TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Big Win!
Team effort helps ratiopharm Ulm beat Bamberg!
ratiopharm Ulm exploded to a 10-0 start and never looked back in beating brose Baskets Bamberg 96-79 Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Sharpshooter Lee Humphrey drilled 5 of 7 threes to pace Ulm point production with 21 while Romeo Travis added 17 points 6 rebounds, Sean Finn posted 16 points and Jeff Gibbs produced a 10 point 14 rebound double double in the win. Tipping off the second half of their exciting Bundesliga schedule with a great team win, ratiopharm Ulm ups their record to 12-6 on the season.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey nailed 5 of 7 threes to topscore with 21 points in Saturday nights home win over Bamberg!
Click here for Ulm v Bamberg Saturday 1-24-09 Box Score
Click here for Ulm v Bamberg Photo Gallery (Ulm)!
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs tips in a basket in Saturdays action against Bamberg. Jeff was strong in the paint for Ulm producing a 10 point 14 rebound double double in the win.
After ratiopharm Ulm upset brose Baskets Bamberg 66-64 on September 24th at JAKO Arena in the season-opener for both teams, basketball fans from both teams anticipated the rematch. Since their return to the Bundesliga in 2006-2007, ratiopharm Ulm had not beaten Bamberg at home in Sportszentrum Kuhberg and Bamberg would certainly be ready after the early season upset against Ulm. After a slow start, Bamberg had bounced back to claim a playoff place at the season mid-point All Star Weekend in Mannheim January 17th. Recently releasing former NBA post man Nate Johnson, the team searched the player market for new talent and last week added 6 year NBA veteran PG Dan Dickau to the team. Although Dickau would make his Bundesliga debut against Ulm, the Bamberg team would be short-handed in the post after All Star forward Tim Ohlbrecht injured his ankle in practice. With one healthy veteran post player, Eric Taylor, Bamberg looked to adapt their game to exact revenge on Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis rises up for a power dunk in the second half of Saturday's home win over Bamberg. Romeo played well scoring in a variety of ways totaling 17 points 6 boards.
With great anticipation for the game and tremendous respect for Bamberg, Sportszentrum Kuhberg was sold out for two weeks in advance. ratiopharm Ulm was ready.
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce gets into the lane against Bamberg's Dan Dickau Saturday night. Dru scored 9 points with 8 assists in a terrific performance.
At tip off, Ulm was focused and immediately went to work. Lee Humphrey opened scoring finishing a slashing drive to the basket. Bamberg's initial possessions resulted in shots that rimmed out. Ulm capitalized and pushed the tempo in transition. Dru Joyce sank a top of the key three then found Sean Finn for a perfectly placed lob pass leading to a layup. After a Bamberg miss, Joyce pushed the ball up the left sideline zipping a ball-ahead pass to Lee Humphrey spotting up in transition in the left corner. The former Florida Gator marksman sank the energizing three bringing the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd into the game and forcing an early Bamberg timeout. Up 10-0, the focused Ulm start was exactly what the team was looking for against an opponent who beat them in Kuhberg the last two seasons. Responding immediately from the timeout, Bamberg's Jared Newson finished two strong drives to the rim and brought Bamberg back to a 10-4 deficit. But another Ulm run sparked by their transition game and teamwork began to build on their lead. Lee Humphrey drilled a top of the key three off an assist from Jeff Gibbs. Then it was Humphrey spotting a screen-slipping Sean Finn for a wide open screen-roll slam. Dru Joyce finished a strong drive off the glass before Humphrey sank another three increasing Ulm's advantage to 20-8. Bamberg head coach Chris Fleming quickly called his second and final timeout of the first half to stop the Ulm run. As the teams went to their benches, Bamberg post player Eric Taylor had words with one of the officials and was called for a technical foul. Out of the timeout, Ulm's Lee Humphrey hit the two techincal shots and the run continued. Finishing out the first quarter strong, Ulm built a 29-13 lead.
ratiopharm Ulm center Sean Finn finishes a lob-slam in transition in the first half of Saturdays home win over Bamberg. Finn finished with 16 points in a strong performance.
With tremendous energy and momentum, Ulm found their rhythm in the first quarter creating excellent transition opportunites with offense from their defense. Point guard Dru Joyce did an excellent job of pushing the tempo and finding open players on the break and in the halfcourt. Lee Humphrey's perimeter accuarcy sparked the Ulm attack and got the Ulm offense going. With only one true veteran post player on the active Bamberg roster, ratiopharm Ulm established the post through Sean Finn and Jeff Gibbs --- but it was the inside-outside offensive balance and transition play which triggered the terrific Ulm play.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett being treated by team physio Andi Lacher in the second quarter of Saturday nights game against Bamberg. Keith returned to action and sank two three point shots while playing his customary strong defense.
