Sacramento State Game Notes (10 pages) - pdf
GAME PREVIEW
Sacramento State opens the 2013-14 season on Friday when the team hosts UC Santa Cruz inside the Nest at 7:35 p.m…the game is part of a doubleheader that will see the Hornet women take on Cal State Northridge at 5:05 p.m…fans can watch both games for the price of one ticket while students are admitted free with a valid One Card…Sacramento State is 6-16 in season openers since joining the Div. I ranks in 1991-92…that includes a 5-5 record when the team begins the season at home…Sacramento State and UC Santa Cruz will be playing for just the third time ever, and first since the Hornets defeated the Banana Slugs inside the Nest on Jan. 30, 1987 by a 97-72 score…the Hornets also beat the Slugs at home, 94-66, on Jan. 24, 1986…Sacramento State was a Div. II program at the time before moving up to the Div. I ranks in 1991-92…the Banana Slugs are an independent Div. III program that posted a 7-18 record last year under head coach Ron DuBois…Sacramento State went 14-15 overall and 8-12 in the Big Sky Conference a season ago, and return eight players and a redshirt…among those returners are arguably one of the best backcourts in the Big Sky in junior point guard Dylan Garrity and junior shooting guard Mikh McKinney…Friday could mark the Hornet debuts of freshmen Nick Hornsby and Eric Stuteville, sophomore Case Rada and junior Zach Mills…freshman point guard Trevis Jackson will likely redshirt this season…like every home game, and each road game played in a Big Sky venue, Friday's contest can be seen live and free on www.WatchBigSky.com…the game can also be heard over the airwaves on KTKZ 1380 AM The Answer and on the internet at www.hornetsports.com with 17th year play-by-play announcer Steve McElroy calling all the action...live stats for the game are also available via www.hornetsports.com…after Friday night's game, the Hornets embark upon a three-game road trip that include stops at CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 13), UCLA (Nov. 18) and UC Davis (Nov. 26).
SEASON OPENERS
Entering its 66th season in program history, the men's basketball program has not fared well in season openers since the first year of play in 1948-49. The Hornets are 20-45 all-time in season openers, including a 6-16 record since joining the Div. I ranks in 1991-92.
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Though last year's Big Sky Conference record isn't glaring, Sacramento State has improved its league record each of the last four years. The Hornets went 8-12 last season against Big Sky teams, improving upon a 5-11 record in 2011-12, 4-12 in 2010-11, 3-13 in 2009-10, and 1-15 in 2008-09. Last year's 8-12 conference record also included four heartbreaking one-point losses.
ESTABLISHING A HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE
Sacramento State went 10-4 at home last season, the program's most wins inside the Nest in eight years, and tied for the most during the Div. I era (1991-pres.). The Hornets never lost back-to-back games inside the friendly confines and averaged nearly 70 points per contest (69.5). During the team's first four seasons under head coach Brian Katz, the Hornets won 2, 5, 6 and 6, at home, respectively, prior to last year's breakthrough.
548 AND COUNTING
Sacramento State has converted at least one three-pointer in 548 straight games. It has been nearly 20 years since the Hornets failed to convert a three ball. The last time the program was blanked from beyond the arc came on Nov. 28, 1993, when the Hornets went 0-for-6 in an 85-57 loss on the road at Montana State.
PLAYING THE DEFENSE
Sacramento State allowed opponents just 65.7 points per game last season, the best mark in over 40 years. The last Hornet squad to allow less points was the 1970-71 team which gave up 64.7 per contest. The Hornets held opponents to under 60 points in nine of 29 games last year.
ATTEMPTING TO CRACK THE .500 MARK
Sacramento State's 14 victories last year were the most in seven years, and the second most during the program's Div. I era. The Hornets, who never lost more than two games in a row, were at or above the .500 mark the first 28 games of the season until dipping below the .500 mark for the first time in the regular season finale. Sacramento State has still never had a team finish with a record above the .500 mark since joining the Div. I ranks in 1991.
TEAM CAPTAINS CHOSEN
