TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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KUHBERGHOELLE HEATS UP!
EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE EFFORT LIFTS ULM OVER ARTLAND!
ratiopharm Ulm started slow in Saturday nights 77-70 home win over the Artland Dragons, but as the intensity level rose on-court, Sportszentrum Kuhberg heated up. Energized by one of their best defensive performances of the season, ratiopharm Ulm limited Artland to 31% shooting and outrebounded the Dragons 40-26 in the hardfought home win. Ulm received a big assist from 'Kuhberghoelle' as the Ulm fans were in spectacluar form supporting their team. Improving their record to 15-8, ratiopharm Ulm remains in 5th place as the 2008-2009 Bundesliga season heads into the home stretch.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald glides by Artland defender Dirk Madrich for two points in Saturday nights game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Starting his first game for Ulm, Dan put in another solid, productive performance.
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ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs was a key to victory scoring 8 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
Entering Saturday nights home game against the Artland Dragons, ratiopharm Ulm clearly understood their challenge. Despite their 9-13 record in the Bundesliga, the powerful Dragon team had demonstrated their talent and ability all season long winning consistently internationally and advancing into the Top 16 of the tough EuroCup. Aiming to become more athletic, Artland added Toby Bailey and Ronald Ross earlier in the week just before the Bundesliga roster deadline throwing two more highly talented players into the mix. For Ulm, facing Artland was the next opportunity to face an experienced playoff team in an important game as the Bundesliga season turns toward the home stretch. Ulm was focused to bounce back from their last game, a home loss against current first place team Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. Working all week with focus and desire, ratiopharm Ulm was hungry to demonstrate their ability to raise their level against a good team in a big game.
Bundesliga assist leader Dru Joyce finishes at the rim in the first half of Saturday nights action. Ulm's floor general briefly left the game after he was shaken up by a mid-court screen in the 2nd quarter but returned to add 10 points to an excellent defensive performance.
At tip off, ratiopharm Ulm opened with a different starting lineup featuring rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald and defensive-stopper Keith Triplett at guard. Rewarding both players for their efforts and contributions while working to develop different lineups, ratiopharm Ulm started strong with an uptempo attack building a 7-2 lead. The fast tempo and dribble penetration from Ulm pushed the score to 10-6 six minutes into the game. But the talented Artland team found their rhythm as scoring forward Adam Hess buried back to back threes and recently signed point guard Ronald Ross finished a transition layup giving the Dragons a 14-10 lead that forced an Ulm timeout. The Artland run was no surprise as the Dragons brought momentum from their Tuesday night win over Spanish ACB team Bilbao in the Top 16 of the EuroCup. While Artland took the lead, Ulm looked like a team which had not played last weekend. Throughout the remainder of the opening quarter, ratiopharm Ulm worked to find their offensive rhythm and shake off the rust as they got back to game action. At the end of the first ten minutes, ratiopharm Ulm trailed the Dragons 19-12.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey buried two energizing threes in a second quarter surge that helped Ulm recover from their slow start. Lee scored 13 points on the evening.
Between quarters, ratiopharm Ulm huddled to re-group, but the Artland run continued. Through the first few minutes of the second quarter, the Dragons extended their lead to 12, building a 27-15 advantage. An Ulm timeout rallied the team. Needing a spark, Ulm floor general Dru Joyce delivered applying ballpressure against Artland point guard Drew Neitzel. Forcing Neitzel to lose control, Dru poked the ball loose and it rolled toward the halfcourt line. Making a tremendous hustle play, Dru dove head-first for a recovery as Neitzel tumbled to the floor on top of him. Dru deflected the ball into the backcourt. Attempting to get into the play, Artland's Adam Hess ran into both Joyce and Neitzel forcing him to leap over the two hustling players. With Hess slowed, Ulm's Keith Triplett darted past everyone and picked up the rolling basketball. Attacking the basket, Ulm missed a transition layup attempt but ran down a long offensive rebound. The ball found Triplett once again. This time, Keith drove strong to the basket from the right wing. Drawing all the Artland defense to him in the paint, Keith fired a skip pass to a wide open Lee Humphrey in the left corner. Lee buried the three and the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd was energized by the hustle play and three. On the next possession, another Ulm defensive stop gave them a transition opportunity. The ball found Humphrey again, this time in the right corner. Lee drilled his second three and the Kuhberg crowd went crazy forcing an Artland timeout. Ulm had cut the Dragons lead in half. But the action was just heating up. Ulm's run continued as Keith Triplett sank a left wing three pointer pulling Ulm within three 29-26. On the next possession, as Artland advanced the basketball in the backcourt, Dragon forward Chad Prewitt set a solid-center-court-blind screen on Ulm point guard Dru Joyce. Hitting Joyce hard, the screen immediately floored the Ulm floor general who layed in the center jump circle shaken up. Officials moved in after the collision to call an unsportsmanlike foul. When the call was made against the Ulm PG, Head coach Mike Taylor received a technical foul for an emotional outburst against the call. While Joyce was helped off the floor into the lockerroom with physio Andi Lacher and team doctor Christoph Buch, the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd was ignited. Against the intense energy from the Ulm fans, Artland's Chad Prewitt stepped the foul line for the free throws and cooly sank 3 of 4 before the Dragons took possession. Using the opportunity Artland took a 34-26 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm received a big boost from Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans who deserve a big assist in the win!
