Much has changed for the Sacramento State men’s basketball team. Gone are perhaps the most celebrated players in recent history in guards DaShawn Freeman and Jason Harris.

Along with them went the outside expectations that went along for the ride during last year’s 15-15 campaign. Sports Illustrated picked last year’s team to represent the Big Sky in the NCAA Tournament, a prediction that was not meant to be.

Freeman, Harris and the outside expectations are gone, but head coach Jerome Jenkins welcomes the new year.

“I’m excited about the new season. It’s going to be a new adventure,” Jenkins said.

The loss of Freeman in particular will be tough for the team to overcome, Jenkins said.

“I always knew what I was going to get from (Freeman),” he said. “I don’t know now. It’s a new beginning.”

The responsibility to lead has been thrown on the broad shoulders of 6-foot-7 senior forward Alex Bausley.

“(Bausley) is our No. 1 guy and he has already taken over the role of leader,” Jenkins said. “He’s in great shape and he’s talking (to his teammates) a lot on the court. We need him to be all-conference and then some.”

The new leader sees some good things as well as some things that need to improve.

“We’re very skilled and athletic. If we can force our tempo, we’ll be fine,” Bausley said. “We have to work on our defense and rebounding in order to be as good as we can be.”

Taking over for the departed seniors is a group of seven newcomers. Junior transfer Rod Adams will likely step in as the team’s starting point guard.

“It’s between (Adams) and Alonzo Young,” Jenkins said. “Right now Rod has the upper hand.”

Top recruit junior Angel Alamo will be counted on to produce down low. The 6-foot-9 Alamo has a ton of potential, Jenkins said.

“He’s big and skilled and when he gets acclimated to our offense he’ll be tremendous,” he said. “It’s up to him how good he wants to be.”

Junior forward/center Curtis Harrison will bring shot blocking to the squad down low and junior point guard Kris Groce, who was ruled academically ineligible for this semester, could eventually play an integral role as well.

Young is the lone freshman on this year’s squad. He is joined by sophomore guard/forward Donald Thomas and junior forward Jason Davis.

What the team may lack in star power, Jenkins feels it makes up for in versatility.

“I think we’re more of a team now,” he said. “I think we can play everybody in any game. I’ve always wanted a deep team and I feel comfortable bringing in anyone on this team.”

The team was picked to finish fifth in the conference in both preseason polls, but that doesn’t faze Jenkins.

“As always, our goal is to win the Big Sky and get to the tournament,” he said. “We’re close, but we have to make it easy on ourselves,” he said, referring to last year’s team losing several close games at the end of the year.

Sophomore guard Loren Leath leaves no question as to his mindset going forward.

“I expect to win a championship,” Leath said. “I won’t accept anything else.”

What’s the best part of starting the season, though? It might just be the opportunity to play someone else.

“I’m tired of watching them play against each other,” Jenkins said. “We’re excited for the season to start finally.”

“We’re tired of beating each other up,” Bausley said. “It’ll be good to get out on the court and play.”