Quarter two saw Ulm's Sean Finn and Jeff Gibbs continue to be productive in the paint. Poking loose a steal, Ulm's Dru Joyce created a 2 on 1 fast break running the floor with life-long friend Romeo Travis. Drawing the defense to the right, Dru sailed a lob mid-lane. At full speed, Romeo snared the pass from mid-air and athletically finished a contested layup soft off the glass. Later, Joyce would float a beautiful transition lob to center Sean Finn creating another highlight finish to an Ulm fast break. As the team's bench checked into the action, Ulm received quality minutes from the entire rotation and the attack did not miss a beat. Former Bamberg/Breitengussbach wing Sebastian Betz was highly motivated to play against his old team and Basti's left wing three off an offensive rebound and ball reversal powered Ulm's run. Also boosting the run was a bench technical called against Bamberg head coach Chris Fleming. Likely the lone negative note for Ulm in the first half was defensive ace Keith Triplett taking an elbow in the chin cutting him open just below the bottom lip forcing him to the bench for treatment from team physio Andi Lacher. Recently signed former NBA point guard Dan Dickau made an impact in the game early for Bamberg. After their strong first quarter, Ulm followed up with a 21-17 second quarter to build a 50-30 halftime cushion.
ratiopharm Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald sinks a pullup jumper in the first half of Saturday nights game against Bamberg!
At the half, Ulm's twenty point lead possibly was the teams best twenty minutes of the season. Quick tempo, hot shooting and solid defense sparked the excellent play and every player gave the team quality minutes. Lee Humphrey's three point shooting energized Sportszentrum Kuhberg and Dru Joyce's excellent work in transition made the game easy for every Ulm player on the floor. Hardwork and active play from Jeff Gibbs, Sean Finn and Romeo Travis was also a key point to Ulm's first half success. In the team meeting, the discussion centered around a strong third quarter with much work remaining to earn the win. Feeling great about their first half performance, ratiopharm Ulm players returned to the floor for warmups with tremendous confidence and focus for the second half.
Ulm's Per Gunther attacks the basket against Bamberg. Per scored 6 points with 2 assists giving his team quality minutes at the point.
As the second half opened, once again it was Lee Humphrey sparking the Ulm run. Drilling a deep right wing three from NBA range, Lee helped Ulm pick up right where they left off. Scoring the first five points of the third quarter, Ulm opened a 55-30 lead. The flow of the game smoothly evolved into end to end action as both teams took quick shots looking for early offense. Bamberg attempted to disrupt the Ulm rhythm by briefly changing to a triangle and two defense, but Ulm continued their attack. With 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Ulm lead was 26, 70-44. Bamberg Head coach Chris Fleming took a second technical and was ejected from the game leaving assistant Volker Stix to patrol the sideline. Ulm's bench enjoyed strong minutes as young backcourt players Per Gunther and Sebastian Betz were productivel. Keith Triplett returned to action to make back to back three point shots. At the end of three, Ulm held a commanding 74-52 lead.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege drives baseline past Bamberg's Beckham Wyrick in Saturday nights action.
The Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd enthusiasticaly supported their team with in the surprising performance. Working through the rotation one more time, Ulm extended their lead to 89-59 with just under 5 minutes remaining. Romeo Travis sank a beautiful fadeaway J and Jeff Gibbs found a cutting Sean Finn for a powerful two hand slam. Per Gunther was fouled hard in transition by Bamberg's veteran guard Demond Greene as the game remained intense. Taking the opportunity to find minutes for young players, Ulm subbed out starters who could enjoy an early end to the evenings work. Bamberg jumped on the late game Ulm lineup outscoring them 14-1. But the final minutes of the game were simply cosmetic as the final buzzer sounded on ratiopharm Ulm's 96-79 home win over Bamberg.
Ulm's Michael Schroeder (14) and Sebastian Betz (7) gave great effort to beat their former team Bamberg!
Ulm's fan club and fans celebrated their teams excellent performance!
Lee Humphrey's 21 points on 5 of 7 three point shooting led the Ulm offense while Romeo Travis added 17 points 6 boards and Sean Finn chipped in 16. All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs gave his team a 10 points 14 rebound double double and floor general Dru Joyce contributed 9 points 8 assists. Off the Ulm bench, Per Gunther totaled 6 points 2 assists and Keith Triplett returned from a first quarter cut lip to sank two three pointers in the win. Sebastian Betz and Dan Fitzgerald gave Ulm good minutes scoring 5 points apiece.
Hot shooting sparked the fast Ulm start and Ulm never looked back. In fact, ratiopharm Ulm led the entire 40 minutes. In the win, ratiopharm Ulm shot 51% from the floor including 11 of 25 from three (44%) and 19 for 24 (79%) from the foul line. Ulm outrebounded Bamberg 40-28 and dished out 18 assists as a team. Meanwhile, Bamberg hit 45% of their shots, 5 of 22 from three (22%) and 14 of 16 FT (87%) in the loss. Ulm's big win over Bamberg came as a result of their strong team effort.
Tipping off the second half of their exciting Bundesliga schedule with the big home win over Bamberg, Ulm improved to 12-6 on the season as they look forward to next weekends road trip to Braunschweig for a Saturday night game against former Ulm guard Jonathan Levy and his NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig at Volkswagonhalle. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
