OMAHA, Neb.—A Nebraska team that grudgingly advertised itself as the shortest in Division I last season is growing up.
The Cornhuskers, who rarely had anyone taller than 6-foot-5 on the floor, will at least look more like a Big 12 team with the addition of 6-11 Brian Diaz, 6-10 Brandon Ubel and a couple of players who are 6-8.
The question is whether bigger means better.
“We could have our best team that we’ve ever had and not win as many games,” coach Doc Sadler said.
The Huskers lost four of their top five scorers from a year ago. The returning offensive threats are Sek Henry (8 ppg) and Ryan Anderson (7.1 ppg). In fact, they are the only two players on the roster who have started a game.
After going 18-13 overall and finishing eighth in the Big 12 at 8-8, the Huskers will be breaking in 11 newcomers and are picked 11th in the preseason coaches’ poll.
Hard luck has marked Sadler’s first three seasons at Nebraska. He’s had some near misses in recruiting, and eligibility issues have made it a challenge to get some foreign-born players into the program. More recently, injuries have plagued the Huskers.
Sadler was counting on help from 6-11 German center Christopher Niemann, but he tore a major knee ligament in August and will be out for the season.
Projected starting guard Toney McCray is out indefinitely after suffering a detached ligament in his left elbow when fell in a September pickup game. And Quincy Hankins-Cole, a 6-8, 240-pound forward from Polk Community College in Florida, has had hip problems in the preseason.
Niemann’s absence will force Ubel to play more minutes than originally planned. Ubel averaged 17 points and 8 rebounds for Blue Valley West High in Overland Park, Kan.
“If we were to toss it up tonight, he’d probably start for us,” Sadler said.
Ubel has shown up well in practices, Henry said.
“He’s very strong,” Henry said. “He’s going to shock a lot of people.”
The Huskers also will be leaning on Diaz, a former member of the Puerto Rican Under-19 national team. After clearing up a foreign-language eligibility requirement, Diaz arrived last January and sat out the balance of the season as a redshirt. He spent the offseason beefing up to 234 pounds.
More help will come later from 6-8 freshman forward Christian Standhardinger, who’ll miss the first 15 games because he played for a German club team that had professionals.
Nebraska also will be counting on more production from Brandon Richardson, who can play both guard spots. He averaged 4.1 points and hit 82 percent of his free throws.
