Fred Hoiberg talks Nebraska's roster, the new Big Ten, and his health at Media Day
ROSEMONT, Ill. – As the Big Ten officially enters a new era as an 18-team league, the conference shook up its annual Media Day format this year. Rather than each head coach speaking at a main podium, the event featured a moderated three-coach roundtable discussion.
Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg joined Mike Woodson of Indiana and Eric Musselman of USC on Thursday morning at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. The trio touched on several subjects, including rundowns of their respective teams entering the 2024-25 season.
Here are the highlights of what Hoiberg had to say about his squad…
Nebraska stuck with a get-old, stay-old roster approach
Nebraska entered this past offseason with some big shoes to fill on its roster.
The Huskers lost key veterans like Keisei Tominaga, Josiah Allick, C.J. Wilcher, and Jamarques Lawrence to graduation or the transfer portal. Then they lost senior center Rienk Mast to a season-ending knee surgery.
NU hit the portal and added transfer commitments from North Dakota State big man Andrew Morgan, Utah point guard Rollie Worster, Rutgers guard Gavin Griffiths, Wisconsin guard Connor Essegian, Washington center Braxton Meah, and UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel.
While several new faces are on his latest squad, Hoiberg noted that there is no shortage of talent and experience.
“Last year, we were the oldest team in the league, and we needed to replace a lot of important pieces from our roster a year ago – including Rienk Mast,” Hoiberg said. “So, for us to go out there and try to get that experience to replace Keisei Tominaga, Rienk, Josiah Allick, who were great leaders for us as well as great players on the floor.
“We did a pretty good job of that. We have eight guys who are in their fourth year or more in college basketball, and when you have that experience, it gives you a chance.”
The Huskers brought in a portal class boasting plenty of games under its belt and added players with Big Ten and Pac-12 experience. Essegian (Wisconsin) and Griffiths (Rutgers) came from Big Ten programs, while Worster (Utah) and Meah (Washington) played in the Pac-12.
With Washington, UCLA, USC, and Oregon joining the league this year, Hoiberg said NU’s familiarity with both leagues would be valuable.
Still, the challenge this summer and fall has been integrating all of those new pieces—veteran or not—into a cohesive unit.
“These guys are coming together,” Hoiberg said. “Those eight weeks (of practices), how important they are to build the chemistry in the summer. Back in our day when we were playing, it was Oct. 15, and you basically had two or three weeks, and all of sudden, you’re playing games.
“So, there’s eight weeks in the summer and five weeks in the fall, and then guys are already sick of you on the first official day or practice. That’s all very important as far as building chemistry.”
Hoiberg feeling ‘really good’ after heart procedure
Last week, Hoiberg announced that he underwent a pacemaker replacement procedure on Friday. He looked like he hadn’t missed a beat when he took the Big Ten Media Day stage on Thursday.
Hoiberg said he was holding up well after the roughly 30-minute operation. He still has to be “careful” during practices, but he was already back on the practice court coaching this week.
“I feel really good,” Hoiberg said. “The biggest thing right now is just being careful. I’m coaching from the sidelines and trying not to get hit. I just can’t get hit in the area where they did the procedure. But, overall, I’m doing great.”
After NCAA Tournament run, the Huskers are raising the bar
Nebraska capped an impressive 2023-24 campaign by returning to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a decade.
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The Huskers came up short in a first-round loss to Texas A&M, but Hoiberg said that experience had raised the bar for his program this season. Juwan Gary was the only player on NU’s roster who had played in the Big Dance dating back to his days at Alabama.
Now, Nebraska’s roster is full of guys who have been on that stage.
“It’s such a different experience being on the big stage and all the coverage that you have,” Hoiberg said. “Now we’ve got a bunch of guys that have been there.”
“We’ve talked a lot about this as a group: The challenge now is not only getting back there, but it’s winning in March,” Hoiberg added. “It’s taking this program to where it’s never been before.
“Our guys have been really good. I love the work ethic; I love the competitiveness. When you have a group of guys that play hard, you’re going to have a chance.”
NU is ready for the ‘grind’ of coast-to-coast travel in new Big Ten
One of the most daunting changes facing Big Ten teams this season is that they will play conference games over four time zones.
Schools on the East and West Coasts now face the challenge of cross-country trips during an already difficult league schedule. If nothing else, Nebraska’s geographic positioning on the Big Ten map could provide a slight advantage.
“It’s going to be a grind,” Hoiberg said. “You had four unbelievable programs with great coaches. The travel is going to be something that none of us have ever experienced at this level…
“I think we’re set up in a pretty good spot in Nebraska. The West Coast grind probably won’t be as much as it is for the East Coast schools. But at the same time, you really do have to prepare for it.”
The Huskers have already utilized a sports scientist who monitors players’ workloads in every practice for the past two seasons. They’ve also followed a strict “load progression” model to, as Hoiberg said, “try to be fresh when it matters most.”
He pointed to NU’s late-season success in February and March over the past two years as examples of those efforts paying off.
