The goal is the same: Win the Big Sky Conference championship. The expectations, however, are much higher than in previous years.

Sacramento State is coming off a season in which it posted a winning record in the Big Sky for the first time in team history and has been picked by many publications to finish near the top of the conference.

“It gives us confidence,” senior center Zane Beekman said. “It’s expected out of us.”

The high expectations come as a result of nine returning players from last year’s team, including Jason Harris, picked by many to be the best player in the conference.

“The whole team is better this year,” Harris said. “Ever since I was in high school I’ve been on good teams. I except to be the best.”

One of the things the Hornets will have to accomplish to make it to the next level is to win games away from home.

“Championship teams win games on the road,” head coach Jerome Jenkins said.

In the past two seasons, the Hornets have posted a 20-6 record at home, with only five wins coming away.

“(The Hornets Nest) is a better atmosphere,” Beekman said. “It gets louder than other Big Sky arenas because the fans are packed in.”

The Hornets will get an early look at where they stand as a team.

If Sac State can get by Samford, which last year was 15-13, they will most likely play Texas (ranked No. 3 by ESPN) in the second round of the Guardians Classic in Austin, Texas.

The next game will bring the Hornets within shouting distance from their fans when they take on No. 25 Nevada-Reno.

Hoping for a strong turnout to support the team, the campus alumni association is putting together a bus trip that will shuttle fans from Sac State to Reno. The cost is $45 dollars for round trip bus fair and a ticket to the game. Fans can call 278-4899 if they are interested.

The Hornets play two home exhibition games this week. The first of those is against Simpson College at 7 p.m. today at the Hornets Nest. The other is at 7:35 p.m. Friday against Notre Dame de Namur in the second of a back-to-back with the women’s team.