025/4/1/mens-basketball-kalkbrenner-named-nabc-defensive-player-of-the-year

[SeattleJay]

https://gocreighton.com/news/2025/4/1/mens-basketball-kalkbrenner-named-nabc-defensive-player-of-the-year

Congratulations Ryan!!!

Definitely earned.

[VaJayJay]

https://gocreighton.com/news/2025/4/1/mens-basketball-kalkbrenner-named-nabc-defensive-player-of-the-year

Marquette fans gonna be pissed. Should have been Stevie. They say all he does is guard the other teams worse player.
So I guess he guarded Stevie when we played them.

[JayPak]

https://gocreighton.com/news/2025/4/1/mens-basketball-kalkbrenner-named-nabc-defensive-player-of-the-year

Marquette fans gonna be pissed. Should have been Stevie. They say all he does is guard the other teams worse player.
So I guess he guarded Stevie when we played them.

Nobody guarded Stevie when we played them. And the plan worked!