University of Minnesota Athletics
Outside the Paint with Josie Buckingham
11/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2015 
Sophomore center Josie Buckingham (New Richmond, Ohio) is one of Minnesota's six returning letterwinners from last season. The native of New Richmond, Ohio, played in three games as a freshman and is looking to see more action this year.
Buckingham grabbed two rebounds and went 1-of-2 from the free throw line in the Golden Gophers' season opener against Wofford. She also played in Minnesota's win against Maine last Friday.
Now that you're in your second year here, what are some differences between last year and now?
The coaches definitely expect a lot more of us now that we have a little more under our feet. We know our way around and we know what's expected of us. We can help out the underclassmen more, and there are more underclassmen that are there to help out. The biggest difference is that expectations have increased a lot.
Coach Stollings has talked about using a faster playing style and using four guards. How to you see yourself fitting into that system?
I think I can still fit into those styles pretty well. Our conditioning is so high tempo. Coach Ralph [Petrella]has really pushed us a lot, so I can keep up with the guards. I feel like I'm not one of the slower fives, so I can keep up with it. If [Coach Stollings] wants to put me in there, that's great.
The other centers and forwards are either freshmen or transfers. Do you see yourself taking a leadership role with them?
Yeah, especially with [Annalese Lamke]. She's come to me with questions. She's one of my roommates so I've tried to help her with her transition, because she came in late in the fall. I've just helped her out wherever I can.
What are some of the expectations for the year, for yourself and for the team?
I definitely want to get more playing time compared to last year. We definitely want a Big Ten championship. We want to get farther in the NCAA tournament. We have high expectations. Last year we had big expectations, so we want to increase them from last year and build off of those.
How are you fitting into the Minnesota culture off the court?
I'm from a really small town, so the big city is a lot different than what I'm used to, but I feel like I'm fitting in really well. I love it here. When I came here for the first time I fell in love with the city. I think it's a great place to live. It's a great community. Everyone's so welcoming and friendly. It's a really great place.
Can you tell us about your recent trip home?
We were off after the Wofford home opener on Friday. We were off Saturday and Sunday so I got to go home. I flew out on Saturday and got to surprise my family. My mom had no idea I was coming so I got to surprise her on Saturday morning. I saw my little brother [John] play his first college basketball game. He's a freshman this year at a Division III school [Capital University] in Columbus, Ohio, so I got to surprise him there. It was just great to see my family. I don't get to see them much, only a couple times out of the year. It's always nice to see them. I'm pretty close with everybody.
Looking forward to the holidays, do you have any favorite holiday traditions?
We don't have many traditions. Getting together with my family is always big. I'm from a really big family. We always get together at my house and have a big meal.
What are some of your favorite things to do off the court?
I like to hang out with friends. My group of friends, we always do family dinners. Those are really fun. I'm an outdoorsy person. I like to hang out outside and explore. My hometown is on the Ohio River so we would always do fun things on the river like go boating. I've done stuff like that up here on the lakes. I did a lot of that over the summer.
What is your favorite pre-game meal?
Usually we'll get fed here and it's usually a chicken breast and they'll try to carbo-load us with pasta, give us those good veggies and get some fruit in there. It's a pretty solid meal.
Do you have any game day superstitions?
No, I don't think I have any. I'm not really a superstitious person.
Interview by Joey Erickson, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Buckingham grabbed two rebounds and went 1-of-2 from the free throw line in the Golden Gophers' season opener against Wofford. She also played in Minnesota's win against Maine last Friday.
Now that you're in your second year here, what are some differences between last year and now?
The coaches definitely expect a lot more of us now that we have a little more under our feet. We know our way around and we know what's expected of us. We can help out the underclassmen more, and there are more underclassmen that are there to help out. The biggest difference is that expectations have increased a lot.
Coach Stollings has talked about using a faster playing style and using four guards. How to you see yourself fitting into that system?
I think I can still fit into those styles pretty well. Our conditioning is so high tempo. Coach Ralph [Petrella]has really pushed us a lot, so I can keep up with the guards. I feel like I'm not one of the slower fives, so I can keep up with it. If [Coach Stollings] wants to put me in there, that's great.
The other centers and forwards are either freshmen or transfers. Do you see yourself taking a leadership role with them?
Yeah, especially with [Annalese Lamke]. She's come to me with questions. She's one of my roommates so I've tried to help her with her transition, because she came in late in the fall. I've just helped her out wherever I can.
What are some of the expectations for the year, for yourself and for the team?
I definitely want to get more playing time compared to last year. We definitely want a Big Ten championship. We want to get farther in the NCAA tournament. We have high expectations. Last year we had big expectations, so we want to increase them from last year and build off of those.
How are you fitting into the Minnesota culture off the court?
I'm from a really small town, so the big city is a lot different than what I'm used to, but I feel like I'm fitting in really well. I love it here. When I came here for the first time I fell in love with the city. I think it's a great place to live. It's a great community. Everyone's so welcoming and friendly. It's a really great place.
Can you tell us about your recent trip home?
We were off after the Wofford home opener on Friday. We were off Saturday and Sunday so I got to go home. I flew out on Saturday and got to surprise my family. My mom had no idea I was coming so I got to surprise her on Saturday morning. I saw my little brother [John] play his first college basketball game. He's a freshman this year at a Division III school [Capital University] in Columbus, Ohio, so I got to surprise him there. It was just great to see my family. I don't get to see them much, only a couple times out of the year. It's always nice to see them. I'm pretty close with everybody.
Looking forward to the holidays, do you have any favorite holiday traditions?
We don't have many traditions. Getting together with my family is always big. I'm from a really big family. We always get together at my house and have a big meal.
What are some of your favorite things to do off the court?
I like to hang out with friends. My group of friends, we always do family dinners. Those are really fun. I'm an outdoorsy person. I like to hang out outside and explore. My hometown is on the Ohio River so we would always do fun things on the river like go boating. I've done stuff like that up here on the lakes. I did a lot of that over the summer.
What is your favorite pre-game meal?
Usually we'll get fed here and it's usually a chicken breast and they'll try to carbo-load us with pasta, give us those good veggies and get some fruit in there. It's a pretty solid meal.
Do you have any game day superstitions?
No, I don't think I have any. I'm not really a superstitious person.
Interview by Joey Erickson, Athletic Communications Student Assistant
Players Mentioned
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