They’ll be the first to tell you that this hasn’t been the season they hoped for, but the Sacramento State men’s basketball players are looking to finish this season strong and, if nothing else, build for the future.

As of Sunday, the team (9-17, 4-9) sits two and a half games out of the sixth and final Big Sky Conference playoff spot with three games remaining. A lot of things need to happen to get there, but one thing is clear; they must win out to have a chance.

Should the cards not fall in the Hornets’ favor, there is still next year. A year in which Coach Jerome Jenkins sees the potential for great things.

“I feel like next year we could be better than we were (in 2005-06),” he said.

Such a statement could come as a surprise, seeing how that team was picked by Sports Illustrated to win the Big Sky and put on its dancing shoes in March. According to Jenkins, it was a recent game that bolstered his newfound optimism.

“It was a joy to coach the (Feb. 14) Montana State game,” he said. “Guys really looked like they are starting to accept their roles.” Sac State won the game 90-82 at home behind a season-high 18 steals.

The emergence of junior transfer guard Kris Groce has the team believing that the future is indeed bright.

“He’s our Steve Nash,” Jenkins said. “I think he could be the best point guard in the conference next year. He just needs to fall in love with the weight room during the offseason.”

Groce himself isn’t looking past the end of this season, but did reveal that next year is an exciting proposition.

“We have a lot of guys coming back, and in our last couple of games we have played pretty well,” Groce said. “We have gotten back to playing good defense and pressing. We’re a lot more aggressive.”

Groce’s numbers have skyrocketed recently. In his past six outings he has averaged 16 points, 4.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 45 percent shooting. He has also made 13 three pointers in that time.

The future may look good, but you won’t catch senior forward Alex Bausley talking about next year. His time is now, and this season doesn’t end until the buzzer sounds.

“It’s not over yet,” Bausley said of his team’s uphill climb toward the postseason. “We haven’t found a way to win on the road and it’s been just recently that the team has started to jell.”

The road will play a pivotal role in the team’s last gasp for the playoffs. The Hornets go on the road to Portland State on Thursday and Eastern Washington on Saturday before returning home for the season finale against Weber State on Monday.

If the breaks beat the boys, the torch Bausley passes will read simply; don’t look back.

“I’ll tell them to always play your hardest every time up the floor,” he said. “You don’t want to look back and say ‘I could have done this, or I could have done that.'”

In a season full of expectations, Jenkins understands and embraces the frustrations of the Hornet faithful.

“I understand the disappointment of the fans,” he said. “This year was tough. We lost five seniors and two big contributors (Randy Adams and Clark Woods) to injuries.”

“But I’m glad we have expectations now. I want people to be mad that we aren’t winning,” he said.

Jenkins knows the fat lady hasn’t sung yet this season, but looks forward to the opportunity next year will present.

“Maybe we needed to take a step back in order to go forward,” he said of his team’s lack of success to this point. “Next year will be our year.”

Let the expectations begin anew, but not just yet.

Benn Hodapp can be reached at [email protected]