Keeping It Simple

The Cornhuskers have a new approach to the game, but the goal remains the same as every year ? reach the postseason. To get there, first-year Coach Doc Sadler has a simple plan that he is asking his players to follow: play hard every day. Period.

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Like every squad in the country, the Nebraska basketball team has high expectations for the 2006-07 season. This year, however, the Huskers may be gauging success in different terms.

That new perspective comes on the heels of possibly the biggest summer roster shake-up of any team in the country as the Huskers replaced their head coach less than a month before the start of the fall semester.

Doc Sadler, an energetic and fiercely competitive coach who won 48 games in his first two seasons at the Division I level, took over the Cornhusker program on
Aug. 8. While it may seem that he has gotten up and running quickly, Sadler was still assembling a staff, finishing the schedule and fine tuning the roster when school started, a time when other new coaches around the country were beginning to lay down game plans for the season.

Sadler isn't alone. He is one of six new coaches in the Big 12 Conference. The difference between them is that the other five were all hired before May and had at least six months to prepare for their first season with their new team. With Sadler’s hiring in late summer, he had just 66 days before the first official practice.

But as Sadler likes to say, you play with what you are dealt. And the Huskers will be just fine playing the cards they have this season no matter how they measure success.

"Our only goal is to be successful," Sadler said. "We’re going to think about one thing though. I don’t care about winning games, but we have to play harder than the other team. All I want these players to concentrate on is playing hard. If that happens, they are talented enough that they’re going to win games."

Nebraska returns three starters from a team that reached the postseason for the second time in three years in 2006. That squad finished sixth in the Big 12 Conference standings ? its best placing since 1999 ? and made a surprising run to the league tournament semifinals behind wins over Missouri and nationally ranked Oklahoma. NU entered the season with just three players with more than one year of experience at the Division I level. This year, the Huskers have two.

But those two ? senior point guard Charles Richardson Jr. and junior center Aleks Maric ? will be key components in the Huskers’ success this season.

Richardson is the elder statesman of the squad. He was the one providing invaluable guidance to the younger players during the transition between coaches and has embraced a leadership role since the team lost four seniors to graduation last year.

With three years under his belt ? and 35 career starts ? Richardson also knows the ins and outs of the rugged Big 12 Conference and has his eye on a third postseason appearance to end his career, something that Sadler believes should be the prize the team has its focus on every season.

"The state of Nebraska deserves this team to be in the NCAA Tournament and we want it to happen ? not next year, not two years from now. We want it to happen now," Sadler said at his opening press conference.

"Charles Richardson is graduating. He’s not going to be here next year. You think he cares about next year? He wants to play in that thing this year and that’s what we’re going to try to do."

The Huskers are aiming for their first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade and will use every available tool at their disposal. With a lack of height in the front court, the Huskers will engage a fast-paced offensive approach that will allow the players to utilize their speed and conditioning.

"We’re going to get it up and down the floor," Sadler said. "I’m going to ask so much of these guys on one end of the floor, they have no idea how much I’m going to ask of them. None. But because of what I'm going to ask them to do on the defensive end, we’re going to let them go as fast as they can the other way. If we get a good shot, then we’re going to shoot it quick. If we don’t, we’re going to wait until we do get a good shot. So it’s going to be baseline to baseline, 94 feet."

Inexperience may be the biggest hurdle the Huskers face this season, but there are several key pieces to the puzzle ? including the return of Maric, one the top post players in the conference -- that could propel Nebraska back to the postseason.

"I think having Aleks back obviously gives you a starting point," Sadler said. "I don’t know that many teams in the country will have a low-post presence like Aleks. The bottom line is that we have to help him. The good news is that I think we can shoot the ball a little bit and that will take a little bit of pressure off him."

The pressure may be off Maric, but it will be on the Huskers as they face one of the most daunting schedules in program history.

Unlike past years when serious competition came only during the conference slate, Nebraska takes on an ambitious non-conference schedule that includes teams from the Atlantic Coast, Pac-10, Big East and Missouri Valley conferences. Add in possible matchups in Hawaii at the Rainbow Classic against schools from Conference USA, the Mountain West and the Atlantic 10 conferences and four straight weekends on the road in December, and it's easy to see that Nebraska will be a tested squad by the time the Big 12 Conference opener comes around on Jan. 10 at Iowa State.

"I can’t imagine a lot of teams in the Big 12, especially with the loss of the experience that we had from last year, having a tougher schedule," Sadler said. "Not only are the teams we’re playing very difficult, but the way it’s been set up is difficult because you’re playing back-to-back on the road. But that’s the schedule and we have to go play it, so we’ll do the best we can with it."

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At the Point
Point guard Charles Richardson Jr. could not have envisioned a better opportunity heading into his senior season.

With the addition of Sadler to the Husker bench, Richardson will have a chance to get back to the tempo of play that he grew up with on Chicago’s west side, a style that helped him become one of the top point guards in the state while pushing the ball all over the court with high school teammates and future NBA Draft picks Shannon Brown and Dee Brown.

