Big Kalk Energy

Embarking on our maiden post, I decided to go with a topic that I truly believe in. Ryan Kalkbrenner will be your 2024-2025 Wooden Award winner by a landslide. Here’s why:

Yes this is going up at day after he dropped 49 on the heads of the UTRGV basketball team (20/22 from the field, 11 boards, 3 blocks) but I’ve been telling anyone who would listen this before the season tipped off.

You’ve got a 7’1” monster who commands the paint and has an absolutely wet hook shot. Last season, I believe Creighton underperformed, even though they picked up a few tourney wins, but Kalk still had a great year against tough opponents. He was banged up a majority of the season and set career high averages in points, blocks and assists. He soars through the air unlike any other 7 footer I’ve seen, especially compared to last years winner, Zach Edey. Collectively, Full Court Man is high on Kalk this year and we have been in years past.

I think the makeup of this Bluejays team will open up a lot more opportunity for the big man. Pop Isaacs transferring in from Texas Tech really spreads the floor a lot more and opens up the lane for Kalk to work. Say what you will, but Tennessee was able to bounce the Bluejays from the tournament because they were able to converge on the paint and mitigate the big man’s presence. Baylor Scheierman is gone, but I think Isaacs will prove to be a larger weapon that needs more attention from opponents. Steven Ashworth returns and we will see his role increase significantly, drawing defenders to the perimeter and again, opening up the paint.

If a rumbling, bumbling, stumbling Zach Edey can take home some hardware, I think Kalkbrenner is a shoo-in this year. He moves better, shoots better and McDermott elevates his play each and every year. At +2500 current odds on FanDuel (+3000 preseason), I think there’s some great value and we’re going to see those odds decrease drastically as the season goes on. Take a flyer and buy yourself a beef with the winnings.