When Gerardo Suero decided to go pro and Logan Aronhalt transferred to Maryland, Albany faced the tall task of replacing 35.3 points per game. But head coach Will Brown knew his 2012-13 squad could thrive anyway.

“When we lost Suero and Aronhalt,” he said, “we automatically became a much better defensive team, a more unselfish team.”

The fresh dynamic helped the Great Danes reel off nine wins in their first 11 games — including an upset of Washington. By season’s end, they were America East tournament champions twirling with No. 2 seed Duke in the Big Dance.

Albany fell to the Blue Devils, 73-61, but stayed within striking distance until the final minutes thanks to Jacob Iati and Mike Black’s veteran play and 25 combined points. Black and Iati graduated in the spring, and, like Suero and Aronhalt, left a significant offensive void.

While Brown felt confident about life post-Suero and Aronhalt, he said he’s not sure how to replace his top two scorers from a year ago. Together, Black and Iati accounted for 27 points per game. No other Great Dane averaged double figures.

But Brown’s not concerned with addressing the scoring void, as a talented group of newcomers will crack the rotation. His lineup can score by committee.

“I just don’t know if we’re going to have the leadership we had a year ago,” Brown said of his top two scorers. “Jacob Iati, in my 13 years at Albany, was probably the best leader we ever had, and I think replacing his leadership will be crucial to our success.”

Iati spent four years in Brown’s program, but he sat the 2009-10 season after transferring from High Point. So in total, he spent five years as a student-athlete.

“He was another fifth-year senior that kind of had to earn his way early. He was a determined kid,” Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell said. “When you have that kind of leadership, those are the x-factors that are real important to programs.”

And you can’t replace them with the snap of a finger.

A month ago, Brown didn’t know where to turn for a new leadership figure, but senior forward and captain Luke Devlin has emerged as a candidate in the weeks leading up to the season.

A spell of injuries hampered Devlin in 2011-12 and 2012-13, but Brown said the senior is “finally somewhat healthy.” He averaged 7.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a freshman, but his vocal leadership in 2013-14 could be just as vital as a return to that level of production on the floor.

“Luke’s the guy that just never shuts up for two-plus hours every single day,” Brown said. “He’s just nonstop … He’s our most effective leader at this point.”

Brown hopes two of Devlin’s fellow captains, sophomore guard Peter Hooley and junior forward Sam Rowley, can develop more leadership qualities as the season progresses.

It’s a process, and without a teammate like Iati to show the way, the coaches need to teach their players to lead, ease them into the role.

“We don’t want Sam to be uncomfortable, so we’ve got to gradually give him little things that he can get better at,” Brown said. “Maybe say, ‘Hey, Sam, this is your drill in practice today. I need you to run it and organize it,’ or ‘Hey, Sam, I need you to be a little more talkative in the huddle since you’re not comfortable doing it in an open setting.’”

“It’s almost like coming up with little projects or little experiments where you put them in a position to lead for a few minutes at a time,” Brown added.

Without an experienced leader like Iati, Albany could struggle at times, especially in the beginning of non-conference play. The Great Danes won’t battle a power conference team until New Year’s Eve when they’re scheduled to face Pittsburgh, but they’ll play seven of their first nine games on the road.

Brown said he embraces the challenge of spending so much time away from home.

“Sometimes your record might not be where you want it to be because you’re going on the road so much,” he said. “But I think going on the road toughens you up mentally, physically.”

Perhaps it will also spit out a new leader or two.