Running and gunning in a new up-tempo offensive attack and applying aggressive, smothering defensive pressure along every inch of the court is perfectly fine with Richardson. The 5-9, 165-pound speedster may lack some physical tools but he more than makes up for it in determination and heart, his trademarks that have been witnessed by the Big Red faithful over the years and helped make him a Devaney Center fan favorite.

The new offensive philosophy could reap great dividends for Richardson, who quietly became one of the top floor generals in the Big 12 Conference last season.

While leading the team to 19 victories ? its most wins in nearly a decade ? Richardson finished the year ranked 10th in the conference with 3.3 assists per game and became the first Husker in four seasons to reach triple-figure assists with 100 on the year. He was efficient at distributing the ball as his assist-to-turnover ratio (1.92:1) was rated fourth in Big 12, the third straight year he improved in the category.

Richardson will be a steadying force for the Huskers as he has gained his team’s trust during his time as a part-time starter over the past three years. He returns for his final year with the most collegiate playing experience of any Husker and looks to become the first Nebraska player in a half-decade to play in three postseason tournaments during his career.

Richardson has a chance to put his name in the record books this season after posting 220 assists heading into his final year with the Huskers. With an output similar to last season's performance, he can crack the NU career top 10. He needs 102 assists to tie Eric Piatkowski, who ranks 10th with 322 assists in his college career.

When Richardson is not on the court, the coaching staff has a handful of choices to guide the Husker offense.

After redshirting last season in the program, Mike Smith looked to transfer during the summer until Sadler took over and convinced Smith to return to Lincoln. The invite back to campus gave the Huskers solid depth at the point as Smith, who stands in at 6-2, 190 pounds, provides an impressive physical presence in the back court.

A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Smith has great athleticism to go with an explosive driving ability, keys for penetrating guards that Sadler likes to utilize. Smith has also continued to work on his offensive game from 15 feet and out.

Adding more depth at the point will be another first-time contributor in Jay-R Strowbridge. The true freshman from Ardmore, Ala., was a late addition for the Huskers last spring after he originally signed with Murray State but chose to seek his release from the Racers program after a coaching change. Despite getting to know his third college head coach in one year, Strowbridge impressed his teammates in the summer and preseason with his offensive abilities and ball-handling skills.

While Richardson should be the Huskers’ primary ball-handler, Strowbridge looks to provide a different dimension at the point. Strowbridge possesse a nice outside shot to go with a knack for getting to the basket through traffic. Strowbridge averaged nearly 19 points and four assists per game as a senior last year, while leading his high school team to the state quarterfinals.

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In the Post
The Huskers will have few options to go big across the front line with only three players listed taller than 6-7 this fall. But that will not stop Nebraska from pounding the ball into the paint this season.

Center Aleks Maric is the Huskers' primary playmaker in the low post, giving NU hope that an inside game can thrive despite the lack of depth up front. The big Aussie has consistently improved his game and has gotten stronger late in the year as the stretch run through the conference season heats up. Nebraska needs Maric to continue that impressive play in 2006-07 if it is going to have a chance to return to the postseason.

Maric was a dominant force at times for Nebraska last year when he averaged 10.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. His 251 rebounds on the season were third-most by a sophomore in school history and ranked 11th on the Nebraska single-season list, making him the top returning rebounder in the conference.

Against Big 12 competition, Maric came up huge by leading the league in rebounding with 9.4 boards per contest, only the third Husker in the last decade to pace the conference in rebounding. Many of those rebounds came on the offensive end where Maric converted them into easy points, helping him lead the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game during league action.

Over the last 10 games of the year, Maric topped the squad with 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while hitting a solid 53.1 percent (51-of-96) from the field. The first game of that stretch was a benchmark performance by the Australian as he set the Big 12 sophomore record with 37 points on the road at Iowa State. Maric hit 13-of-15 attempts from the floor and completed the dominant effort by adding 15 rebounds.

Maric’s ability to get deep in the post comes easily behind his 6-11, 270-pound frame. One of the largest players in the conference, Maric has redefined his body in the offseason and is in top condition while getting ready for the fast-paced action of Sadler’s offensive game plan.

Maric has used his size effectively as he has 13 career double-doubles, including 10 last season when he ranked third in the league behind only NBA first-rounders LaMarcus Aldridge and P.J. Tucker. During conference action, Maric led the league with seven double-doubles. Maric, Aldridge and Tucker were the only three players in the league to post more than two double-doubles over the 16-game conference schedule.

On the defensive end, Maric expanded his role and began to provide a significant shot-blocking presence. After posting eight blocks in non-conference play, Maric began forcing the action during the Big 12 slate when he had 23 blocks to rank seventh in the league standings. He is second among returning shot blockers this season in the conference.

