TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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INTO THE DRAGONS LAIR!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Artland Dragons
Sunday October 26, 2008 5pm
Artland Arena Quakenbruck, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to the beautiful northwest German small town of Quakenbruck this weekend for a trip into the Dragons-lair of Artland Arena and a challenging 5pm tipoff against the powerful Artland Dragons. Last seasons German Cup Champions, Artland Dragons have a new look to their team with new Head coach Thorsten Leibenath and several talented new players --- currently riding a three game winning streak, these Dragons are breathing fire. ratiopharm Ulm takes aim on Artland hungry to win in the Dragons-lair for the first time. One thing is certain, this Sundays action will be hot!
ratiopharm Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and teammates take aim on the Artland Dragons Sunday evening in the Dragons-lair, Artland Arena!
Over the last several seasons, the Artland Dragons have consistently played among the top teams in the Bundesliga. Gradually building their organization and improving step by step, the 2007-2008 Bundesliga season was terrific for the Dragons. An excellent run deep into the ULEB Cup highlighted an international campaign with great success. In Germany, the Dragons claimed their first hardware winning the German Cup with an excellent tournament in Hamburg. In 2006-2007, the Dragons made a fantastic run into the Cup and Playoff Finals. But last summer, the Bundesliga coaching carousel saw the architect of Artland success Head Coach Chris Fleming depart for the head coaching job in Bamberg. Looking for a talented young German head coach, the Artland organization selected former Giessen 46er head man Thorsten Leibenath. Looking to grow with their new head coach step by step, the Dragons look to lay the foundation for the future, now.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie Per Gunther is a true point guard!
Artland's team has shown steady improvement and the Dragons understand the challenges of developing together as a team. Their current three game win streak has them moving in the right direction. Key returning players from recent succcessful seasons have kept the continuity for the Dragons. All star scoring guard Lamont McIntosh (14.2ppg 3.2reb 1.2ast 33% three) is a versatile scoring threat on the wing. A slashing penetrator, McIntosh is always looking to score and has made many big baskets for the Dragons over the last two seasons. Physical post players Darius Hall (8.7ppg 2.5reb) and Chad Prewitt (5.8ppg 3.2reb 30% three) are experienced, skilled and tough. Hall is a terrific emotional leader and Prewitt a terrific inside-out threat. Veteran Jan Rohdewald enjoyed an excellent season last year and provides perimeter depth along with an money left handed 3ball. Hardworking athletic defender Paul Johnson has increased his role from last year and gives the Dragons a versatile defender. Lanky German post man Dirk Maedrich (3.7ppg 4reb) is an active post man who can step out to drill threes. While these returning players continue to be keys for the Dragons success, Head Coach Thorsten Leibenath recruited several top talents to help continue the winning tradition in Quakenbruck. First, former Artland All Star Adam Hess returned to Artland after spending last season playing in the Euroleague with Roanne in France. Always a top All Star player, Hess is a go-to guy for Artland and currently averages 14ppg 4.5reb and 35% threes. The dynamic duo of Hess and McIntosh is a terrific offensive combination for the Dragons. Two new point guards also are difference-makers in Artland as Zack Whiting and Drew Neitzel run the show. A former Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, Whiting averages 6.3ppg 1.8reb and 3.3ast with Artland while providing an attacking driver who pushes the ball in transition. Neitzel (4.5ppg 1.8a), the former Michigan State star, played in the summer with the Minnesota TimberWolves NBA Summer League team along side current ratiopharm Ulm rookie Dan Fitzgerald. Finally, top talent post player Darren Fenn signed with Artland after all star seasons in Bremerhaven and Bamberg. Fenn currently produces 14.2ppg and 8.5reb as the new big man for the Dragons. Combined, the returning players and talented new faces comprise one of the most offensively talented teams in the Bundesliga and continue to grow together game by game.
Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs goes head to head with Artland Dragons big man Darius Hall last season at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
This season, Artland has come together well in the first month of the 2008-2009 Bundesliga schedule. After dropping their first two game, 95-84 to ALBA Berlin September 21st at O2 World in Berlin and 84-77 to Walter Tigers Tubingen September 26th at Artland Arena, the Dragons edged LTi Giessen 46ers 69-68 October 4th in Artland before falling again away at Lokhalle 83-72 to BG74 Gottingen October 7th. But since their 1-3 start, Head Coach Thorsten Leibenath and his newly assembled Dragons have found their winning rhythm capturing three consecutive victories upping their record to 4-3. October 11th, Artland beat a talented Telekom Baskets Bonn team 77-71 in Telekom Dome. October 19th, Artland beat Koln 99ers 80-71 at home. Finally, Thursday night October 23rd, Artland built a big lead over northern rival Eisbaren Bremerhaven before cruising to an 80-76 home win. Hosting ratiopharm Ulm at 4-3, the new team is coming together and these Dragons are starting to catch fire.
This season, ratiopharm has earned a 2-1 road record winning in Bamberg September 24th and at Dusseldorf October 4th before falling for the first time season last week in Oldenburg. Over the last two Bundesliga seasons, ratiopharm Ulm traveled to Artland Arena twice, losing both games to the hot Dragons teams.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Dru Joyce is hungry to lead his team into the Dragons-lair!
In 2006-2007, ratiopharm Ulm and Artland split games with each team holding home court. Ulm topped an injury-riddled Artland squad at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in January. Rising to the top of the Bundesliga, the Dragons overcame major injury adversity that year before making a fantastic German Cup and Bundesliga playoff run. In the other meeting later in 2006-2007, Ulm fell in Artland 99-81 as Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 19 points 7 rebounds on May 5, 2007
(click here for game summary)
In 2007-2008, Ulm traveled north to Quakenbruck for an October 14th contest. The Dragons handed them a convincing 86-63 loss in the third game of the season. Click here for Ulm v Artland October 2007 .
In the rematch, ratiopharm Ulm narrowly missed another big upset falling to the powerful Artland squad 87-84 Saturday afternoon Febuary 16th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Lamont McIntosh buried a clutch three pointer from the top of the key with 25.5 seconds to play and John Goldsberry sank key free throws to help the Artland Dragons avoid the ratiopharm Ulm upset bid. Deadlocked at 79 with 1:52 to play, it was Artland who made the big shots down the stretch. In the final 15 seconds, Ulm's EJ Gallup had two game-tying attempts rim out and Konrad Wysocki's desperation turnaround three was off line at the buzzer. With Ulm leading 67-60 heading into the fourth, Artland turned up their defensive intensity and made several outstanding individual offensive plays resulting in big buckets from Leon Rodgers, Terrance Thomas and Lamont McIntosh. Ulm's outstanding team effort fell just short to a Dragon team who showed their class down the stretch.
Click here for Ulm v Artland Game Summary Febuary 16, 2008
Artland Dragon center Darius Hall was CHILLIN as he took in ratiopharm Ulm's road game at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg last weekend.
For ratiopharm Ulm, the teams excellent start to the 2008-2009 season has been about their much improved defensive play. Despite tasting defeat for the first time of the season last weekend at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg, ratiopharm Ulm erased a 16 point deficit in the second half to even the game at 74 in the final minute of the game. Oldenburg made the big plays to earn the win, but ratiopharm Ulm made their improvements during the week as a team and board the team bus to Quakenbruck with energy to enter the Dragons-lair. Two time All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs leads the Ulm production averaging a fantastic double double of 15.8ppg 12.2reb along with an terrific 3.2ast per game. Sean Finn and Romeo Travis add a solid 9.4ppg with Travis grabbing 6.6reb and Finn 4.2reb. Once again, ratiopharm Ulm is atop the Bundesliga rebound charts. After 5 games in the 2008-2009 season, Ulm averages 38.8reb per game. As a team, Ulm is currently 4th in assists at 12.4ast and second in Blocks per game at 3.6blk.
All Star post player Darren Fenn has been strong for the Artland Dragons, his new team this season.
