Men’s Basketball’s 72nd Season Begins Saturday vs. Salve Regina

SATURDAY, NOV. 10 // 3:00 PM  REGAN GYMNASIUM BOSTON, MASS.
LIVE STATS // VIDEO SERIES RECORD // TIED, 12-12 LAST MEETING // NOV. 26, 2017, L, 73-64 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // NOV. 24, 2009, W, 73-71 STREAK // L3 EYES ON THE GAME PROGRAM

BOSTON – The 2018-19 Suffolk men's basketball campaign gets underway Saturday, Nov. 10 when the Rams welcome Salve Regina to Regan Gymnasium for a 3 p.m. tip-off.

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RAPID REWIND
Suffolk has one if its most successful season sin the past decade in 2017-18 with the most wins (15-12) since 2000-01, the most conference triumphs (9-7) since 2005-06 (9-9) to seal its sixth straight appearance in the league's postseason, in which the Rams' made the program's fourth-ever GNAC semifinal run.

STARTING FIVE: QUICK HITS ON THE UPCOMING SEASON
With less than a week away from Suffolk men's basketball 2018-19 season's opener, GoSuffolkRams.com gave Ram Nation a quick glimpse of five hot topics to watch out for in the 72nd edition of Suffolk's men's hoops. Click the link below for your chance at checking out the five things to keep an eye on this year. 

MORE READING: Starting Five: Men's Basketball's 72nd Season 

GUESS WHO'S BACK
Every starter from a year ago is back in blue-and-gold led by the all-league contingent of Thomas Duffy (16.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.7 apg), Michael Hagopian (14.6ppg, 3.3 rpg) and Brendan Mulson (11.8 ppg, 6.1 rpg). 

The veteran leadership of Jim Djema (8.0 ppg, 2.9 apg), Kevin Querusio (4.6 rpg) and George Grillakis (7.0 ppg, 3.6 rpg) are back in the fold as well with Steven DiPrizio back after a season-ending injury prior to the tip of the 2017-18 campaign.

NEW FACES IN NEW PLACES
Seven true freshmen and one transfer were brought in over the off season to add a boost to Suffolk's line-up. Shaun Wingfield will make his blue-and-gold Rams debut as a junior, while Max Bonney-Liles, Connor Byrne, Jarret Byrne, Conor Creane, Aref Elbeik, Andrew Fraioli and William Rowe will each make their collegiate entrance at Suffolk 

GEOGRAPHY 101
The Rams 2018-18 roster features 18 players representing six states. There are nine Massachusetts natives and four that hail from Connecticut. A pair has traveled north from Florida with New Hampshire, New York and Virginia each represented by one student-athlete.

RAMS ROSTER
Suffolk is split in have by nine upperclassmen and underclassmen. The three seniors are complimented by six juniors, while the seven freshmen are joined by a duo of sophomores. 

Position wise, the Rams are made up of 12 guards and six forwards.

MEASURE UP
Five of the Rams' 18 players stand taller than 6-5 with 13 student-athletes measuring in under 6-5.

ON THE SIDELINES
Jeff Juron was named the fifth head coach in Suffolk men's basketball history in the summer of 2015 and begins his fourth season on the bench in 2018-19. Through three seasons with the Rams, Juron has led the blue-and-gold to three GNAC postseason appearances and 30 victories.

LIFTING THE LID

• Since 1967-68, Suffolk is 21-29 in the first game of the season.
• The Rams returned to the win column on day one of the season for the first time in the Jeff Juron era and since 2013-14 with a 75-68 victory over Brandeis last year.
• Suffolk will open up the slate inside Regan Gymnasium for the 10th time since 1976 and second straight season. Suffolk is 5-4 on its home hardwood in the first game of the year.
• The Rams have opened up their campaign 16 times on the road (5-11) and have taken the court at a neutral site for the first game of the year on 17 difference occasions (6-11).
• Prior to the 1976-77 campaign, the location of Suffolk's season opener was undisclosed with the Rams going 5-4 through those contests.
• Suffolk and Salve Regina will meet on day one for the second time and first since the 2000-01 debut when the Rams down the Seahawks, 92-89, Nov. 17, 2000, at the Babson Invitational.

WATCH AND SEE
Head coach Jeff Juron sat down with GoSuffolkRams.com to preview the Rams' 2018-19 campaign. To hear what Juron had to say and get a glimpse inside the Rams' training session, click the video below.

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Returning all of its starters from a year ago, the Suffolk men's basketball team was predicted to finish fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll in a vote by the league's 12 head coaches.

MORE READING: Men's Basketball Projected Fourth in GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll

RAMS RINGLEADERS
A trio of upperclassmen has been designated as Suffolk's captains this year in Jim Djema, Steven DiPrizio and Michael Hagopian. 

DOUBLE FEATURE
Four of Suffolk's game this season will serve as doubleheaders with the Rams' women's squad:

• Nov. 10 vs. Salve Regina
• Jan. 24 vs St. Joseph (Conn.)
• Feb. 2 vs. Colby Sawyer
• Feb. 23 vs. Lasell

A year ago, Suffolk went 4-1 when playing the same day inside Regan Gymnasium as the women.

THAT'S A FIRST
Suffolk will tip-off against fresh competition this season. The Rams will take on Endicott for the first time Saturday, Nov. 17 and see new competition in Luther and Wells at the Naples Shootout Dec. 29-30.

SEAHAWKS SAYINGS
Salve Regina brings a younger roster to Beacon Hill with 13 underclassmen, seven of which are true freshmen. 

The trio of sophomores Kevin Kelly and Cameron Collins and senior Kevin Mannix are the most experienced Seahawks back from last season's team that went 10-16 overall. Kelly is the top returning scorer with 9.6 ppg, while Collins provided 9.0 ppg last season. Mannix was the man on the glass for Salve Regina, with a team-best 6.3 rpg.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk looks to return to the win column against Salve Regina after falling to the Seahawks 73-64 last year.
• With last season's setback, the all-time series, which began in 1983, leveled at 12 wins apiece.
• The Rams have fallen in six of the last seven meetings with the Seahawks.
• The last time the blue-and-gold took down Salve Regina was Nov. 24, 2009, 73-71.
• Suffolk is in the hunt for its first win against the Seahawks under Jeff Juron's leadership.

EYES ON THE MATCH

ON DECK
Suffolk has its first road test of the season Wednesday, Nov. 14 when it visits Brandeis for a 7 p.m. midweek match.