Coach: Doc Sadler (third year, 37-27; Division I record 85-45 in four years; 205-84 Division I/junior college.
Last year’s record: 20-13, 7-9 Big 12, T-7th; lost to Mississippi in second round of NIT.
Returning starters: G Steve Harley, G Ade Dagunduro, G Ryan Anderson, G Cookie Miller.
Key subtraction: C Aleks Maric.
Key additions: F Alex Chapman, G Eshaunte Jones—once they overcome nagging injuries.
Reason to hope: Five of the top six scorers are back, and freshman Eshaunte “Bear” Jones and a slew of 2007-08 redshirts are being counted on to help right away. Three of the four returning seniors have played lots of minutes. Huskers will need their athleticism to make up for their lack of size.
Reason to mope: Big things were expected of Alex Chapman, who redshirted last season, but he’s missed significant practice time because of injury and his time of arrival is unknown. Sadler plans to get creative with his undersized lineup, but it still probably won’t be enough to help the Huskers make a move up in the Big 12.
Quotable: “It’s my last season, my last go-round. I need something to talk about when I get old. I just want to make the NCAA tournament.”—Harley.
