I love when teams prove me wrong.

As I looked forward to this college basketball season, I’ll be the first to admit, I did not have high hopes for Sacramento State men’s basketball. 

The team hasn’t had a winning season since Ronald Reagan was President and has never reached any NCAA Division I postseason tournaments.

But there has been a trend forming among the Hornet athletic teams. It started last year when the baseball team made a run to the finals of their conference tournament and continued in the fall when football knocked off Cal Poly and Colorado. Now, it has made its way onto the basketball court.

These three programs all have the something in common. They are well coached and have amazing team chemistry.

Don’t believe me? Ask the players themselves.

Senior forward John Dickson, who has been a starter since he was a freshman in 2009, said that this team’s attitude is completely different from years past.

“We’ve had a couple guys on the team before who were not really serious about winning,” Dickson said. “We have a goal of a Big Sky championship and we are going to fight and do whatever we can to achieve it.”

Dickson helped lead his team back from a 7-point deficit with one minute remaining against defending conference champion Montana only to come up short 61-60, but to take a team that was in the NCAA Tournament just one year ago down to the wire is impressive.

It is hard to make a name for yourself in college athletics. Smaller schools that are now nationally recognized, such as Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s, Virginia Commonwealth and Butler, were all once in Sac State’s shoes. Now the ball is in their court.

They have the coaching, the chemistry and the talent to contend with any conference team they are matched up against, but if these Hornets are going to make a move, the time is now.

Sac State is a talented team with veteran leadership run by a coach who is hungry. Head coach Brian Katz is passionate about this team from the way treats his players on and off the court to the style of coaching he utilizes.

If you think Sac State men’s basketball is not on the rise, you are dead wrong. They have already made a statement this year and are looking forward to 18 more Big Sky Conference games. 

The scary part about it is that Katz and his players say they agree that the team has not reached their potential. 

“I know this is a year we can really make a move,” Katz said. “I’ve been excited from day one.”

Follow Ryan on Twitter @rskuhn and for live game updates follow State Hornet Sports @sthornetsports