Men's Basketball Picked to Finish Third in GNAC Preseason Poll
The Lasell College men’s basketball team was selected to finish third in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, as announced by the conference office Monday.
NEWTON, Mass. (11/14/16) -- The Lasell College men's basketball team was selected to finish third in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) preseason poll, as announced by the conference office Monday.
The league's head coaches voted the Lasers behind only Albertus Magnus and Johnson & Wales. Lasell garnered 74 total points and a first-place vote, while the Falcons were picked atop the ranking with six first-place votes and 96 total points.
JWU was tabbed second, receiving the other three votes for the top slot. Mount Ida, St. Joseph's (Maine), Emmanuel, Anna Maria, Norwich, Suffolk and Rivier round out the ranking in that order.
Lasell loses three of its top five scorers from a team that finished 18-9 a year ago, good enough for the program's best winning percentage since 2007-08. However, 13 players on this year's 17-man roster are returners. The Lasers posted a 14-4 league mark, advancing to the GNAC semifinals for the second time in three seasons.
Senior co-captain Armin Omanovic (Wilkesboro, N.C.) earned All-GNAC First Team honors last season, pacing Lasell and ranking third in the league with 20.6 points per game. His 274 made free throws were second-most in the nation.
Junior Scott Arsenault (Walpole, Mass.) is the team's second-leading returning scorer after averaging 12.7 points per contest and shooting 43.4 percent from three-point range last year.
The Lasers open their season on Tuesday, November 15 as Regis College makes the short drive to Newton for an 8:00 p.m. contest.
2016 GNAC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Albertus Magnus (6) – 96
2. Johnson & Wales (3) – 91
3. Lasell (1) - 74
4. Mount Ida - 61
5. Saint Joseph's Maine – 55
6. Emmanuel – 53
7. Anna Maria – 42
8. Norwich - 37
9. Suffolk – 26
10. Rivier - 15