Head Coach Rob Krimmel and senior guard Georgios Angelou (Halkida, Greece/Lykeio Kanithou) represented the Saint Francis men’s basketball team at Wednesday’s NEC Social Media Day at the Barclays Center.  The social media day was broadcast live on NEC Front Row.

The day began with Angelou taking over the NEC’s Periscope feed, with Angelou giving commentary about Brooklyn and different parts of the arena.

One of the most interesting storylines to come out of the day was Angelou’s history playing with Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo back in Greece.  Angelou revealed that he had shared the court a few times with Giannis and his brothers, adding that playing with Giannis gave him some good opportunities for open shots.

The NEC Preseason Coaches Poll was revealed, with the Red Flash projected to finish ninth.  Fairleigh Dickinson is picked to win the conference, with Wagner and Bryant rounding out the top three.

Saint Francis tied for sixth in the conference last season.  The Red Flash returns 13 members from last year’s squad, including seniors Angelou, Malik Harmon (Queens, N.Y./Christ the King) and Patrick Wrencher (West Chester, Ohio/Archbishop Moeller).

Angelou will be called upon for a bigger role this season after shooting 47.4 percent from three-point range last year to lead SFU, while averaging 3.6 points and a rebound per game, appearing in 28 games.  He was perfect from the free throw line, going 14-of-14, and posted double-digit performances against Robert Morris, 11 points, and LIU Brooklyn, 10 points.

The Red Flash also returns sophomores Josh Nebo (Houston, Texas/Cypress Lakes) and Isaiah Blackmon (Charlotte, N.C./West Charlotte), who are both coming off impressive freshman campaigns, and junior Basil Thompson (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter).

Blackmon averaged 9.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game in 19 games, including 11.1 points per game in nine conference games before an injury cut his season short.

Nebo contributed 4.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while starting in 29 contests.  Nebo was a force on the defensive end, with 59 blocks, the second-most in a season at SFU. He is already ninth on the career blocks list at SFU.

Thompson started in two games last year, while playing in 28, and averaged 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.  He posted nine double-digit scoring performances in conference play.

The Red Flash opens the 2016-17 season on Saturday, November 12 at St. Bonaventure, an NIT participant last season.  Saint Francis travels to take on Duquesne on Wednesday, November 16 before making its home debut on Saturday, November 19 against Chatham.