Sunday Q&A: Gophers basketball freshman Carlie Wagner

Carlie Wagner had a Minnesota high school career for the ages, leading New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva to state championships in her junior and senior seasons while setting a record with 130 points in the tournament her senior year. Now Wagner is about to embark on her college career with the Gophers, and in advance of Minnesota's first game Friday, she chatted with the Star Tribune's Michael Rand.

Q What are your expectations coming into this season?

A I think it would be great to get to the NCAA tournament. A big goal of ours is to win the Big Ten. Those are our two main goals right now. We want to get to the Final Four, obviously, which would be a dream come true for us.

Q A lot of people still remember your state tournament performances. What do you think the adjustment will be like going from that level to college basketball in the Big Ten?

A The funny thing is that in high school, people were always like, 'You guys play a high-tempo, fast-paced game.' Then you get to college and you realize that was nothing. You get here and if we thought that was fast-paced, this is another level. Everything we do is run-and-gun. And fast. And intense. So it's definitely been a transition for me to change the pace that fast.

Q Does that suit you?

A I think so. I like going fast. There's nothing wrong with going fast. The Big Ten is a fast conference, so it's good for us to adapt to it.

A It was. My family is really important to me. I'm really close with them and have great relationships with them. I feel like I wouldn't deal with it very well if I was really far away from them.

Q You're from a very small town. What has that adjustment been like — not like you've never been to Minneapolis before, but living here now?

A You know, I was really scared at first because I'm a small-town country girl. But then I get here and it's not nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be just because my teammates are great and the coaches have been great. Everything around here is very cozy and welcoming, so it was an easy transition.

Q What do you like about it in particular?

A I'd say I like how it's such a big campus and there's just so much diversity and stuff going on. It's just exciting and there's something new every day that you've never noticed before.

A Oh, yeah. Obviously everyone remembers Lindsay Whalen. And Shannon Schonrock, who was actually from southern Minnesota, not far from where I'm from. I was a big Shannon Schonrock fan and went to her camps all the time. I just remember it was the talk of everything, basically.

Q I just started following you on Twitter [@CarlieJoWagner]. What am I going to learn about you?