With each season coming to an end, heads turn toward the beginning of the next season. For Sacramento State’s basketball programs, one team is better off than the other.  

Starting with the women’s team, they finished this season with a 19-12 record – the best record by any Sac State women’s team in school history. 

They easily made the playoffs but fell to the eventual winners, the Montana Grizzlies. 

Led by seniors Kylie Kuhn and Megan Krischer, the team was at the program’s peak of success. Both seniors also happen to be Big Sky Conference record holders – Kuhns in career rebounds (1,234) and Krischer with the most blocks in one season (111). 

Now the team is left without the three largest players on the court if you include another graduating senior, Natasha Torgerson. 

The team relies on quick players with the ability to full court press 100 percent of the game. The replacement centers and power forwards are young and unproven, a recipe for disaster in a fast-paced system. 

The men’s team, on the other hand, are on the rise. 

After a disappointing and shortened season – despite the second best record since 1991 – the men’s team is only getting better. 

Sure, the team’s lead scorer and second place rebounder John Dickson is graduating this Spring, but the team has signed an exciting recruitment class for next Fall. 

The Hornets are also losing starting center Konnor Veteto after his career-best season averaging 10.2 rebounds and 5.9 points per game. 

In comes Eric Stuteville. 

In Stuteville’s senior year at Casa Robles High School, he averaged 21.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. He is 6-foot-10 – an inch taller than Veteto. He has a brother almost as talented as he is and is just a year younger, by the way. 

The Hornets have also picked up sharp-shooter Case Rada out of Walla Walla Community College who once hit 11 three pointers in a game last year. Yeah, he can shoot. 

The men’s team also signed a few more recruits who look promising for next season. 

We are seeing a shift of power, ladies and gentlemen. The women’s team is rebuilding, while the men’s team is finally looking to become competitors in the Big Sky Conference.

Russell can be reached on Twitter at @prestonSHsports