University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
F/C
/ Women's Basketball
Introducing... Barbora Tomancova
12/18/2018 1:51:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Minnesota women's basketball team welcomes three newcomers to the team for the 2018-19 season. GopherSports.com will sit down with each of them to get to know them better as they take part in their first season in the Maroon and Gold.
Previously: Mercedes Staples | Delaynie Byrne
Closing out the series is Barbora Tomancova, a 6'2 post player from Brno, Czech Republic. Tomancova (toh-MAHN-so-va) has appeared in six games this season for the Gophers, averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing 12.0 minutes per game. She's had two standout games this year, scoring five points with a career-high six rebounds against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 20 and matching her career high with five points versus Incarnate Word on Dec. 5. She played domestically for Zabiny Brno in the Czech Rebublic's ZBL and has competed on the international level for her home country.
Gopher Sports: When did you start playing basketball?
Barbora Tomancova: "I started playing when I was around eight years old. My mom and my dad both played basketball, my mom still does and she's a coach, too. That's why I started."
GS: Did you play for your parents growing up?
BT: "I started with prep basketball, which was mixed with girls and boys together. We didn't have many games. Then I transferred to one club where I played for three different coaches, one of them being my mom. When I was around 15, I transferred to another club and played for other coaches and then my mom transferred there, too, so I played for mom a little bit, but she never was the head coach."
GS: Would you say you learned most of your game from your parents or from other coaches?
BT: My mom definitely helped me get through mentally, but physically playing basketball, I got from other coaches.
GS: How did you end up at Minnesota?
BT:Â "I got a few offers since 2015. I went to a few schools and talked to the coaches, never visited anywhere. I got a few offers but then they declined because I didn't want to sign before my finals in high school. That's the reason why a lot of coaches stopped talking to me. Then (head coach) Lindsay (Whalen) contacted me right around that time, when I was deciding to go to one school. In the end I had three schools, two in New York and then Minnesota. My best friend went to the one in New York. I considered the third one, but my final ones were the one that my best friend went to and Minnesota. It was a gut feeling that I would like it here, and I do. It feels like home here, everyone's so nice and supportive."
GS: Did you know who Lindsay Whalen was when she contacted you? Did you know how good of a player she was and how famous she was?
BT: "I knew who Lindsay was since she played in Prague, but I never really watched her play because I wasn't that big of a fan of basketball when she played in Prague. But then I saw her in the WNBA and the national team, too. I think she's a great player and she's super nice, too. I knew who she was, but I never really watched WNBA or NBA, mainly because of the time zones. I needed to get my sleep."
GS:Â Had you been to the United States before enrolling at Minnesota? If not, what have been your impressions so far of living in the United States?
BT:Â "No, I had never been before. Everything is bigger in the US, compared to Czech especially. I feel like Minnesota is similar to Czech, and Minnesotans are like people I would meet in Czech."
GS: Were you taught English growing up, or is that something you have learned on your own?
BT: "We have mandatory English when we are eight years old, but I never really cared about it until I was around 14 and then I got a great teacher who made it fun to learn so I did learn it. Then I started watching Czech movies with English subtitles and then English movies with Czech subtitles and then English movies where I didn't need to play the subtitles anymore. So music and movies have been the most helpful."
GS: How has your adjustment to living in the United States been?
BT:Â "It depends on the day. Some days are great and I never want to leave. Other days, it would help if my family was here with me because that's the only thing that I'm really missing, and Czech food."
GS: What Czech food are you missing?
BT:Â "Anything. Even though the typical Czech food is heavy and hard to consume, it's so good and I'm so used to it."
GS: Have your teammates been helpful in getting you to adjust and not feel homesick?
BT:Â "Definitely. Anytime someone sees me not smiling they ask if I'm okay. They're great players and great people."
GS: When it comes to basketball, is the style of play different in the U.S., compared to what you are used to in the Czech Republic?
BT:Â "It's a little bit different. I was expecting it to be way more different than it is. I'm just getting used to playing four and five and learning the new actions, that's the hard part."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player?
BT:Â "I always make the extra pass when I can; I try to play tough. I like to get rebounds, I used to be really good at that. I have to work so much harder here because everyone's tougher and taller than me. That's why I like to be tough in the game. I also like to take my time with everything and not rush too much.
Off the court with Barbora
Favorite meal: Rizek, It's a Czech food. It's either chicken or pork covered in flour, egg and bread crumbs. Sometimes back to egg and bread crumbs and then you fry it, but not in oil, just on the pan. I love that with a potato side.
Favorite movie:Â Coach Carter
Favorite TV show:Â I'm not a huge fan of TV shows because then I have to keep up with them. I watch Riverdale but I wouldn't say it's my favorite. I like Atypical.
Favorite basketball player(s):Â I like Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan is my go-to, I like Derrick Rose. Lindsay (Whalen) is one of my favorites. From the WNBA I would say Brittney Griner and from Czech, I like Hana Horáková. My absolute favorite player, though, is Alena Hanušová.
Favorite musical artist:Â Post Malone or Khalid.
