Before most of SF State’s varsity basketball home games, the Gators take the floor in front of screaming, purple-and-gold-pompom-waving fans.

Unfortunately, the end result is usually a home-team loss. But, distancing itself from the troubles at The Swamp, the men’s team has put together a four-game win streak at home so far this season.

Both the women and men’s basketball teams have struggled to collect wins on their own court. In the 2004-05 season, the women’s team won three and lost 10 at home. The following year, the Gators women won their first home game of the season, 103-40, against Cal Maritime Academy. However, they didn’t win any more, losing the next 11. The men’s basketball team had a good home record during the 2004-05 season, going 9-4 in front of its own fans. However, the men didn’t fare too well last season, winning just once and losing 11 at SF State.

According to men’s coach Bill Treseler, many factors contribute to his team’s losing trend at home, but the most obvious is poor play.

“We have not performed at a high enough level to win games in our conference, which is generally considered one of, if not the top, NCAA Division II conferences in the nation,” he said.

Women’s basketball coach Joaquin Wallace said he has similar feelings about how his team has played at home, attributing losses to its youth and an inability to keep opponents down.

Being at home has many advantages, including having the chance to relax a bit more than the team would be able to do on the road. Treseler, who is coming into his third season as head coach, said he enjoys playing at home because the team doesn’t have to worry about traveling, and can play on the same court with which it most familiar.

Wallace said playing on the road can help make a team tougher, while Treseler admitted that although home fan support is usually a positive factor, it can also have a negative effect on the players.

“The only disadvantage is sometimes with a young team there is extra pressure to do well for one’s friends who are at the game,” he said. “The enthusiasm and devotion of the fans can give you a feeling of obligation and you definitely feel you don’t want to let people down.”

Wallace agreed with Treseler in that the players try to impress family and friends, and added that when players are comfortable on their home court, they are not as sharp.

Lauren McFarland, 21, has attended games for two years and said she feels fired up for the upcoming season. “In the past, the team has not been good, so it’s not motivating, but we hope that we have something to be proud of,” she said.

No matter what happened in the past, Treseler knows it will be a different team this year because of the talent and potential he sees.

“The pendulum is going to shift for our team this year, in that we will really be looking forward to being in The Swamp with the Gator Nation, the cheer squad and the band,” he said.