TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM TRAVELS TO ARTLAND!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Artland Dragons
Saturday Febuary 5th, 2011 8pm
Artland Arena Quakenbrueck, Germany
With momentum from last Saturday's home win, ratiopharm Ulm travels to the beautiful countryside of Quakenbruck for their next challenge as they face the re-loaded Artland Dragons Saturday night at Artland Arena. Already one of the BBL's most talented teams, Artland added former NBA big man Rob Kurz and veteran forward Rob Lewin to their excellent roster. While Quakenbruck is a small northwestern German town, the challenge facing ratiopharm Ulm is as big as any in the Bundesliga. Saturday night in Quakenbruck, ratiopharm Ulm is focused for their first win at Artland Arena.
ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant and Artland Dragons big man Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje will be an exciting matchup Saturday night at Artland Arena.
click here for regio-tv preview!
Artland's 2010-2011 season opened with a strong 4-1 start including the October 15th road win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg over ratiopharm Ulm. Artland was 3-4 over the next 7 games falling to 7-5 before the Dragons put together a strong 6-1 stretch improving to 13-6. Last weekend, Artland lost a rivalry game to Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 84-72 January 29th at Ewe Arena. For Artland, Saturday's home game against ratiopharm Ulm is their next opportunity to refocus their game and protect their home court.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Coleman Collins and teammates are focused for Saturday's challening road game at Artland.
Preparing for the Artland Dragons, ratiopharm Ulm faces one of the most talented teams in the Beko Basketball Bundesliga. After narrowly missing the playoffs last season, Artland revamped their team bringing in new head coach Stefan Koch along with a stacked lineup with excellent new faces. On the perimeter, former Boston College point guard Tyrese Rice takes over the reigns of the Artland offense and brings a dynamic creative game to the Dragons attack. Rice earned a spot on the North team at the All Star game in Trier and has been one of the BBL's top point guards this season averaging 15.2ppg 2.7reb 4.5ast while shooting 33% from beyond the arc. Backing up Rice, steady former Bonn point guard JJ Strasser brings his experience north to Quakenbruck. Strasser has contributed 5.7ppg with 37% from three. In the post, veteran big man Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (8.2ppg 6.1reb) provides an outstanding pivot man after excellent Bundesliga seasons with both ALBA Berlin and Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. While those new faces excite the Artland fans, two familiar faces return to the Dragons to play key roles. Skillful scoring wing Adam Hess (10.2ppg 4.1reb 44% from three) ranked among the best forwards in the Bundesliga in his previous time with Artland and played the last few seasons with Roanne in France and C.B. Tarragona in Spain. Also back in Quakenbruck, athletic combo guard Bryan Bailey returns to the Dragons and is ready to play a key role on the perimeter. Bailey has been in top form this season producing (10.5ppg 2.5reb 3.4reb). Sharpshooting forward Ali Seggelke 6ppg 2.9reb 37% threes) was one of the top three point shooters in the Bundesliga last season and he will complement Hess on the perimeter well this season. Finally, all star level returning players round out the roster as Darren Fenn (12.4ppg 6.2reb 46% threes) and Nathan Peavy (8.7ppg 3.3reb) have once again played for the Dragons. Peavy returned from injury and upgraded the Dragons roster. Along with Peavy's return, Artland recently added two talented players adding to the talent level and quality of the team. Former Notre Dame sharpshooting forward Rob Kurz joins Artland after playing in the NBA and Spanish ACB and French Pro A veteran Rob Lewin adds athleticism and quality to the teams frontcourt as the Dragons prepare for the second half of the season, stretch run and a playoff push deep into the post season. Without question, the 2010-2011 Artland Dragon roster is one of the strongest and deepest in the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Sean Sonderlieter and teammates expect an intense, physical Artland Dragons team looking to bounce back from last weekends road loss in Oldenburg.
Ulm and Artland have met nine times over the last three seasons with the Dragons taking 7 wins. ratiopharm Ulm's two victories came at Sportszentrum Kuhberg giving Ulm a 2-3 mark at home against Artland. For ratiopharm Ulm, their 0-4 mark at Artland Arena makes Saturday's challenging road game that much more daunting.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star forward Robin Benzing has risen to fifth in the Bundesliga in scoring with 15.4ppg.
Earlier this season in Ulm, ratiopharm Ulm put themselves in position to win, but Artland's timely shots and experience helped the Dragons steal an 85-81 road win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Friday night October 15th in Ulm. Leading after each of the first three quarters, Ulm built a 77-72 cushion with 2:48 to play before feeling the Dragons burn. In the end, ratiopharm Ulm's home opener was a strong team effort that got away. John Bryant was excellent for Ulm with 19 points 9 rebounds while Robin Benzing chipped in 19 points of his own. Despite the hardfought loss, there were many positive from the Ulm performance. Unfortunately, Ulm did not capitalize on their opportunities down the stretch as the team learned a tough lesson on 'finishing a win'.
click here for complete 10-15-10 Ulm vs Artland Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm's John Bryant scores in the paint Friday October 15th, 2010 against the Artland Dragons at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. John led the Ulm offensive attack with an excellent 19 point 9 rebound performance.
click here for Box score 10-15-10
Click here for photo gallery of Ulm v Artland
Click here for Sudwest Presse photo gallery of Ulm v Artland
click here for highlight video from Ulm v Artland game 10-15-10
Last year, Artland swept ratiopharm Ulm winning two games. Friday April 23rd, 2010 Artland used a strong third quarter to take control in their 82-70 home win over ratiopharm Ulm at Artland Arena in Quakenbruck. After a competitive 25 minutes, ratiopharm Ulm surrendered an 11-0 run as a result of consecutive turnovers allowing the Dragons to ignite their run. With Artland fighting for the 8th and final playoff place, the Dragons maintained their margin in earning the victory. ratiopharm Ulm was led by rookie forward Robin Benzing's 15 point 5 rebound effort followed by Christian Burns 12 and Coleman Collins 10.
click here for 4-23-10 Ulm @ Artland Game Summary!
