Buschman takes talents to Germany

Viterbo alum Scott Buschman, coming off All-American honors last season as a V-Hawk, has signed a basketball contract in Germany and has been competing in a German professional league for the last several months.  Lumen took some time to catch up with him.  

 

Lumen: First of all, could you provide some background information on where you are and what you're doing these days?

Bushman: Well, I live in Oldenburg, Germany and play for the Oldenburg TB basketball team.

 

L: How has it been adjusting to a new culture?

B: Things here are different in many ways, but they try to still be like the U.S. in many ways here. They play a lot of American music just like we listen to back home.  The biggest change was transportation, because everyone here rides bikes because gas is so expensive here.  A lot of people also use bus transportation as well, but biking takes the cake.  I'm lucky though, and am provided with a team car.  

 

The food here is also different, but really good.  When I first arrived here, my teammate would take me to this Turkish place to eat sandwiches called "doners."  I loved it, but got sick of them and now I find myself mostly cooking at home.  

 

I have noticed that German people are way more health-conscious and environmentally friendly.  When it comes to food, even McDonald's does not serve super-sized meals.  Also their recycling program is awesome because you get money back when you return your bottles, which I thought was cool.

 

L: Has the language barrier been a challenge?

B: People here are really friendly, but I still find some Germans get frustrated with me because I speak English. Most people here do speak English, at least younger people. Language is probably my biggest problem here on and off the court, but it's fun learning new words. I just try to keep my conversations simple.  Money was also something I had to get used to, but that came quickly.  Let's just say I'm sick of my wallet being filled with coins. They have way more coins than bills here.

 

L: What about the competition on the court? How have you held up? 

B: Basketball differs a lot here.  The European style of play concentrates more on fundamentals than the U.S. does.  The pace of the game isn't as fast-paced, and as a post player I found it to be a little more finesse instead of physical.  

 

My coach is Serbian and doesn't speak any English, which makes things hard, but my teammates and assistant coach translate well. I do live with another American who is contracted to play here like I am, which saves my life on some days just because I have someone to communicate with fluently.

 

I have been having a good season. I'm averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds. I started slowly as I was getting used to their style of play, but now I'm back to my old self doing what I do best and that's rebound. I am second in the league in rebounds and tenth in scoring. They also have this thing here called an efficiency rating.  It's very important because it shows your effectiveness as a player and I'm fifth in the league in that.  I've also gained 20 pounds here with lifting and eating right. 

 

L: How's your team performed?

B: Our team is doing well. We are second in the league right now.  If we stay there, our club will move up a league. The first two teams move up if the club has the money to do so. Ours does and wants to.

 

L: How do you feel about the entire experience? 

B: My overall experience has been fantastic.  I love that I didn't pass up doing this because, like many told me, I would regret it forever. Now I agree. The hardest part for me is being apart from my girlfriend, who I've lived with for five years before coming here.  She came out and spent the holidays with me, which was great. Otherwise we live through Skype. Same with family and friends.

 

L: What about the future?

B: I see myself doing this again next year, but it's hard to say because life is crazy and you never know where it will take you. My goal is to move up to the PRO A next year. I just want to be able to play the sport I love while getting paid to do it, no better job in the world. It's not all fun and games though. There's a lot of working out and training involved. I would also like to move my girlfriend out here to live with me, but she currently has a good job working at Logistics Health in La Crosse. I want to see her succeed in life just like she does for me.