Despite the eight point deficit and being without starting point guard Dru Joyce, ratiopharm Ulm finally had their wakeup call. Even more important, the formidable Kuhberg crowd was charged up and completely into the game. ratiopharm Ulm 'young guns' Per Gunther and Sebastian Betz triggered a strong finish over the final three minutes of the first half. Betz buried a right wing three and Gunther totaled 5 points to pull Ulm within one at the break, 38-37.
At the half, Ulm took a step back to discuss the situation. It was not a surprise the team hit a slow stretch in the first quarter after missing a weekend game last weekend due to the Bundesliga Top 4 tournament in Hamburg. Artland was able to take advantage of their game-rhythm while Ulm needed to work their way into the flow. Addressing a couple key points regarding the tempo and defensive performance, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the floor focused for better production on offense and improved team defense. After their last game, a home loss to Ewe Baskets Oldenburg where the Thunderbirds raised their level of play, ratiopharm Ulm wanted to demonstrate they had learned their lesson and could elevate their game. The second half against Artland was their next chance.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther finishes at the rim for two of his 13 points in Saturday nights game. Per played a key role in the win and gave Ulm outstanding minutes in the win.
As the second half started, Ulm fans were happy to see Dru Joyce return to action. But seconds into the second half, Ulm medical team would be busy once again. This time, All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs twisted his ankle as he landed on an opponents foot coming down from a rebound. Physio Andi Lacher and doctor Christoph Buch certainly were in top form as they handled both Joyce and Gibbs. As Jeff was helped off the floor to the lockerroom, ratiopharm Ulm was focused to raise their game and make a run. Romeo Travis made his presence felt with a dunk and a jumpshot as he stepped his game up when his team needed it most. Both teams battled for control through the early third quarter action and were even at 44. Ulm's defense triggered a 12-0 mid-third quarter run as Travis, Joyce and Dan Fitzgerald helped Ulm build a 56-44 lead. Ulm's defense created fast break opportunities. But Artland would not go away as they trimmed the gap to 56-50 after three.
Ulm center Sean Finn tips in two points during Saturday nights home win over the Artland Dragons.
In the fourth, like Dru Joyce the quarter before, Jeff Gibbs returned to the Ulm lineup. As action opened, Jeff scored inside giving his team a 58-50 lead. Another Romeo Travis bucket returned Ulm's lead to 10 at 60-50. But Travis fouled Artland's Adam Hess shooting a three pointer and the skillful Dragons scorer sank all three foul shots. Heating up, Hess buried another three on the next possession and Ulm's lead was trimmed to 62-56. The game tightened and with five minutes to play Ulm held a 64-63 lead. Lee Humphrey sank two clutch free throws giving Ulm a 66-63 lead but Artland's Jan Rohdewald drilled a big triple to tie the score at 66. Romeo Travis regained the lead for Ulm with two important free throws and Jeff Gibbs followed with one of two from the foul line giving Ulm a 69-66 advantage. With three minutes to play, Ulm's topscorer on the evening Romeo Travis picked up his fifth foul. Sebastian Betz entered the Ulm lineup for a critical phase of the game. Chad Prewitt nailed both free throws and Ulm's lead was once again one at 69-68. With the game on the line, back to back baskets from Jeff Gibbs extended Ulm's lead to 73-68. Dragon point guard Drew Neitzel finished a layup trimming the margin to 73-70. Needing a big basket, Ulm went to Jeff Gibbs who worked his way into the lane. Jeff's first attempt rimmed out and the ball was loose on the floor in the lane. Ulm's Sebastian Betz came up with a key hustle play diving on the floor to grab the basketball and pass it to teammate Dru Joyce. With the shot clock reset, Artland was forced to foul. Joyce cooly sank two free throws. Ulm survived two late turnovers mostly because of Joyce stepping in to take a charge preventing an Artland late basket. Ulm's 77-70 win certainly ranked among the teams best defensive efforts of the season.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett hustles for an offensive rebound in Saturday nights game against the Artland Dragons.
In the hardfought win, ratiopharm Ulm held Artland to 31% shooting and outrebounded the Dragons 40-26. Key moments in the game included the defensive ballpressure from Dru Joyce and hustle of Keith Triplett that led to Lee Humphrey's back to back three's in the second quarter run, the second quarter technical foul which brought the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd into the game, Ulm's 12-0 third quarter run which allowed them to play ahead and back to back big baskets from Jeff Gibbs in the closing minutes.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis slams home two of his team best 14 points in Saturday's victory over Artland.
Romeo Travis led the Ulm scoring with a 14 point 5 rebound performance while Lee Humphrey and Per Gunther added 13 points to the attack. Dru Joyce contributed 10 points and showed tremendous heart returning to the game after being shaken up during the second quarter. Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 8 points and 17 rebounds, Dan Fitzgerald was solid scoring 8 points with 5 boards and Keith Triplett chipped in 5 points 4 boards and 2 steals to go with his excellent defense. The exciting game was not only hardfought on the floor, but a big assist should go to the intense Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd who were unquestionably a factor in the game. Adam Hess led Artland with 18 points while Chad Prewitt finished with 15 points for the Dragons.
Now 15-8, ratiopharm Ulm holds the 5th place in the Bundesliga standings and looks ahead to next weeks road trip to Giessen for a Saturday night game against the LTi Giessen 46ers. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
