The Sacramento State men’s basketball team needs to work on its transition game.

After running over NAIA Bethany College, 72-45, in an exhibition game last week, the Hornets next will play on the road against top-25 caliber University of Michigan for their regular season opener.

So much for middle ground.

But the Hornets, known for their ability to make huge leaps, should be able to make the jump from hosting a small school to visiting one of the nation’s best. “It’s a huge opportunity for us to test our skill level and see where we are as a program,” head coach Jerome Jenkins said.

“We feel we’re getting big enough and strong enough to play against teams like this,” Jenkins said. “Our goal is to make the NCAA tournament and to do that we’re going to have to face someone like (Michigan) in the tournament.”

The Hornets began last season at Stanford, losing 77-59 and becoming the first in a line of 26 straight wins for a Cardinal team that ended the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. Despite starting 0-1, the Hornets went on to win the most games — both overall and in conference — in program history last season.

The Hornets were able to hang with Stanford last season, down just six points during the second half.

Jenkins said the Hornets aren’t afraid of Michigan and will take the same approach against them as they did against Stanford.

“We’re not going to just stand there and hold on to the ball,” Jenkins said. “We’re trying to go in there, win the basketball game and shock the world.”

Senior guard Jameel Pugh, who had a team-high 18 points against Stanford last season, said the team isn’t scared of Michigan.

“They’re not superhuman,” Pugh said. “We’re not afraid of the name on their jersey. We’ve been preparing ourselves for a game like this and were not going to back down from anyone.”

The game versus the Wolverines is one of three guaranteed games on the Hornets schedule, all of which total $130,000 in revenue for Sac State athletics according to athletics director Terry Wanless. The Hornets will also play visitor to Fresno State (Dec. 11) and Oregon State (Dec. 28).

Hornets football earned $125,000 to play at University of Reno earlier this season.

The Hornets will return home for their season opener on Nov. 22 against Southern Utah. Last season Sac State won three straight games after their opening loss against Stanford.

The Hornets second home game of the season will be UC Davis on Dec. 1. Big Sky Conference play will begin on Jan. 6 on the road against Portland State. Sac State’s first Big Sky home contests will take place during winter break, with games against Idaho State (Jan. 13) and Weber State (Jan. 15).

NOTES:

Senior point guard James Payne and junior forward Chris Lange are both on academic probation and will be unable to play until early January.

“It’s a tremendous loss,” Jenkins said. “Payne is one of our floor leaders and knows the offense like the back of his hand,” Jenkins said. “That is a huge loss for us right now, but I am very confident in both DaShawn (Freeman) and E.J. (Harris).”

The team’s emergency point guard until Payne’s return is 6-foot-4, 210 pound Jason Harris.

The Hornets were strong early in the exhibition win against Bethany College — located in Scotts Valley, just outside Santa Cruz — jumping out to a 31-4 lead midway through the first half. Pugh scored 24 points in the contest, including two spectacular dunks.

Both Harris and freshman Randy Adams sat out the exhibition with minor ankle injuries, but both should be available against Michigan. Freshman Davon Roberts played significant minutes and contributed eight points on 4-of-6 shooting and five rebounds. Other freshmen Schuyler McKay and Jason Gilzene played 18 and 20 minutes respectively.

“All my freshmen impressed me,” Jenkins said. “They were fearless out there. They are all going to play this season.”