Nee to be inducted into NU hall
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Danny Nee’s visit for last summer’s Doc Sadler Golf Classic was his first trip to Lincoln since he was fired in 2000.
Nee didn’t attend Friday’s second annual golf gathering. But don’t expect him to stay away much longer.
The former Nebraska men’s coach is joining the Nebraska Basketball Hall of Fame, along with one of his former players, Erick Strickland.
Sadler, Nebraska’s current coach, made the announcement before a room full of former players, fans and boosters at Hillcrest Country Club.
Nee, whose 254 victories are the most by any Nebraska basketball coach, and Strickland, seventh on NU’s career scoring chart, will be introduced at a game next year.
They’re the first inductees since 2006. Nee is the sixth coach to join the hall, and the first since Moe Iba in 1996. Since the hall’s inception in 1989, there have been 59 former players and coaches inducted.
Nee led the Huskers to five NCAA Tournament appearances, including the school’s last appearance, in 1998. Of Nebraska’s 12 seasons with at least 20 wins, seven came under Nee.
Former athletic director Bill Byrne fired Nee after NU went 11-19 in 1999-2000, one of three losing seasons in Nee’s 14 years.
Strickland, a Bellevue native, played in two NCAA Tournaments and was the MVP of the 1996 NIT, when Nebraska won the title under Nee. He’s the first player who played after 1994 to be inducted into the hall.
Recruiting network
When former Nebraska players return for Sadler’s golf gathering next summer, perhaps they should bring along the name of a recruit from their area.
Or better yet, do it on a regular basis.
That sounds like a Sadler idea, but it was former Husker Beau Reid making that plea Friday.
“That’s why this function is so important — recruiting,” said Reid, who played from 1988-91.
“Rich King lives in Seattle, (Tony) Farmer lives in L.A., Jerry Fort is from Chicago, lives in Connecticut, Bill Jackman’s in Dallas — we need to have ex-players point out guys and get us on them early so that we can start getting a national recruiting presence.”
Reid said it’s one of the many reasons Sadler is reaching out to former players.
“He knows,” Reid said. “You can’t cover the whole United States, and you can’t trust the recruiting services always to identify the best players who are going to fit your system.”
Touching moment
Former players at Friday’s post-golf dinner were encouraged to stand and address Sadler as a microphone was passed from table to table.
While several made attempts at humor, Jason Dourisseau gave a heartfelt thanks to Sadler for attending the funeral of Dourisseau’s father, who died in May.
That moved Dourisseau — who played under former coach Barry Collier — mostly because he didn’t even know Sadler.
Dourisseau’s speech resulted in a standing ovation.
Arena? What arena?
Forgive John Turek for not knowing anything about the possibility of a new home for the Nebraska basketball team. He’s been in Belgium, after all, playing overseas.
The first Turek had heard of plans for a new arena in Lincoln’s Haymarket District was Friday, when Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne briefed the golf participants on the subject.
Turek’s thoughts?
“That would be awesome,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong, the Devaney Center is nice. It’s a great arena. But to get the recruits nowadays, you have to have the biggest and best arenas. That’s just the way it is. It’s hard enough to get guys to come to the middle of Nebraska anyway.”
Briefly
** Nebraska had an unofficial visit from Douglas Kurtz, a 7-foot center from Marshalltown (Iowa) Community College, on Thursday. Kurtz, who averaged 5.9 points and 5.5 rebounds as a freshman, is being recruited for the 2009-10 class. Prep school standout Eshaunte Jones will conclude his official weekend visit today.
** Also honored at Friday’s dinner were Nebraska radio play-by-play announcer Kent Pavelka and former player Rex Ekwall. Pavelka received the Bud Cuca Special Merit Award — the 19th person to earn the award, and the first since 2003. Ekwall was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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