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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Nebraska men’s basketball program is about to go under the microscope.

And the guy peering through the lens the hardest after the school’s first losing season in seven years and the most league losses ever is head coach Doc Sadler.

“Let’s be real. I’ve got to get some wins,’’ Sadler said after Thursday’s 70-64 quarterfinal loss in the Big 12 tournament to No. 23 Texas A&M.

“I’ve got to have a team that doesn’t just play hard. We’ve got to get some wins. And I thought that train was going in the right direction.’’

In Sadler’s first three seasons at NU, it was.

His overall records were 17-14, 20-13 and 18-13. His Big 12 marks were 6-10, 7-9 and 8-8. Then came this season’s 15-18 overall mark and 2-14 league record.

With eight newcomers, Sadler knew a struggle was coming in the powerhouse Big 12. But not this much of one.

“I’ve got to really look at myself and evaluate where I’m at,’’ he said. “And then we’ll start with the other things.’’

Sadler already has been assured of more time at Nebraska from Athletic Director Tom Osborne, who has praised Sadler’s work ethic and operation of the program.

So what’s on the to-do list?

1, Recruiting.

Sadler said his current roster, because of the character of his players, has NU “closer than what a lot of people may think.’’ But . . .

“We’ve still got to get that one dude,’’ he said, meaning a difference-making scorer.

At what position would Sadler prefer to find a go-to guy?

“Guard. Because that’s what the college game is about,’’ he said. “You’ve got to have somebody who can go make a play.’’

For next season, Sadler has signed 6-foot-11, 315-pound Andre Almeida from Arizona Western College. The preseason junior college All-American suffered an appendix rupture recently and lost 20 pounds. Arizona Western finished 24-8 and out of national title contention after going 1-4 following Almeida’s illness.

NU also has a commitment from 6-4, 205-pound wing Caleb Walker of Butler County (Kan.) Community College. Walker recently was named the Jayhawk League West Division player of the year, and Butler had advanced to the national tournament.

The Huskers are believed to have interest in 6-4, 185-pound Tyler Brown of Marshalltown (Iowa) CC.

Before Christmas, the guard from Owensboro, Ky., averaged 7.3 points a game. After the holiday break, he scored in double figures in every game, including outbursts of 25, 29, 33 and 36 points.

2, Evaluate the assistant coaches.

There are repeated rumblings in Lincoln that Sadler will be encouraged to hire a new assistant or two and realign some duties. Whether change comes remains a mystery.

3, Player development.

The Huskers are in the process of arranging an eight- to 10-day foreign trip for May, July or August, to work on skill development and team chemistry.

Incoming recruits can go on such trips if they have passed three credit hours at their new school. Sadler said the timing of the trip might depend on whether newcomers can get enrolled in an early-session summer class at NU.

4, Roster turnover.

Since Sadler took over in August 2006, 12 scholarship players have left the program before completing their eligibility — six of his signees and six of Barry Collier’s.

Nebraska has the NCAA maximum 13 scholarships in use or committed, and Sadler said he hopes no current player leaves.

“But if I don’t like the answers I get when I meet with them individually and their goals are little bit different than what’s best for Nebraska,’’ he said, “then I’ll shake their hand and tell them there are other places to be.’’

Sadler said the number of potential departures doesn’t concern him.

“If it’s one guy who’s not on board,’’ he said, “next thing you know there will be four, or next thing you know there will be six.

“I don’t expect there to be any. But, hey, that’s just the way it is today.’’

Sadler said he’s looking forward to Nebraska breaking ground in May on a basketball practice facility. The vote on a new arena is in May, too. And more work remains as a school interested in basketball.

“The commitment has got to be strong,’’ Sadler said. “This isn’t easy, and this league we’re playing in isn’t easy.

“If (other Big 12 schools) are committing to certain things, then we’ve got to commit to certain things if we’re going to get this thing going in the right direction.’’

Contact the writer:

444-1024, lee.barfknecht@owh.com

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