Creighton Bluejays led by Ryan Kalkbrenner's historic performance in season opener

Creighton Bluejays All-Big East Center Ryan Kalkbrenner backing his man down.

The Creighton Bluejays launched the 2024-25 season in style, led by their two-time All-Big East center and reigning three-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year, Ryan Kalkbrenner, who dropped a career-high 49 points in the opener against UTRGV, resulting in a 99-86 win, showcased his unique skills. Kalkbrenner, the Big East Conference Preseason Player of the Year favorite, demonstrated exceptional patience in the post, reminiscent of an old-school back-to-the-basket classic big man. He finished with soft jump hooks with either hand or drop steps for dunks.

As you’ll see in the video below, Kalkbrenner does a great job utilizing his 7’1 ", 270 lb frame to seal his man in the post and establish excellent positioning to turn around for an easy score. He also displayed mobility to finish lobs out of the pick-and-roll and catch lob passes from inbound plays, utilizing his sheer size.

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I talked to Kalkbrenner at Big East Media Day before the season and asked him what he hopes to show NBA scouts in his final collegiate season.

“I just need to show them I’m stronger than I was last year, running better than I was last year, shoot the ball a little better; I mean, these are all things I don’t got to like reinvent the wheel to do it’s all within me, and I just got to show them this year.”

Kalkbrenner wasted no time doing just that in the season opener. He displayed elite touch and skill in the post, stepping out and hitting two three-pointers. In the first game, Kalkbrenner showed his capability of stretching the floor in what is coveted by modern-day big men. He will only improve his value to NBA scouts and draft stock if he stays consistent. He converted on just 16 of 54 (29.6%) shots from beyond the arc last year, so starting off making his first two is an excellent sign for Kalkbrenner and the Bluejays.

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Kalkbrenner is not only a scorer, as he hauled in 11 rebounds and proved why he’s a feared shot blocker with three blocks to go along with his 49 points on 20-of-22 from the field (90%) in what was one of the best performances you’ll ever see. The big man also showed his soft touch from the foul line, converting 7-of-8 from the charity stripe.

"We kind of went into the game with a plan to establish me in the post, and we went with that," he said. "I kept working and wasn't really thinking about what happened the previous play. I was just trying to make the next one."

His coach had high praise for the star Big East center as well.

"To go to work like he did in the offseason and then the first time you're under the lights for real to do something superhuman, it's pretty special," Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. "And he deserves it. There's not a person on the planet that deserves success more than Ryan Kalkbrenner because of the way he's approached everything on a daily basis."

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Kalkbrenner set some records in his 2024-25 jaw-dropping opening performance, per ESPN: 

- The fifth-most points in a game in Big East history

- The second-most points in Creighton history behind Bob Portman's 51 against UW-Milwaukee in 1967

- The second-most points by a player in a season opener in the past 25 years (Arkansas' Rotnei Clarke had 51 in a win over Alcorn State in 2009)

- The 20 made field goals tied the single-game Big East record (Providence's MarShon Brooks against Notre Dame in 2011)

-The 91% shooting from the field was the highest field goal percentage in a 45-point game by any Division I player in the past 25 seasons and the highest by a player to attempt 20 or more shots in a game over the past 25 years.

With a historic performance to start his final year, Kalkbrenner will look to build upon this, as he knows there’s still a lot of the season left to go.

"Having a good first game is awesome," Kalkbrenner said, "but we have 30-something games left, and hopefully games that mean a lot more."

Kalkbrenner and the Bluejays will look to continue building upon this Sunday at 5 p.m.ET against Fairleigh Dickinson at home. If his season opener indicated what’s to come, the Bluejays will be in for a deep run.