Suffolk

No one person was more important than anyone else.

 

This was the key motto that triggered the 2001–02 Suffolk men’s basketball team to one of the most exciting and memorable seasons in school history.

 

Following a 1–3 start, the Rams went 14–9 the rest of the way including a 10–3 ledger against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) counterparts to

claim the regular-season title for the first time in program history.

 

Top–seeded Suffolk didn’t stop there. The glow from the regular-season glory barely had time to dim before the Rams sparked excitement again a week later by defeating Johnson & Wales, 76–71, in the conference crown contest, and the blue–and–gold celebrated as conference champions for the first time.

 

After the nets were cut down in Springfield, Massachusetts, Suffolk had its sights on the program’s first–ever trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Although March Madness ended early — in the first round to Clark University, 84–77 — the memories of getting there and competing will be remembered for

lifetimes.

 

The senior class — Marc Borghesi, Winston Daley, Jason Luisi and Flynn Pagnam — was the backbone to Suffolk’s success. They came from a tradition of excellence and recorded more wins in their careers since their 1974–75 NCAA Suffolk Hall of Fame predecessors.

 

The Rams ran opponents out of the building with a suffocating defense and a fast paced offense. During that unforgettable season, Luisi and Daley, both All–GNAC first-team honorees, paced the Rams lethal attack with 16.9 and 14.1 points per game, respectively. Luisi, Suffolk’s second all–time leading scorer with 1,869 points and 2013 Hall of Fame inductee, led a triplet of 1K Club members on the squad in Daley (1,257 career points) and junior Tom Carey (1,201 career points).

 

The 2001–02 Suffolk squad, joins the inaugural 2007 Suffolk Hall of Fame 1974–75 NCAA Tournament Team as the second men’s basketball team enshrined

in our Hall of Fame.

 

Team Members: Marc Borghesi, Tom Carey *, Winston Daley *, Chris Emma, Chris Fritch, Eric Jenkins ^, Ken Kodys, Jason Luisi *!, Tommy Macca, Flynn Pagnam, Jake Parsons, Chris Tighe

 

Head Coach: Dennis McHugh

Assistant Coaches: Chris Pearce, James Polino, Paul Zermani

 

* captain

^ deceased

! Hall of Famer