by Sports Xchange

After fielding the smallest lineup in the country last season, the Huskers will be far taller, although fourth-year coach Doc Sadler insists height doesn't necessarily equate into minutes.

"Just because you're tall doesn't mean you should get minutes if you don't play as hard as the guys beside you," Sadler said. "That's not ever going to change with me."

The demands Sadler maintains weren't met by all the Huskers during an 18-13 run last season, which included an 8-8 mark in the Big 12 and earned the team a berth in the NIT, where it lost in the first round to New Mexico.

Nebraska was consistently bothered by long scoring droughts, which contributed to the second-lowest average for points (64.5 per game) in the Big 12.

The Huskers sometimes accommodated for the problem with the league's best scoring defense (60.4), but Sadler would prefer the Huskers pose a greater offensive threat.

"We got tired (last season), but I don't think that will be a problem,'' he said. "I also think we'll be able to score better on the low post and that always helps open things up."

The difficulties last season could be attributed to using a lineup that often didn't include anyone taller than 6-4. That adjustment was difficult at times after the Huskers relied on All-Big 12 center Aleks Maric for consistent inside production the year before.

Still, the 8-8 league finish continued a series of one-game improvements under Sadler, with the Huskers going 6-10 in his first season and 7-8 the next year.

With an off-season knee injury keeping center Christopher Niemann out for the season, the Huskers will position 6-11 redshirt freshman Brian Diaz on the low block along with 6-8 junior college transfer Quincy Hankins-Cole.

Experience exists along the perimeter, though seniors Ryan Anderson and Sek Henry, as well as sophomore Brandon Richardson, must develop consistency. Henry is the only returning starter and also the top returning scorer after averaging 6.7 points.