Behind Maric, the Huskers will be inexperienced up front. The four players listed at forward on the roster have combined for just 184 minutes of playing time entering this season. While some pundits may look at that as a negative, the Huskers see it as an opportunity for someone to step up and play a significant role this season.

Possibly leading the way to fill that spot and gain valuable minutes for the Huskers this season is sophomore Jim Ledsome. After redshirting as a freshman in 2004-05, the 6-9, 220-pounder saw action in 17 games for a total of 61 minutes last year. Ledsome averaged less than one point per game but showed a knack in chasing down the loose ball with 1.2 rebounds per contest.

While Ledsome may lack experience, he does not lack ability or work ethic. A self-proclaimed blue-collar worker, Ledsome has worked hard to add nearly 30 pounds to his frame since joining the Husker program and has increased his vertical jump and explosive skills needed to provide Nebraska with another capable shot blocker. Ledsome also has worked to become more consistent with his game near the basket and could give the Huskers another offensive option in the post.

Along with Ledsome, sophomore Kyle Marks saw limited action last year and was hopeful of competing for a starting spot in the front line. Marks may still crack the lineup this season, but his plans to push for early playing time were sidelined before official practices started because of an injury.

When healthy, Marks gives Nebraska tremendously athletic small forward long arms and outstanding leaping ability. He paced the Huskers in the weight room last year as a freshman and was rewarded by being named the team's lifter of the year.

Marks trained on the wing last season where he could utilize his long reach and significant jumping ability to alter shots. The lefty possesses a nice touch on the offensive end and has shown the ability to take good shots. He knocked down 50 percent (9-of-18) from the field last season while averaging one point per game. He also hit 5-of-7 from the free throw line and, when healthy, could give NU a perfect target when getting out on the fast break and opening up the offense.

A pair of newcomers will also push for playing time this season. Redshirt freshman Chris Balham and freshman Kris Douse give the Huskers athletic defenders up front, but each is still a raw product on the offensive end. Balham worked out with the Huskers last season and at 6-8, 225 pounds is a physical specimen who could provide needed minutes when the Huskers are in the middle of the bruising conference schedule. Douse possesses great ability but is still learning the game. He has played in the United States for only two years since moving from Toronto, Ontario.

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On the Wing
While the Huskers may be lacking experienced depth in the paint, there could be some serious battles taking place in practice on a daily basis among a quintet of Huskers looking to find playing time at shooting guard and on the wing.

Despite only playing for one season in the program, sophomore guard Jamel White will be the Huskers' top returnee on the wing despite missing the start of fall practice with an injury. When back on the court, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native should continue an impressive start to his career that began by posting 8.7 points and 1.9 assists per game as a freshman last year. Those numbers are a little deceiving as he played limited minutes for the Huskers until a breakout game against Missouri when he posted 28 points, the second-highest freshman single-game total in school history.

White's numbers increased rapidly after being inserted into the starting lineup as he averaged 10.1 points per game in conference play and ranked second on the team in scoring at 13.6 points per contest over the final 10 games of the year. White was the second Husker in as many years to earn Big 12 All-Freshman Team honors.

White gives Nebraska a multi-dimensional threat because he can penetrate the lane or knock down the 20-footer. His versatile game helped him move into the NU freshman record book in six categories last year, including points, scoring average, field goals, 3-pointers, assists and steals. His 44 3-pointers ranked second on the team and second in school history for a freshman.

Nebraska has a second veteran sharp-shooter who could provide leadership and scoring in guard Marcus Perry.

The former junior college All-American benefited from a redshirt year to post solid numbers last season. While knee problems limited his production early in the year, Perry came on strong down the stretch by hitting nearly 48 percent from 3-point range over the final 10 games. Perry was at his best in the Big 12 Championship, when he helped the Huskers by hitting 5-of-8 3-point attempts over the first two games to lead NU into the semifinals for only the second time in the Big 12 era.

The third returnee on the wing is the one with the fewest career minutes as Paul Velander has been plagued by injury since joining the Huskers in 2004. Following a redshirt year, Velander was poised to help the Huskers last season before having surgery on his ankle during the preseason, which forced him to miss nearly three-quarters of the Huskers' games. He was again sidelined this fall before the start of practice, but could give NU another lethal shooter from long range when healthy.

Newcomers Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry will try to fight their way into the lineup this fall and each has an impressive background.

Henry was the first addition to the roster by Coach Sadler, as he signed scholarship papers in August during the first week of classes. Henry was one of the nation's top 100 prospects as a senior in 2005 before spending a year at prep school where he guided his team to a 34-3 record last year. Henry is a big, lefty shooting guard who can knock down the mid-range shot and forces teams to extend the defense past the 3-point line.

Anderson was regarded as one of the top shooters on the West Coast as a senior last year at nationally renowned Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Wash. Anderson guided his team to the playoffs four straight years and finished his career as a unanimous all-state selection by averaging 19 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game.