Junior point guard Dylan Garrity and junior shooting guard Mikh McKinney will share the team captain duties this season. The duo combines to make up one of the more dynamic backcourts in the Big Sky Conference and are the top scoring returners as McKinney averaged 12.3 ppg last year while Garrity averaged 11.6 ppg.
CLOSE CALLS
Nineteen of the Hornets' 29 games last season were decided by single digits. Sacramento State went 12-7 in those single digit outcomes. All but six of the team's games against Big Sky competition were decided by a single-digit outcome. Amazingly, the Hornets played six games that were decided by one point, going 2-4 in those outcomes. Each of the four one-point losses came during conference play.
WHO IS STARTING?
Dating back to the beginning of the 2010-11 season, head coach Brian Katz has used 39 different starting lineups over that span. With five newcomers, fans can expect to see a number of different starting lineups again during the non-conference portion of the season. The only two players who are a lock to start games this year are the guard combination of Dylan Garrity and Mikh McKinney.
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE FOR THE SEASON
For the sixth straight year, all of Sacramento State's home games and any game played at a Big Sky Conference venue will be aired live and free via video stream at www.WatchBigSky.com. Fans only have to register for an account, and the games are free to watch. In addition, all games will be broadcast live over the airwaves on KTKZ 1380 AM The Answer and online at www.hornetsports.com with 17th-year play-by-play man Steve McElroy calling all the action. Live stats will be offered for every home game via www.hornetsports.com as well.
GRADUATING PLAYERS
Academically, of the 18 Hornets that have expired their eligibility under head coach Brian Katz, 14 have graduated, and three more are on pace to graduate during the 2013-14 academic year.
TAKING CARE OF THE BALL
Last season, the Hornets turned the ball over just 11.2 times per game, the 28th best mark in the nation, and the top mark in school history. That included turning the ball over a Div. I single-game record four times in the home win vs. Portland State.
GETTING TO THE FREE THROW LINE
Sacramento State converted on 436 free throws last year, the most in seven years, and the team's .728 free throw percentage was the highest mark since the 1976-77 season and fourth highest in school history.
LOSING SOME SCORING PUNCH
The Hornets did lose four of their top six scorers from a season ago in forward John Dickson (1st; 12.8 ppg), center Konner Veteto (4th; 10.2 ppg), swingman Joe Eberhard (5th; 6.9 ppg) and shooting guard Jackson Carbajal (6th; 3.3 ppg). In all, Sacramento State lost five players from last year, and those five players combined to average nearly 50 percent (.498) of the team's total offensive production.
NEW CONTRACT FOR COACH KATZ
Head coach Brian Katz, who will be entering his sixth season with the program in 2013-14, received a new five-year contract in July, lengthening his tenure as the Hornets' head coach through at least the 2017-18 season.
THE BACKCOURT
Although Sacramento State lost three starters from a year ago, the Hornets do return arguably one of the best backcourts in the Big Sky Conference in junior point guard Dylan Garrity and junior shooting guard Mikh McKinney. Garrity will enter his third season with the Hornets and has been the team's starting point guard since the moment he stepped foot on campus. McKinney transferred from Ohlone College prior to last season and burst onto the scene by averaging 12.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 2012-13. The duo combined to average 23.9 points and 7.6 assists per game while shooting .418 from the field, .392 from the 3-point line and .832 from the free throw line. Garrity, who was the Big Sky Freshman of the Year two seasons ago, was named honorable mention all-league for the second straight year.
ALSO RETURNING FOR THE HORNETS
In addition to starters Garrity and McKinney, the Hornets boast players that have experience in the team's starting lineup in sophomore guard Cody Demps, and senior forwards Joey Quigley and Jordan Salley. Guards Dreon Barlett and Kendell Groom as well as center Ryan Okwudibonye also have experience in a Sacramento State uniform. Add in 6-foot-9, 235-pound forward Alex Tiffin, who redshirted last year after transferring from UC Davis, and the Hornets have a solid core of returners.

