Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Trophy Defensive Player of the Year award on Tuesday.
Kalkbrenner leads the nation in field goal percentage (.714). He also leads the Big East with 2.2 blocks per game (18th nationally) and is second in Creighton history with 192 career blocks. He averages 6.2 rebounds per game, which is ranks second among the Bluejays this season.
The center was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season, becoming just the 11th player in conference history to win it more than once.
Kalkbrenner is also a finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar award (one of five), which is given to the nation's best center, and the Lefty Driesell Award (one of 25), which is awarded to the nation's best defensive player.
Creighton (21-12) returns to action against NC State (23-10) on Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Denver.
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Finalists
Chase Audige, Northwestern
Jaylen Clark, UCLA
Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton
Caleb McConnell, Rutgers
Creighton set to face N.C. State in NCAA tournament
Photos: Creighton men's basketball at 2023 Big East tournament
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) sets up a play against Villanova's Cam Whitmore (22) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) drives past Villanova's Mark Armstrong, center left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) eyes the basket against Villanova's Cam Whitmore (22) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Baylor Scheierman (55) reacts against Mason Miller (13) scores in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton head coach Greg McDermott works the bench in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) passes the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Trey Alexander (23) sets up a play in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Trey Alexander (23) sets up for a three point shot in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Arthur Kaluma (24) looks to pass against Villanova's Caleb Daniels (14) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, and Villanova's Brandon Slater, right, battle for the ball in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) shoots for three points in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Baylor Scheierman (55) shoots for three points in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Villanova during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Mark Armstrong (2) drives against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Baylor Scheierman (55) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Nembhard (2) celebrates with his teammates Baylor Scheierman (55) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) after drawing a foul off Villanova in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Eric Dixon (43) looks to pass against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) and Baylor Scheierman (55) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Arthur Kaluma (24) celebrates his three point shot with head coach Greg McDermott, left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Brandon Slater (34) drives against Creighton's Arthur Kaluma (24) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Brandon Slater (34) drives against Creighton's Trey Alexander (23) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) celebrates scoring and drawing a foul against Villanova's Mark Armstrong (2) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Cam Whitmore, left, looks to pass against Creighton's Arthur Kaluma (24) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) scores two points and draws a foul against Villanova's Mark Armstrong (2) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Mark Armstrong (2) drives to the net past Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, left, in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Eric Dixon (43) loses the ball against Creighton's Baylor Scheierman (55) and Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Eric Dixon, right, collides with Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Villanova's Eric Dixon (43) drives against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game during the quarterfinals of the Big East conference tournament, Thursday, March 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Jack Nunge (24) bleeds from his lip as he shoots against Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Desmond Claude (1) drives against Creighton's Francisco Farabello (5) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Colby Jones (3) drives against Creighton's Arthur Kaluma (24) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Desmond Claude (1) drives against Creighton's Baylor Scheierman (55) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Xavier's Desmond Claude (1) shoots against Creighton's Trey Alexander (23) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Creighton head coach Greg McDermott speaks with Ryan Nembhard (2) in a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier during the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament, Friday, March 10, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
