WINTRHOP, Mass. – Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, Suffolk men's basketball has been predicted to finish fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office announced Tuesday afternoon.  

The league's 12 head coaches projected the Rams to finish with home court advantage once again in the postseason as the blue-and-gold earned 111 points, including one-first place pick. Albertus Magnus topped the rankings behind eight first-place votes for 139 points. Saint Joseph (Conn.) slid into second with 129 points and at trio of first-place nods and Johnson & Wales edged out Suffolk in third with 117 points.  

The fourth-place forecast is the second straight for Jeff Juron's Rams, who compiled an 18-8 overall record, one shy of the program record for wins. 

Against conference competition, the 2018-19 squad had one of the best seasons to date finishing with a 9-2 league ledger, good for second place in the standings.  

Juron and the Rams look to build upon last year's success and then some, but will have their work cut out with the departure of core leadership and scoring in Suffolk's Class of 2019, which included three-point threat, 1,000-point scorer Michael Hagopian.  

Veteran leadership will step up as needed this year, however, highlighted by senior Thomas Duffy (15.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 4.2 apg), who punched his way into the 1K club in the GNAC Quarterfinals a year ago. To compliment the guard from Fairfield, Connecticut, is classmate George Grillakis (7.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg) and juniors Brendan Mulson (13.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg) and Alex Jacovides (12.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg) 

Suffolk's 73rd season is just days away with the season opener on the schedule for Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Babson Invitational where the Rams will take on Salem State at Babson's Staake Gymnasium at 7:30 p.m.