Fastbreak: Hoiberg previews Nebraska's big weekend in Orlando
Off to a 3-1 start to the season, Nebraska will head to Orlando, Florida, for a big three-game test at the ESPN Events Invitational.
Here is a full recap of what head coach Fred Hoiberg had to say during his media session on Tuesday…
Still no update on Derrick Walker
The biggest mystery in Nebraska basketball remains unsolved, as Hoiberg had no update on the status of senior forward Derrick Walker.
Walker, who has not played since the Huskers’ exhibition opener vs. Chadron State, did not travel to St. John’s last week. After the game, Hoiberg said the 24-year-old had his back “lock up” during practice.
Walker returned to the bench in Sunday’s home win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff but was not in uniform.
“He continues to be day-to-day with his medical condition,” Hoiberg said. “He’s getting closer, and hopefully, we’ll get him back before too long.”
Nebraska likes Sam Griesel as a low-post mismatch
One of the ways Nebraska took control in the second half over Arkansas-Pine Bluff was by capitalizing on the mismatch of Sam Griesel posting up smaller guards.
The 6-foot-7, 216-pound senior added a new wrinkle to the Huskers’ half-court offense as a scorer and facilitator in the post. Hoiberg said NU would continue to utilize that look, especially when Griesel owned a clear size advantage.
“We just ran a little misdirection handoff into a post-up on the block,” Hoiberg said. “He’s done a great job of absorbing contact and getting to the free-throw line.
“When the game slows down, which a lot of times it does, especially in the second half under 10 minutes to go, we feel good about getting the ball in Sam’s hands. Not only to score it on the block, but also to be a playmaker down there.”
Blaise Keita will continue his prominent role
With Walker out, Nebraska has turned to junior college transfer Blaise Keita as its No. 1 center through the first four games.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore struggled initially, but he broke out with his best effort of the year against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Keita posted his first double-double as a Husker in the win with 14 points and 10 rebounds. He had 13 points and seven boards in the second half.
Nebraska opens the Orlando tournament on Thursday against an Oklahoma team boasting two 6-10 bigs and thrives on defending the rim. Hoiberg said Keita would need to be a significant factor once again.
“He was obviously phenomenal for us in that second half,” Hoiberg said. “He imposed his will, got every rebound, and did a phenomenal job of spacing the floor… With Blaise, we need that physical body. This tournament, we’re going to play three high-major teams, and we’re going to have to have that physicality in the paint.”
Some familiar Sooners for Hoiberg
When Nebraska tips off against Oklahoma on Thursday, a couple of familiar faces will be on the Sooners’ bench.
Hoiberg said he was very happy to see former NU assistant coach Doc Sadler land a job on Porter Moser’s staff at OU. Sadler served as Nebraska’s head coach from 2006-12 and then spent the 2013-14 season as an assistant under Hoiberg at Iowa State.
He reunited with Hoiberg with a return to the Huskers as special assistant to the head coach and was elevated into a full-time assistant role in 2020-21.
Sadler was named Oklahoma’s special advisor to the head coach on Nov. 17.
“I’m excited for him,” Hoiberg said. “Doc is a guy I’ve been with for a long time going back to my days at Iowa State. It’ll be good to catch up with him.”
Another Sooner connection is video coordinator Clayton Custer, who played for Hoiberg at Iowa State before transferring to Moser’s Loyola-Chicago squad.
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