Men’s Basketball Selected Ninth in GNAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll

BOSTON – For the second straight season, Suffolk men's basketball has been predicted to finish ninth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference office unveiled Monday. 

The Rams picked up 44 points to place ahead of Anna Maria (23) and Rivier (16). At the top with 118 points thanks to nine first-place votes is defending champion Albertus Magnus. Johnson & Wales collected one first-place nod to slide into second with 103 points with Mount Ida also picking up one first-place vote to round out the top three with 91 points. 

Suffolk enters its third season under the leadership of Jeff Juron. With one of the youngest rosters in Suffolk men's basketball history last season, the Rams made its 13th overall trip to the GNAC tourney and seventh bid for the title in eight years thanks to a 7-18 regular season record and a 6-12 showing against conference competition. 

Michael Hagopian led the way for the blue-and-gold as the second-team all-league selection put up a team-high 14.3 ppg to go along with 3.1 rpg and 1.5 apg. Adding to the offensive unit was classmate Jim Djema, who dished out a team-best 2.5 apg, and was second on the squad with 10.9 ppg. Sophomores Thomas Duffy (7.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg) and George Grillakis (7.6 ppg, 3.5 rpg) look to approve on a freshman campaigns. 

Suffolk tips off the 2017-18 slate, the program's 71st, Wednesday, Nov. 15 when it welcomes Brandeis to Beacon Hill for a 7 p.m. game inside Regan Gymnasium.