ESPN Men's Basketball

When Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson and assistant Marc Boehm went to the Double Pump retreat last week in Los Angeles they were hoping to see if UTEP coach Doc Sadler was a fit.

They chatted with him informally. And, according to multiple sources, they are convinced that he makes total sense for the Huskers.

Still, there is work to be done, like double checking the amounts of buyouts for George Washington's Karl Hobbs (who they also talked to at the same event) and South Alabama's John Pelphrey. But, barring a turn in the next few days, the Huskers could be zeroing in on Sadler, according to multiple sources. And Nebraska has been assured that if offered, Sadler would take the job.

Nebraska asked for permission to speak with Sadler, Pelphrey and Hobbs. They were going to talk to Nevada's Mark Fox officially, too, (they talked to him at the same event, as well) but he withdrew his name as a candidate Saturday afternoon.

So, there is still the formality of actually interviewing their lead candidate. But sources said the Huskers may just interview one coach if they're convinced he's the right fit.

Sadler is looking like that person because the Huskers are impressed by his junior college ties (he was a JC coach in Arkansas), his recruiting in Texas, his smalltown folksy nature (he's from a small town in Arkansas) that is needed in Lincoln as well as his ties to the new wunderkid in the biz Billy Gillispie. Sadler worked for Gillispie at UTEP before replacing him two seasons ago. Gillispie turned around Texas A&M in two seasons, getting the Aggies to the second round and they are a preseason top 10 team (on ESPN.com) heading into this season.

The Huskers are looking to replace Barry Collier, who left to become the athletic director at his alma mater at Butler earlier this week.

Sadler led the Miners to a 2005 NCAA Tournament berth. UTEP just missed a bid last March with a 21-9 overall, 11-3 CUSA record. The Miners lost to Michigan in the first round of the NIT.

Andy Katz is a senior writer for ESPN.com.