Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler

Nebraska Coach Doc Sadler
Preseason Press Conference
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008

Opening Statement
"Well it's here. It's that time of year. I think everybody is excited. I know I am. In fact, I e-mailed Aleks Maric this morning. We were just talking back and forth and I told him we were just getting started Friday and I really liked where the team is at at this point. I think conditioning-wise, it may be as good as any team I have ever coached at this particluar time. I have never been one who thought that was really that important. I thought maybe fresh legs late in the year was maybe more important. This is going to be a little bit different basketball team, and the strength of our preseason schedule is very, very difficult, I think especially early. I don't think we've got the time that we normally have to maybe get through a few games and not be in your peak condition. I think that is one of the reasons I did the overtime week that we did. Also, we had a couple of guys that we are going to be counting on that needed to be put through some stressful situations to let them know that this is what is going to be about and this is the way it's going to be, because we are going to be counting on them early in the year. The only negative was that Alex Chapman reinjured his knee and had to have some surgery. He is probably going to be out another two weeks, but other than that, for the most part, I think we got through it pretty clean. I'm excited. This team is going to be totally different. Some of you that have been by, I think, you can see that. I think it's going to be a team that's going to be fun to coach. I think it's going to be a fun team to watch play. It's a whole different style."

"Don Nelson of the Golden State Warriors gets labeled as crazy and off the hook, because in the NBA even he plays a lot of time small lineups. I can see this team at times having six perimeter - five - I'd like to have six, but five perimeter guys on the court at one time - maybe they'll look like it's six - I hope so. It's going to be fun. I think that's one of the fun things about being a head coach, is that maybe you get to try a few things that maybe if you were an assistant, you would like to try, the head coach has enough sense not to try it. In this case, I don't think the head coach has got enough sense not to try. So we are going to try some new things and it's going to be fun."

On special events to start the season
"A couple other things going on, obviously with the season and practice starting on Friday. We've got a luncheon tomorrow in Lincoln and then tomorrow night in Omaha that kicks off the season. In Omaha, it's a different place. It's at the Embassy Suites in LaVista, so hopefully a few people will get a chance to come out there. Basketball 101 this year we are going to open it up to men and women and that is going to be on the 29th.  We had a good turnout last year and it should be interesting this year."

On 14-year NBA veteran and former Husker Eric Piatkowski joining the Fox Sports Midwest broadcast team
"We've got a new member joining the team in the broadcast world with 24 games this year, which I think is the largest number of games ever on TV here at Nebraska. Eric Piatkowski is going to be doing our color and I've really enjoyed having that other guy for a few years - Matt (Davison) - but at least I won't have to hear about that he's been the reason for all the success now. He's convinced me that he's been the guy behind all the success. Matt did a terrific job, but I'm excited about having Eric also."

"There's probably four or five guys when you think of Nebraska basketball that's had a big part in the success that we've had, and he would be one of those people. He will be fun to talk with, because the last few years Phoenix has played a little bit different. Some of the things we do offensively in the last year have been from watching those guys play, so it will be fun sitting around and visiting with him and getting some ideas that maybe they've done. It's going to be fun getting a chance to work with him."

On anything being different or new for the first practice
"It is just going to be a regular practice. We are allowed to work out at two hours per week, but I am saving those hours so we can start at 3 o'clock on Friday instead of 5. Anybody that wants to come, right now practice will be open, and I hope it remains that way. I think everybody's been really fair in the two years that I've been here as far as what happens, and if it continues to be that way I would love it to stay that way."

On the benefits of early season practice
"The guys that haven't played. Some of the guys that maybe redshirted last year. Eshaunte Jones, a new freshman. Some of the guys that have experienced the floor at this level. They are going to be counted on, in my opinion they need to know that it is not just show up and play. The two weeks, as I said, has been the toughest that I've ever been a part of, and I think our players got a chance to experience some of that."

On the contributions of the redshirts
"They're going to have to play. The disappointing thing is that Alex Chapman is hurt. I expect Brandon Richardson, Toney McCray and Alonzo Edwards all to play this year. Hopefully they can do as well as I think they can."

On Nebraska's reliance on the three-point shot
"I think especially with the line moving back a foot, that a good offense is an offense that gets to the free throw line. I think it is also going to give us an opportunity to drive the basketball. We do have some guys that can shoot, but we've also got some guys that their strength is not necessarily the three-point shot but driving. I will not anticipate shooting any more threes than we normally have. We are going to be a team that if it is open there will be certain guys that can shoot it and some of them can't. That's what practice is for is for us to find out who those guys are. But we're going to be a driving team."

On whether the lack of size will be a new experience for him
"One year I was at Westark (UA Fort Smith) and I loved it. The difference is that my post guy was 6-1 there. This year he might be 6-5. If you look across the league, I'm not sure the league will be as big as it's been either. It can be fun. A lot of international basketball, even though there are a lot of big guys, it is pretty much played with an open floor."

On the practice time of Eshaunte Jones
"Eshaunte has had some injuries with his foot. He was able to get through the overtime week, until basically it kept him out the last day. It is something that is not supposed to get any worse, so it is a matter of how much pain he can play with. Our goal right now is to really try to push him to the wall every day, and not take it easy on him. Chris Balham and Paul Velander - their practice is limited. I won't limit Eshaunte's practice at all. In fact, we'll try to really push him and see if he is going to be able to do it."

On Nebraska's leadership
"I hope the four seniors with Paul (Velander), Ade (Dagunduro), Steve (Harley) and Nick (Krenk), those four guys, I don't think you could pick four better leaders. Nick Krenk is probably as hard-a-working kid as I have been around. You've got guys like that that are going to push each other. It seems to be a team that is pretty close and understands that they are going to have to pull from each other and if that's the case then we are going to have some success."

On offensive and defensive concerns with the loss of Aleks Maric to graduation
"Last year, something always involved Aleks. It can be a team that is different and it can be well-balanced. Playing this style, your concerns are not on the offensive end. The offensive end is where they've got concerns - the other team. You concerns are at the other end and how you are going to defend the post. I was always taught that you can defend the inside game a lot easier than you can defend the outside game. You can double, triple, quadruple the post guy if you have to, but then the rebounding part. Those are the two areas that are the concern. The offensive end doesn't concern me at all. We've got guys that can score."

On the contributions of Nick Krenk
"Nick's contributions are maybe not so much in the game, but are outside the game, in the locker room, on the practice court. That's where Nick's greatest contributions are coming from."