The Gustavus Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams have been officially practicing since Oct. 15 and are both working hard to be at the top of their game before their first games on Nov. 15 and 17, respectively.

The women’s team, which made it to the MIAC Playoff quarterfinals last year, is hoping to utilize their positive team dynamic and new influx of recruits to push through to the conference playoffs this season.

“Our team chemistry last year was excellent, and we are hoping to keep that going this year. We lost four starters so our team is very fresh and new. This season will be very different from last season, with lots of new bodies on the floor,” Junior Captain Lindsey Johnson said.

This season, the women’s team welcome nine new members into their ranks. The large number of new players, along with the fact that Johnson is the only returning starter from last year’s team, has caused the players to be very competitive during practices.

“This year there is a great deal of ‘friendly competition’ between teammates for playing time. There are a lot of game-minutes up for grabs right now, so everyone is fighting to win those minutes. I think this competition between teammates is good, because it has caused everyone to work even harder and go the extra mile to show that they deserve to be the one on the floor,” Johnson said.

With the large number of new players, the team is looking to the returning veteran players to help guide the team this season.

“Hopefully the veteran players are going to be able to step up and take on more of a role and be strong leaders for this large group of new players. I think, right now, the best thing we have going for us is that we have very strong team chemistry. The players are working very hard in practice each day, and right now our goal is just to get better every day and get ready for the kickoff coming up here in a couple weeks,” Head Women’s Coach Laurie Kelly said.

The men’s team, on the other hand, has a majority of experienced players returning to the team this year. There are about ten players that played significant minutes last season, according to Senior Captain Isaac Tapp.

The men made it to the MIAC Playoff semifinals last year and are hoping to advance further in the tournament this season.

“We certainly hope to be in the conference title hunt and do our best to win the playoffs,” Head Men’s Coach Mark Hanson said.

The men’s team is anticipating that their large number of experienced returners and their positive team dynamic will give them the edge they need to come out on top in the conference.

“There are a lot of game-minutes up for grabs right now, so everyone is fighting to win those minutes.”—Linsday Johnson

“We have a very unselfish team full of guys who are more than willing to make an extra pass in order to get an easy bucket. Hopefully we can continue that mindset this year because we have a lot of talent,” Tapp said.

The men’s first game of the season will be away against Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa on Nov. 17.

The women’s first game will be at home against Crown College on Nov. 15.

-Katie Allen