May 23, 2014
HORNET HOOPS GOLF TOURNAMENT SET FOR MONDAY, JUNE 9

April 28, 2014
MEN’S HOOPS TO HOST SEASON WRAPUP/SIGNING PARTY ON MAY 8

March 10, 2014
TICKETS AVAILABLE FOR BIG SKY MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

February 28, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS FINAL REGULAR SEASON ROAD GAME SATURDAY AT IDAHO ST.

February 27, 2014
WINNING STREAK SNAPPED, MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT WEBER STATE, 79-67

February 26, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS TRAVELS TO WEBER STATE ON THURSDAY, SEEKS 4TH STRAIGHT WIN

February 24, 2014
VOTE GARRITY’S 75-FOOT SHOT FOR GEICO PLAY OF THE YEAR

February 24, 2014
McKINNEY NAMED BIG SKY PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR A SECOND TIME

February 22, 2014
MEN’S BASKETBALL CONTINUES TO ROLL AFTER CRUSHING NORTHERN COLORADO

February 21, 2014
FREE WHITEOUT SHIRTS TO THE FIRST 500 FANS AT SATURDAY’S HOOPS GAME

February 21, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS SEEKS 7TH STRAIGHT HOME WIN SATURDAY VS. NORTHERN COLO.

February 19, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS SEEKS 6TH STRAIGHT HOME WIN THURSDAY VS. NORTH DAKOTA

February 14, 2014
MEN'S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO PORTLAND STATE ON SATURDAY

February 13, 2014
MEN’S BASKETBALL HAS WINNING STREAK SNAPPED AT EASTERN WASHINGTON

February 12, 2014
WINNERS OF FOUR STRAIGHT, MEN'S HOOPS TRAVELS TO EASTERN WASHINGTON

February 10, 2014
MEN’S HOOPS BEATS SOUTHERN UTAH, COMPLETES HOMESTAND WITH 4-0 RECORD

February 9, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS SEEKS 4TH STRAIGHT WIN, HOSTS SOUTHERN UTAH ON MONDAY

February 6, 2014
WINNING STREAK AT THREE AFTER MEN’S HOOPS DISMANTLES NAU, 87-70

February 5, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS BACK AT HOME THURSDAY NIGHT VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA

February 3, 2014
McKINNEY NAMED BIG SKY MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

January 31, 2014
MEN’S BASKETBALL’S SIXTH-ANNUAL ALUMNI GAMES TAKE PLACE SATURDAY

January 31, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS HOST BIG SKY-LEADING WEBER STATE ON SATURDAY NIGHT

January 29, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS OPENS LONG HOMESTAND THURSDAY VS. IDAHO STATE

January 25, 2014
BIG DISPARITIES HURT IN MEN’S HOOPS LOSS AT NORTHERN COLORADO

January 24, 2014
ROAD WEARY MEN'S HOOPS PLAYS AT NORTHERN COLORADO ON SATURDAY

January 23, 2014
NORTH DAKOTA USES LATE RUN TO BEAT MEN’S BASKETBALL

January 21, 2014
MEN'S BASKETBALL BACK ON THE ROAD THURSDAY AT NORTH DAKOTA

January 18, 2014
MEN’S BASKETBALL KNOCKS OFF EASTERN WASHINGTON AT HOME, 75-64

January 17, 2014
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS EASTERN WASHINGTON ON SATURDAY NIGHT

January 15, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS FINALLY RETURNS HOME, HOSTS PORTLAND STATE ON THURSDAY

January 11, 2014
MEN’S HOOPS CRUSHES SOUTHERN UTAH, ENDS ROAD TRIP IN A BIG WAY

January 10, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS ROAD TRIP COMES TO AN END SATURDAY AT SOUTHERN UTAH

January 8, 2014
MEN'S HOOPS CONTINUES ROAD TRIP THURSDAY AT NORTHERN ARIZONA

January 2, 2014
MEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS BIG SKY OPENER AT MONTANA STATE

December 31, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL OPENS BIG SKY PLAY THURSDAY AT MONTANA STATE

December 29, 2013
LATE FREE THROWS HELP DELIVER 69-67 MEN’S HOOPS WIN OVER UC RIVERSIDE

December 27, 2013
AFTER LONG LAYOFF, MEN'S HOOPS HOSTS UC RIVERSIDE SUNDAY AFTERNOON

December 21, 2013
BIG SECOND HALF FUELS CAL STATE FULLERTON TO VICTORY OVER MEN’S HOOPS

December 19, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL PLAYS AT CAL STATE FULLERTON ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON

December 14, 2013
MEN’S HOOPS CRUISES TO 85-54 WIN OVER WILLIAM JESSUP

December 12, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS WILLIAM JESSUP ON SATURDAY AT 7 P.M.

December 7, 2013
UTEP USES HEALTHY FREE THROW ADVANTAGE TO BEAT MEN’S BASKETBALL

December 4, 2013
MEN'S HOOPS TRAVELS TO EL PASO FOR FIRST EVER MEETING WITH UTEP

November 30, 2013
UC IRVINE USES BIG SECOND HALF TO DEFEAT MEN’S BASKETBALL

November 29, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL HOSTS UC IRVINE SATURDAY NIGHT AT 7 P.M.

November 26, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL COMES THROUGH WITH CLUTCH WIN AT UC DAVIS, 73-67

November 25, 2013
MEN'S HOOPS AND UC DAVIS TO PLAY FOR THE 112TH TIME ON TUESDAY

November 18, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL FALLS TO #22 UCLA

November 15, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL TRAVELS TO #24 UCLA ON MONDAY

November 13, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS MIRA COSTA HIGH SCHOOL FORWARD JUSTIN STRINGS

November 13, 2013
BAKERSFIELD HOT FROM DISTANCE IN 74-66 WIN OVER MEN’S BASKETBALL

November 12, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL BEGINS ROAD TRIP WEDNESDAY AT CSU BAKERSFIELD

November 8, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL BEATS UC SANTA CRUZ, 73-43, IN SEASON OPENER

November 6, 2013
MEN'S BASKETBALL GETS UNDERWAY FRIDAY NIGHT VS. UC SANTA CRUZ

November 5, 2013
2013-14 MEN’S BASKETBALL MEDIA GUIDE NOW AVAILABLE

October 28, 2013
2013-14 MEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON OUTLOOK

October 17, 2013
BIG SKY MEN’S BASKETBALL COACHES AND MEDIA PRESEASON POLLS RELEASED

September 24, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL SEASON COMING FAST, FIRST OFFICIAL PRACTICE ON FRIDAY

July 23, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL RELEASES ITS 2013-14 SCHEDULE