LINCOLN — After seeing his team go 2-14 in Big 12 basketball last season, Nebraska coach Doc Sadler promised an extensive review of his program, including strength and conditioning.
Changes in that area are now in progress, Sadler said Tuesday.
“We want to focus more on the mental toughness part of it, instead of just being concerned about how much stronger they are getting,'' he said. “We want them pushed to the limit.
“They've got to feel confidence-wise that maybe they are doing a little bit more than everybody else.''
Often in September, basketball teams run outside on the track and try to bulk up with heavier lifts in the weight room.
But Sadler has ditched that for other things.
“In conditioning, it's more basketball-related stuff that they can relate to in a game,'' he said. “We want to put them in a situation in conditioning where there is a minute to go and they are just exhausted and they've got to make times.
“There will be winners and losers. The winners are going to benefit. The losers are going to have to continue to do more.''
Currently, not every Husker is getting a full dose of conditioning.
Junior center Andre Almeida has missed the past week with a strained calf muscle, suffered during a drill.
“With him, I don't know if there will ever be a little injury,'' Sadler said of the 6-foot-11, 340-pounder who is expected back in a day or two.
Almeida and 6-11, 275-pound Christopher Niemann, who is coming off two ACL surgeries on the same knee, are restricted from doing full workouts yet.
In Almeida's case, Sadler said, “a big thing is to be careful not to try to lose too much weight too quick. From talking to doctors, that's when stress fractures and things like that can come into play.
“We're not trying to get him in shape in a week.''
One big man who has benefited from the change in strength and conditioning is Jorge Brian Diaz. Sadler said the 6-11 sophomore has grown to 248 pounds by gaining 20 pounds of “good weight.''
“He has changed a lot,'' the coach said. “Not just physically, but he's talking more.
“I'm never going to say he's going to be a vocal leader, but he's more vocal and confident than he was a year ago. I think that's what the weight room brings to him.''
Contact the writer:
444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
Premium ContentClick on Premium Content on the Featured navigation bar for information.
RSS Feeds