Balham made NU basketball student assistant

No new names were added to the Nebraska roster, but one familiar name will remain on the bench this season.

Nebraska basketball coach Doc Sadler announced Monday that forward Chris Balham is taking a medical exemption for the 2009-2010 season. He will remain on as a student assistant for Nebraska.

Balham will end his playing career because of reoccurring knee problems that hindered his ability to practice and play.

"This was a tough decision for Chris, and it's difficult for him to deal with and will be difficult for our team not having him on the court," Sadler said in a statement.

Balham played three seasons for Nebraska. He started 23 games last season for Nebraska averaging a career-high 10 minutes per game. Balham averaged 2 points and 2.3 rebounds during that time.

Balham owned the distinction of being the biggest player on the Cornhusker roster standing in at 6'8.

His personal season highlight was playing 18 minutes against South Carolina State. Balham scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds.

As a sophomore, Balham played in 32 games. He scored 10 points in 11 minutes in an upset victory over No. 22 Texas A&M.

Earlier in his career, Balham overcame severe weakness in his knees and a three-day stay in the hospital. Balham has tried a variety of methods to extend his playing career; it wasn't uncommon for him to ride the bike while everyone else was practicing.

Sadler said the doctors were straight forward with Balham this summer and let him know that even taking the summer off wasn't enough recovery for his knees.

"They won't get better, so it's in his best interest to stop playing now and have a chance to be healthy later in life," Sadler said.

Balham graduated earlier this summer and will now start work toward his master's degree. He will be able to attend games and sit on the bench with the team. It was important for Sadler to give back to Balham.

"Chris has given us everything he had every time he stepped on the court," Sadler said. "He's a part of our family and while he may not be able to physically play, he will be an important part of this team this year."

Balham's scholarship will not count towards NU's scholarship limit. That frees up one scholarship for Sadler to use for one of his many new recruits this summer.

It was expected that Sadler would announce an official roster on Monday but Jerry Trickie, assistant media relations director, said that the coach would not be announcing any change.

Sadler was unavailable for comment.

He did not give a timeline indicating when the roster would be official.

German Christian Standhardinger is one reason that an announcement would be delayed. Various media outlets are reporting that Standhardinger has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse but is still working on paperwork for a visa. Standhardinger would put the team one over the scholarship limit.

sports@dailynebraskan.com