Fred spoke to the media. Notes from Washut:
Nebraska head coach Fred Hoiberg
***Hoiberg said his initial impression of Nebraska’s 2024-25 squad was that it’s “a very mature group” and “a very competitive group of guys.” Last year’s team was the same way, and Hoiberg said he’d been equally pleased with his new roster’s daily approach.
***Maybe Hoiberg’s biggest complaint right now was that NU was turning the ball over too much. However, he added that was probably the case with every team in the country.
***Nebraska started doing live full and half-chalfcourtabout a week and a half ago.
***Washington transfer Braxton Meah (thumb) joined NU’s live halfcourt work this week. He’d been limited while recovering from his injury.
Once the 7-foot-1 Meah is full-go, Hoiberg thinks he has “a chance to be a force” this season.
***Hoiberg has enjoyed watching the daily battles in practice between Meah and fellow big man Andrew Morgan. Hoiberg said he’d been “really impressed” with Morgan’s physicality.
***Because of how aggressively Nebraska’s defense doubles the post, it’s difficult for bigs to get off shots. However, Hoiberg said Morgan was still finishing at the rim off high-low actions.
While the North Dakota State transfer isn’t the same level of shooter as Rienk Mast, Hoiberg thought Morgan still “gives us a lot of the same skill level that Rienk has.”
***Another pleasant surprise in the front court has been JUCO walk-on Justin Bolis. The former Lincoln High product made the most of his increased role while Meah was limited last month.
***Hoiberg said Nebraska was easing true freshman Braden Frager into the mix. The former Lincoln Southwest standout continues to recover from a wrist injury. Frager is shooting and going through NU’s “script stuff” in practice.
***Mast remains out for the year after undergoing offseason knee surgery. However, Hoiberg said Mast was ahead of schedule in his recovery. The All-Big Ten selection is even doing some light shooting this summer.
While he’s not on the court, Hoiberg said Mast has been a valuable mentor and resource for his teammates. He and new G.A. Josiah Allick always coach guys up between reps.
“Rienk’s going to be a big part of this,” Hoiberg said.
New personnel could mean a new look for Nebraska’s system
***Not having Mast will undoubtedly change how Nebraska operates on both ends of the floor. Hoiberg said NU would continue to lean on the staples of his system, but the staff was “experimenting with different actions” in the halfcourt to the new roster’s strengths.
***Another reason why the Huskers’ might look a little different in 2024-25 is that they have two true veteran point guards: Rollie Worster and Ahron Ulis.
Hoiberg said he loved “everything Rollie is all about” on and off the floor. “Anyone that’s been around him says he does whatever it takes to win,” Hoiberg said.
Worster has apparently made noticeable improvements with his shooting, and “he does all the little things right.”
Hoiberg said he had high expectations for the Utah transfer when he arrived, but Worster was already exceeding those this summer.
***On Ulis, Hoiberg said he hadn’t seen many players better at initiating the offense in transition and playing with the pace he wants.
***Hoiberg added that Brice Williams, Sam Hoiberg, and Gavin Griffiths were working some at lead guard this summer.
***On Griffiths, Hoiberg said, “I love his confidence shooting the ball.”
***Hoiberg didn’t hold back when talking about Williams’ potential. He called the senior guard a two-way player who “has a chance at the next level” with his size and skill.
***Nebraska has found a recipe for success over the past two seasons. But its personnel this year has changed a bit. While Hoiberg will always stick with his schematic principles, he said: “My No. 1 job as a coach is to look at the skill level and adjust our system around that.”
Hoiberg added that he’d adjusted his system every year to play to his roster’s strengths, and that will be the case again in 2024-25.
There will be changes on both ends of the court, too. Along with replacing guys like Mast and Keisei Tominaga, NU’s defense will likely adapt when Meah’s length and shot-blocking are in the lineup.
***Hoiberg said he felt good about Nebraska’s 2024-25 non-conference schedule. He highlighted the game vs. St. Mary’s – which he called a potential top-15 team – in Sioux Falls, S.D., and the rivalry matchup at Pickle Smoochers.
He added that the rest of the non-con would get NU “tested” and ready for an “absolute grind” of a 20-game Big Ten Conference slate.
