2023-24 Women's Basketball Preseason Preview

Elgin, IL - One team, together. That will be the theme of the 2023 Judson Women's Basketball team. Under first year head coach Matt Richter, the goal of this squad will be to establish an identity, and establish an up and coming force in the CCAC conference landscape. And what you see on day one will not be what you see when all is said and done. For the Eagles, it will be a process, and a fun journey through that process. 

JU and Coach Richter welcome a big sophomore class into the Lindner Center, and while they appear to be a young team on the surface, they are young with experience. The Eagles also feature great senior leadership in wing players Sydney Novak (Huntley, IL), and Jocelyn Mitchell (Newark, IL). They will lead a group that really enjoys playing together as a team, and developing positive chemistry. 

Novak and Mitchell will also be supported by sophomores Audrey Quintana (Reseda, CA), and Easton Kimball (Rogers, AR). Both players were named to the CCAC All-Freshman Team a season ago. It will also be a family affair for Audrey, as her sister Gaby Quintana transfers in to join big sis here in Elgin. 

One thing Coach Richter will look to have his squad do is control the controllables, and that is being tough on the defensive side of the court. "We want to be a tough-minded defensive team first," says Richter. "With the team learning a new offensive system, our defensive work ethic will be our backbone, especially in the beginning of the season."

Throughout a long season, there will certainly be ebbs and flows on offense, but the Eagles anticipate that their hard work on defense will shine bright each night. As JU establishes that hard nose identity, the process on offense will be to blend the versatility that the team showcases. "Each player has a key skill set, and as the team comes together more and more every day, it will be great to see those skill sets all come together and blend," says Richter. 

The skills that the Eagles have speaks to the team concept that they already embrace. It is already a group that works as one unit, they put in the work on their own, and they work for each other, on and off of the court. For Coach Richter, "I am thrilled to have a team that has worked together from day one. It puts a smile on my face everyday."

On the CCAC landscape, the preseason outlook appears to run through Indiana. Both Indiana Northwest and Indiana South Bend could be the early pace setters for the conference. But, night in and night out, conference matchups are going to be battles with the middle of the pack being closely contested. 

The goal for the Eagles will be to make that top eight for the conference tournament, and have a chance to compete at the end of the season. That work will start in game one when the Eagles host Madonna. "I cannot wait to play a team other than us, and really start to evaluate our team," says Coach Richter. 

At the present, the identity of the Eagles is a team ready to go. Come March, that identity will be formed and established with a promising foundation being built here in 2023. That is the beauty of the process, to embrace the journey, and have fun doing it. 

The Eagles tip off with their opening game against Madonna on Thursday October 26th at home inside the Lindner Center.