With confidence from their strong 4-1 start and 2 hard-earned road wins, ratiopharm Ulm is excited about their next big challenge Sunday evening facing a hot team which has won three games in a row. Ulm is ready for their quest to Quakenbruck and the heat of the Dragons-lair!
ratiopharm Ulm has celebrated two hardfought road wins already this season!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
HESS RETURNS TO ARTLAND
After an all star season with the Artland Dragons in 2006-2007, talented small forward Adam Hess moved on to Roanne France where he played in the Euroleague with the French team in 2007-2008. Now, with a years Euroleague experience under his belt, the former William & Mary star returns to Quakenbruck to play for the Dragons.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES SUMMER LEAGUE TEAMMATES
ratiopharm Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald and Artland Dragons Drew Neitzel are opponents Sunday evening when the two teams meet at Artland Arena, but this summer for the month of July, both Bundesliga rookies were on the same side playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves team at the Las Vegas NBA Summer League.
TAYLOR FAMILY VISIT
As ratiopharm Ulm travels to Quakenbruck for Sundays visit to the Dragons-lair, Ulm Head Coach Mike Taylor is thankful his family is visiting from the USA. Parents Richard, Althea and brother Scott will stay through next weekend and take in the double game day of Giessen and ALBA Berlin at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
PLANET BASKETBALL
Although Sunday will see Ulm Head coach Mike Taylor working against Artland star big man Darren Fenn, both were part of the 2000 European Tour for now defunct Planet Basketball. Traveling as a touring all star team of college players through both the Czech Republic and Finland, Planet Basketball played games against the Czech National and Junior National teams in Pardubice and Prague after three games in Finnish cities of Helsinki and Jyvaskala.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain always has words of wisdom!
Romeo Travis: versatile forward enjoying strong start to season
Jeff Gibbs: leads Ulm in scoring, rebounds and assists!
Keith Triplett : defensive stopper is a fantastic addition to team
Lee Humphrey: three point sharpshooter having fun in Ulm
Dru Joyce: floor general healthy after ankle injury in Oldenburg
Per Gunther: talented young PG looks forward to trip to Quakenbruck
Dan Fitzgerald: outstanding game in Oldenburg/ now focused on Artland
Sean Finn: great game v Oldenburg/ challenge v top Artland big men
Sebastian Betz: healthy after back twinge slowed him last week
Michael Schroeder: physical inside presence ready to bang on the block!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Quakenbruck, Germany
Main Sponsor: Medico
Home Court: Artland Arena
website:
www.artland-dragons.de
2007-2008: 21-13 4th place
Offense: One of the most talented offensive teams in the Bundesliga, the Artland Dragons have a wide variety of weapons and ability to produce big games. Driving the team, the one-two scoring punch of Lamont McIntosh and Adam Hess make matchup nightmares for opposing teams. While McIntosh attacks one on one and with slashing drives to score, Hess is an active cutter and post up player who possesses a lightning quick release. Both are capable of carrying the team. Big men Darren Fenn and Chad Prewitt are two of the top three point shooting post players in the Bundesliga and stretch defenses effectively. Darius Hall is the teams inside force. The experience of all these players is a big plus for new head coach Thorsten Leibenath. New faces at the point in ZacK Whiting and Drew Neitzel have excellent skills and veteran role players provide depth. An explosive offensive team, Artland certainly has the ability to outscore opponents to win.
Defense: After ranking as one of the top defensive teams in the Bundesliga over the last several seasons, the new faces on the 2008-2009 Dragons team are offensive-minded by nature. But entering Sundays game against Ulm, the teams defense has led the Dragons to 3 straight wins. The Dragons have good size in the front court and Whiting is a hardnosed on ball defender at point. Paul Johnson is a hardworking defensive stopper who has defensive versatility.
GM: Marko Beens
Head Coach: Thorsten Leibenath
Players:
Lamont McIntosh: excellent offensive threat/makes big plays for team
Adam Hess: returns to Artland after season in Euroleague for Roanne
Darren Fenn: 3time Bundesliga All Star post man key to team success
Chad Prewitt: hardworking skilled post man/3pt threat
Zack Whiting: aggressive attacking PG/last season in Leverkusen
Drew Neitzel: former Michigan St star playing rookie season in Artland
Darius Hall: emotional leader of team/physical inside presence
Dirk Madrich: young talented German post/3pt threat
Jan Rohdewald: veteran 3pt shooter/always seems to play great v Ulm
Paul Johnson: defensive stopper of team
