The defensive strategy Sadler employed earned him 89 victories through five seasons. The total was the most by a Husker coach in his first five years in Lincoln. He was also just the second NU coach ever to reach the postseason twice in his first three seasons and only the second since World War II to post at least three winning seasons in his first four years on the bench. Among the 89 victories were eight against ranked teams, including three ranked teams during the 2010–11 season. That year, the Huskers reached the NIT, the school's third postseason appearance in the last four seasons.