Sadler Golf Classic Proves a Success

Lincoln - More than 30 former and current Husker basketball players and coaches came together on Wednesday afternoon for the first annual Doc Sadler Golf Classic at Wildnerness Ridge Golf Course in Lincoln.

Highlighting the returnees were former head coach Danny Nee and three NBA veterans in Tyronn Lue, Eric Piatkowski and Erick Strickland. Dave Hoppen, Nebraska's all-time leading scorer with 2,167 career points, was also in attendance for one of the most successful Nebraska basketball events in recent history.

“The whole purpose of this is just to get out and be around people,” Head Coach Doc Sadler said. “Everyone knows what great fans we have, but to have this turnout with the former players and Coach Nee made it a special day.”

More than 150 participants fought through early afternoon showers for a successful day of golf and fun before taking part in an auction and dinner inside the Wilderness Ridge Lodge later that evening. 

Among the items sold were autographed basketballs, adidas polos and Husker gameday ticket packages. Additional tickets were sold to the 2008 Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City and the 2008 NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, with all proceeds going to the Nebraska Rebounders Club.

There were some unexpected donations from the current and former NBA players in attendance as game tickets were sold to Dallas Mavericks (Strickland), Phoenix Suns (Eric Piatkowski) and Atlanta Hawks (Lue) games for next season.

Strickland is part of the Mavericks’ front office as the Business Relations Manager after playing in the NBA for 10 years, while Piatkowski and Lue will enter their 14th and 12th seasons, respectively, in the pros in 2007-08. They were just a fraction of the former players on hand who expressed their appreciation and thanks to Coach Sadler for bringing together the past and present of Husker basketball.

“It’s definitely good to see them all,” Strickland said. “Sometimes we all find our ways with our families and our careers or whatever it may be, so it’s always good to have a situation where we can come back, be together and remember those times we shared.”

Former head coach Danny Nee was accompanied by his youngest son, Kevin (18), while the oldest participant was Bus Whitehead, who lettered from 1948 to 1950.

“It wasn’t good, it was great,” Nee said. “So many of the players I hadn’t seen in such a long time - Tyronn Lue was back, Beau Reid, Bruce Chubick, Andy Markowski, Erick Strickland, Dave Hoppen. It was really nice. I hadn’t spoken to them in a long time so just reminiscing with all the people that I know gave me a nice, warm feeling. I really enjoyed it.”

Nee brought auction items of his own to the event, including game-worn ties from his 14-year tenure at Nebraska and a leather Husker jacket. During his career, Nee won a school-high 254 games, while taking Nebraska to five NCAA Tournaments. After golf, he expressed his confidence in the future of the Husker basketball program.

“I love Doc Sadler,” Nee said. “I think he’s going to do a great job here. I think the future is in good hands and every one of us just has to get behind him and give 100 percent help. We’re going to get it fixed.”