BOSTON, MA – The 2013-14 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll has been released and Saint Joseph's College is ranked second heading into the new season.

Led by 10th-year Head Coach Rob Sanicola '99, Saint Joseph's returns three leading scorers from last year, welcoming back senior guard Matthew Medeiros (Westport, Mass.), senior forward Nicholas Jobin (Westbrook, Maine) and junior guard Steve Simonds (Steep Falls, Maine). The trio averaged over 41 points a game last year for the Monks who posted 17 wins overall.

After capturing the GNAC Championship for the second straight season in 2013, the Albertus Magnus College men's basketball team has once again been picked as the pre-season favorite in the 2013-14 GNAC Pre-Season Coaches' Poll. The Falcons received nine first place votes and 98 total points out of a possible 100 while Saint Joseph's College, which received the other first place vote, was not far behind with 86 points. Rounding out the top three was Johnson & Wales University, which received 75 points in the poll.

The Falcons finished the 2013 campaign with a 24-5 overall record and will look to make it three in a row behind their workhorse, senior guard Darius Watson (New Britain, Conn.). Watson was tabbed a 2013-14 Pre-Season All-American Honorable Mention after leading the GNAC in scoring last year with 23.3 points per game. Also returning is sophomore guard James Jennings (Stratford, Conn.) who averaged 12.1 points and started 28 of 29 contests a year ago.

2013 GNAC Runner-up Anna Maria College landed fourth in the poll with 55 points, edging out Rivier University who finished fifth with 53 points. The AMCATS graduated several starters from last year's squad including 2013 GNAC Player of the Year Anthony Click. Lasell College and Emmanuel College were neck and neck for the sixth and seventh spots as the Lasers bested the Saints by one point to place sixth with 50 points while EC was seventh with 49 points.

Suffolk University finished eighth in the poll with 34 total points followed by Norwich University in ninths with 27 points. Rounding out the 2013-14 GNAC Pre-Season Coaches' Poll was Mount Ida College with 23 points in the 10th position.

GNAC PRESEASON POLL:

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference is an NCAA Division III conference made up of 12 institutions with nine associate members. In 2013-14, the GNAC will sponsor championships in 17 sports for men and women. The GNAC also enjoys outstanding professional partnerships with Children's Hospital Sports Medicine Division, Doubletree Hotels, Fenway Printers, New Balance, Reading Trophy and Presto Sports.

COURTESY OF GNAC SPORTS INFORMATION