A decisive late fourth quarte run lifted the Artland Dragons to a hardfought 72-62 win over ratiopharm Ulm Friday night December 18th, 2009 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. In a back and forth game through the first three quarters, Ulm offense sputtered in the fourth quarter as Artland outscored Ulm 19-11 down the stretch as Ulm shot 39% for the game. The lack of offensive production spoiled a solid team defensive and strong rebounding effort from ratiopharm Ulm. Power forward Christian Burns led Ulm scoring with a 20 point 7 rebound performance in the loss.
click here for 12-18-09 Ulm v Artland Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice is focused for Saturday's challenging road game against the strong Artland Dragons.
In 2008-2009, Ulm and Artland split a pair of games with each team protecting their home court. In the most recent meeting, ratiopharm Ulm started slow in Saturday nights March 9, 2009 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.
Click for complete Ulm v Artland March 9, 2009 Game Summary!
On Sunday October 26th, ratiopharm Ulm went into the Dragons-lair of Artland Arena and gave a valliant effort before falling to the powerful Artland Dragons 84-80 in an exciting Bundesliga game Sunday October 26th. Ulm's outstanding first quarter helped them build a 30-13 lead before Artland responded with a strong second quarter run of their own. After Artland took control in the third, a hungry Ulm team fought back in the fourth. Trailing by two, 81-79 with two minutes to play, Ulm had four chances to tie the game but could not come up with the big basket. At the final buzzer, the terrific team effort from ratiopharm Ulm fell just short. Sean Finn enjoyed another excellent game scoring 23 points on 10 of 12 shooting to lead the Ulm attack.
click here for 10-26-08 Ulm @ Artland Game Summary!
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 14, 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
ratiopharm Ulm enters Saturday's game with upset on their mind. After last Saturday nights home win over Braunschweig, Ulm takes their game back on the road for another top-level Bundesliga opponent in Artland. The Ulm team has made excellent strides over the course of the season posting a 9-7 record since their 0-4 start. Center John Bryant statistically ranks as the Bundesliga's most effective player (21.5), leads the BBL in rebounding (11.2reb), is currently ninth in scoring (14.9ppg) and second in blocks (1.4blk). Along with Ulm's effective big man, All Star forward Robin Benzing has steadily improved his numbers as well rising to a current fifth spot in BBL scoring chart (15.4ppg).
While the attention for Saturday night will be on the floor, Febuary 5th is special to ratiopharm Ulm for another reason --- talented young All Star point guard Per Gunther will celebrate his 23rd birthday. Making the day even more memorable, Per's Birthday game will take place in Artland nearby to the city of Osnabruck where his father once played with tremendous success.
Saturday is special for ratiopharm Ulm All Star point guard Per Gunther as the fiery young German playmaker celebrates his 23rd birthday.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action this season on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Lee Humphrey: Ulm captain focused for tough Dragons defense
Sean Sonderleiter: blue collar big man ready for Artland front line
Coleman Collins: athletic F ready for challenge against Dragon big men
Robin Benzing: skilled F focused for matchup vs Artland Defense
John Bryant: talented C ready for matchup against Boumtje Boumtje
Travis Walton: strong PG's defensive effort will be key v Rice
Sebastian Betz: brings energy to Ulm from bench
Per Gunther: Ulm pg focused for challenge on his birthday
Michael Wenzl: young C ready to opportunities
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Tunde Adekola
Location: Quakenbruck, Germany
Main Sponsor: Medico
Home Court: Artland Arena
website: www.artland-dragons.de
2007-2008: 21-13 4th place
2008-2009: 18-16 9th place
2009-2010: 19-15 9th place
Offense: A team with many weapons, Artland will be led by pg Tyrese Rice who is a dynamic playmaker and talented scorer. Key offensive players will be scoring wing Adam Hess and sharpshooting post man Darren Fenn. The frontcourt is big and athletic with the addition of Ruben Boumtje Boumtje. Skilled inside-out scoring F Nathan Peavy also will be a main offensive weapon once again in Artland. Excellent experience provides quality role players and depth as Bryan Bailey, Ali Seggelke and JJ Strasser will all be important players for the Dragons success.
Defense: Artland's new team features an athletic perimeter with outstanding defenders including Bryan Bailey. Big man Ruben Boumtje Boumtje is long and athletic providing a strong defensive presence in the post. Artland is a physical and aggressive defensive unit especially playing at the always intense Artland Arena.
GM: Marko Beens
Head Coach: Stefan Koch
Players:
Darren Fenn: 4time Bundesliga All Star post man key to team
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: top C joins Artland from Oldenburg
Adam Hess: skilled scoring wing returns to Artland as key player
Rob Kurz: former Notre Dame, NBA, ACB sharpshooting post new to team
Rob Lewin: experienced, athletic post recently added to Dragon team
Tyrese Rice: skilled athletic lefty PG, former Boston College star
Bryan Bailey: veteran combo G adds athleticism and strong D
JJ Strasser: veteran backup PG is steady and skilled
Ali Seggelke: sharpshooting wing also active cutter
Nathan Peavy: talented F another key for Dragons team
Florian Hartenstein: veteran post provides depth
