Creighton Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24 season

Center

Starter – Ryan Kalkbrenner (30 mpg)

Ryan Kalkbrenner is the final returning starter for Creighton as he looks to anchor another masterful defensive performance in the paint. He’s won back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Year as he returns after putting up 15.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 2.1 bpg and 1.2 apg on 69.5 percent shooting from the floor.

He’s a tremendously talented big man at 7-foot-1 who holds his own on both ends of the floor and continues to improve as a rebounder. He finished atop the conference in offensive rating (136.9) and second in the NCAA in 2022-23. Look for him to grow his NBA Draft stock this season.

Bench – Fredrick King (8 mpg), Brock Vice (2 mpg)

Fredrick King is the first name waiting in the wings at the center role when Kalkbrenner needs a breather or gets in foul trouble. He’s a 6-foot-10 presence on the interior that’s ready to turn heads with what he can do. He put up 3.4 ppg and 2.5 rpg on 60.9 percent shooting from the field and finished second on the team in blocks with 28 this past season.

Brock Vice should see minutes at the third center spot. He’ll be looking to get all the experience he can in Year 1 with the Bluejays. He’s an active presence on both ends of the floor and should compete with King and Kalkbrenner for minutes.