Husker Hoops Coaches Caravan Set for Aug. 18

Events Set for Grand Island, Columbus and Lincoln to Begin Exciting 2011-12 Campaign

Lincoln - Head Coach Doc Sadler and the Nebraska men's basketball staff will hit the road on Thursday, Aug. 18, for the Husker Hoops Coaches Caravan, making appearances in Grand Island, Columbus and Lincoln.

All three programs will feature meet-and-greets with Sadler as well as assistant coaches Wes Flanigan, Jeremy Cox and Chris Croft, strength coach Tim Wilson, director of basketball operations David Anwar and video coordinator Jim Shaw. The event will also preview Nebraska's first season in the Big Ten Conference and provide sneak peeks of the Hendricks Training Complex that opens in October, and the West Haymarket Arena which is scheduled to open for the 2013-14 season. A fan Q-and-A with Coach Sadler and the Husker coaches will take place at all three stops as well.

Each event is free to the public and fans who attend can win door prizes, including autographed items, adidas Nebraska polo shirts and Nebraska men's basketball single-game tickets, while one fan at each site will win a pair of 2011-12 men's basketball season tickets. To sign up, fans can send an RSVP to gobigred@huskers.com with the site location they want to attend.

"One of the unique things about Nebraska is that no matter where you go in the state, they are Husker fans and it is always good to meet new people and see old friends across the state," Sadler said. "It is something I enjoy doing, and I am looking forward to it. There are a lot of new things about this program that we are excited about, such as the move to the Big Ten and the opening of the practice facility this fall, and this event allows us a chance to share with our fans."

The day will begin in Grand Island with a breakfast appearance at the Heartland Event Center in the Bosselman Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Doors opens at 8:30 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be available for fans in attendance. The first 200 fans in attendance will also receive a Husker Hoops T-shirt.

The scene shifts to Columbus over the lunch hour, as the coaches will make an appearance at the Husker Helicopter Hanger owned by Kim and Jill Wolfe.  The facility is located north of the Columbus Community Hospital off of 48th Street and the appearance will be from Noon to 1 p.m. Lunches and T-shirts will be provided while supplies last.

The final stop of the day is at the downtown Lincoln Embassy Suites, located at 1040 P Street, and that event will run from 5 to 6 p.m. Light appetizers will be available and fans will receive a Husker Hoops T-shirt while supplies last.

The Huskers return four starters and nine letterwinners from a team that went 19-13 last season and reached postseason play for the third time in the last four seasons. Nebraska officially opens practice on Friday, Oct. 14 with the 2011-12 season opener set for Friday, Nov. 11. The entire 2011-12 season schedule, including the 18-game Big Ten schedule, will be released next week.