Previously: Mercedes Staples | Delaynie Byrne
Closing out the series is Barbora Tomancova, a 6'2 post player from Brno, Czech Republic. Tomancova (toh-MAHN-so-va) has appeared in six games this season for the Gophers, averaging 2.3 points and 2.3 rebounds while playing 12.0 minutes per game. She's had two standout games this year, scoring five points with a career-high six rebounds against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Nov. 20 and matching her career high with five points versus Incarnate Word on Dec. 5. She played domestically for Zabiny Brno in the Czech Rebublic's ZBL and has competed on the international level for her home country.
Gopher Sports: When did you start playing basketball?
Barbora Tomancova: "I started playing when I was around eight years old. My mom and my dad both played basketball, my mom still does and she's a coach, too. That's why I started."
GS: Did you play for your parents growing up?
BT: "I started with prep basketball, which was mixed with girls and boys together. We didn't have many games. Then I transferred to one club where I played for three different coaches, one of them being my mom. When I was around 15, I transferred to another club and played for other coaches and then my mom transferred there, too, so I played for mom a little bit, but she never was the head coach."
GS: Would you say you learned most of your game from your parents or from other coaches?
BT: My mom definitely helped me get through mentally, but physically playing basketball, I got from other coaches.
GS: How did you end up at Minnesota?
BT:Â "I got a few offers since 2015. I went to a few schools and talked to the coaches, never visited anywhere. I got a few offers but then they declined because I didn't want to sign before my finals in high school. That's the reason why a lot of coaches stopped talking to me. Then (head coach) Lindsay (Whalen) contacted me right around that time, when I was deciding to go to one school. In the end I had three schools, two in New York and then Minnesota. My best friend went to the one in New York. I considered the third one, but my final ones were the one that my best friend went to and Minnesota. It was a gut feeling that I would like it here, and I do. It feels like home here, everyone's so nice and supportive."
GS: Did you know who Lindsay Whalen was when she contacted you? Did you know how good of a player she was and how famous she was?
BT: "I knew who Lindsay was since she played in Prague, but I never really watched her play because I wasn't that big of a fan of basketball when she played in Prague. But then I saw her in the WNBA and the national team, too. I think she's a great player and she's super nice, too. I knew who she was, but I never really watched WNBA or NBA, mainly because of the time zones. I needed to get my sleep."
GS:Â Had you been to the United States before enrolling at Minnesota? If not, what have been your impressions so far of living in the United States?
BT:Â "No, I had never been before. Everything is bigger in the US, compared to Czech especially. I feel like Minnesota is similar to Czech, and Minnesotans are like people I would meet in Czech."
GS: Were you taught English growing up, or is that something you have learned on your own?
BT: "We have mandatory English when we are eight years old, but I never really cared about it until I was around 14 and then I got a great teacher who made it fun to learn so I did learn it. Then I started watching Czech movies with English subtitles and then English movies with Czech subtitles and then English movies where I didn't need to play the subtitles anymore. So music and movies have been the most helpful."
GS: How has your adjustment to living in the United States been?
BT:Â "It depends on the day. Some days are great and I never want to leave. Other days, it would help if my family was here with me because that's the only thing that I'm really missing, and Czech food."
GS: What Czech food are you missing?
BT:Â "Anything. Even though the typical Czech food is heavy and hard to consume, it's so good and I'm so used to it."
GS: Have your teammates been helpful in getting you to adjust and not feel homesick?
BT:Â "Definitely. Anytime someone sees me not smiling they ask if I'm okay. They're great players and great people."
GS: When it comes to basketball, is the style of play different in the U.S., compared to what you are used to in the Czech Republic?
BT:Â "It's a little bit different. I was expecting it to be way more different than it is. I'm just getting used to playing four and five and learning the new actions, that's the hard part."
GS: How would you describe yourself as a player?
BT:Â "I always make the extra pass when I can; I try to play tough. I like to get rebounds, I used to be really good at that. I have to work so much harder here because everyone's tougher and taller than me. That's why I like to be tough in the game. I also like to take my time with everything and not rush too much.
Off the court with Barbora
Favorite meal: Rizek, It's a Czech food. It's either chicken or pork covered in flour, egg and bread crumbs. Sometimes back to egg and bread crumbs and then you fry it, but not in oil, just on the pan. I love that with a potato side.
Favorite movie:Â Coach Carter
Favorite TV show:Â I'm not a huge fan of TV shows because then I have to keep up with them. I watch Riverdale but I wouldn't say it's my favorite. I like Atypical.
Favorite basketball player(s):Â I like Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan is my go-to, I like Derrick Rose. Lindsay (Whalen) is one of my favorites. From the WNBA I would say Brittney Griner and from Czech, I like Hana Horáková. My absolute favorite player, though, is Alena Hanušová.
Favorite musical artist:Â Post Malone or Khalid.
Behind the Scenes: B1G Media Day
Tuesday, October 14
Braun & Battle at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
Coach Plitzuweit at B1G Media Day
Wednesday, October 08
Sights & Sounds: First Practice
Monday, September 29