After an impressive debut, Nebraska's Derrick Walker turns the page on early absence
As much as he tried, Fred Hoiberg couldn’t say enough about what Derrick Walker’s return has meant to Nebraska.
The sixth-year senior forward made his season debut this past weekend after missing the first five games due to unknown “healthcare reasons.”
Walker posted consecutive double-doubles in a loss to Memphis and a win over Florida State at the ESPN Events Invitational. He averaged 17.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
Walker met with local media on Tuesday for the first time this season this team. He declined to give any additional details on his mysterious absence, focusing his attention on the future.
“It was just health reasons,” Walker said. “I don’t want to go into specific details. Most importantly, I’m happy to be back. Hopefully, I can put this behind me and just focus on the future, which is playing with my teammates and ensuring that we do everything we can to win games moving forward.”
Walker was far and away the Huskers’ most valuable player in his first two outings, especially against FSU. The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder was a critical piece to NU’s press break and often worked as a point-center.
Even more impressive was that Nebraska hadn’t practiced that look much at all until its off-day in Orlando. Hoiberg said they put that look into the game plan while practicing in the ballroom of their team hotel.
“You see the impact that he has on this season, how much we missed him – especially playing against the pressure that we’ve been facing every night,” Hoiberg said. “Having a guy that can just go make a play for himself or make it for a team…
“When you’ve got a guy at the top of the floor that can make a play and take advantage of that, it really makes things easier on everybody.”
Walker is ready to make the most of his final NU season
Walker said he was able to practice quite a bit with his teammates during his absence. His conditioning might still need work, but Walker feels like his old self with two contests under his belt.
Walker has spent a lot of time watching from the bench during his NU career. He sat out his first year in 2019-20 after transferring from Tennessee. He then was suspended for the first 13 games of a COVID-19-shortened 2020-21 season.
Missing the start of his final collegiate campaign was tough – especially in Nebraska’s losses to St. John’s and Oklahoma, where he potentially could have made a difference. But Walker is ready to turn the page and make the most of the opportunities ahead.
“It was definitely frustrating,” Walker said. “It’s sad when you want to go to battle with your brothers, and you feel like you’re leaving them out there to fend for themselves. But they did great. They got through it, and I’m here now. All we can do is just move forward.”
