TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM VISITS BAMBERG WEDNESDAY!
ratiopharm Ulm @ brose Baskets Bamberg
Wednesday March 5, 2008 7:30pm
JAKO Arena Bamberg, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm tips off a challenging week against the Bundesliga's best teams with a Wednesday night road trip to JAKO Arena and an exciting matchup against defending Bundesliga Champion brose Baskets Bamberg.
ratiopharm Ulm captain Emeka Erege is an outstanding leader.
ratiopharm Ulm suffered a disapointing 8th consecutive defeat last Saturday when they fell 89-79 at home to Gottingen. Working through the current skid, ratiopharm Ulm received a bit of positive news this week. All Star small forward Konrad Wysocki was nominated to the final 16 roster of the German National team giving him the opportunity to make the final 12 man roster which will compete for an Olympic big. After making tremendous strides this season, Konrad is well deserving of such a fantastic honor and the entire ratiopharm Ulm organization congratulates Konrad and wishes him all the best in his quest. Ironically, the head coach of the German National team is Bamberg head coach Dirk Bauermann. The two have worked together before as Bauermann guided the South team in Bundesliga All Star day at Mannheim Arena back in January.
Ulm All Star small forward Konrad Wysocki was named to the German National team roster for the summer and will have a chance to make the team coached by Bamberg head coach Dirk Bauermann.
ratiopharm Ulm has not played brose Baskets yet this season. Originally scheduled for December 21st, a date could not be agreed upon as Bamberg attempted to balance their Bundesliga and Euroleague schedule earlier this season. As a result, Ulm and Bamberg agreed to move the game rescheduling this Game Day 14 matchup for Wednesday March 5th. Last season Ulm battled in Bamberg but fell short to the eventual Bundesliga champions on March 10th. Bundesliga MVP Casey Jacobsen starred for Head Coach Dirk Bauermann's team in the win. Earlier in the year, Bamberg beat ratiopharm Ulm at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Sunday October 29th. Both games demonstrated the reasons why Bamberg became champions. Despite gritty efforts, Ulm fell short to the first class Bamberg team.
Click here for March 10th, 2007 Ulm @ Bamberg Game Summary!
Click here for October 29th, 2006 Ulm v Bamberg Game Summary!
Bamberg's 2006-2007 season ended in celebration with a Bundesliga Championship. Earning the opportunity to compete in the fantastic Euroleague, Bamberg continues to excel as an organization and stand as terrific representatives of Bundesliga basketball in Europe.
Ulm post man Bryan Lucas is ready for the challenge from Bamberg's outstanding frontcourt.
Head Coach Dirk Bauermann guided Bamberg to the Bundesliga title last season and has his team prepared for a run to a repeat. Bamberg's battle-tested team has championship experience in the Bundesliga and successful experience from competition in the high-level Euroleague. Recently, Bamberg added several key pieces as they reload for the stretch run. Big man Jared Reiner stabalized the paint for Bamberg and has averaged 9.3ppg 8reb since joining the team. NBDL All Star Dwayne Mitchell was also added two games ago and topscored for Bamberg with 15 points in their big win over Bonn last weekend. With the physical inside presence of Reiner and the talented athletic scoring prowess of Mitchell, Bamberg has two more weapons to an already loaded lineup. Big man Darren Fenn leads the team in scoring with 12.3ppg adding 6.2reb and 46% three point shooting. Stretching defenses with his skillful touch, Fenn has been an all star in the Bundesliga for three seasons (one with Bremerhaven and two with Bamberg). Versatile small forward Predrag Suput produces 10.8ppg 5.5reb 2.4ast while hitting 37% from three. A key figure in the Bamberg attack, Suput scores in a variety of ways. Popular German forward Ademola Okulaja adds 9.9ppg 5.7reb with 28% three point accuracy. A German National team forward, Okulaja is knicknamed "The Warrior" for his outstanding style of play. German National team members Steffen Hamann, Robert Garrett and Mithat Demirel strengthen the Bamberg backcourt. Hamann runs the team as an emotional leader and energy player from his point guard position. The hardworking defender has taken his offensive game to another level this season and averages 9.6ppg 2.5reb 4ast with 31% three point shooting. The veteran Garrett is a terrific shooter who burys clutch shots and averages 7.9ppg 3reb 2.1ast with 36% from three. Demirel joined Bamberg midseason and has provided a strong backup guard presence with his experience and effort off the bench. Injured veterans Demond Greene and Chris Ensminger are key parts of the team when healthy while Ivan Pavic, Karsten Tadda and Sajmen Hauer provide depth. Overall, Bamberg is a powerful team and will be determined to defend their Bundesliga championship with another strong post season in 2008.
Ulm's Dru Joyce is back in the starting lineup.
Currently 14-6 and in 4th place in the Bundesliga standings, brose Baskets Bamberg are rounding into form to defend their Bundesliga Championship. Bamberg ripped 6 straight wins to start the season beating Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 57-55 in an exciting opener at JAKO Arena October 7th. Next was an 83-60 road win over digibu Baskets Paderborn October 12th and an 83-59 October 14th home win over Bayer Giants Leverkusen. October 19th Bamberg beat Deutsche Bank Skyliners 88-51 at JAKO Arena and then won in Bonn 70-55 October 21st. October 28th, Bamberg edged Walter Tigers Tubingen 59-54 to reach 6-0. November 3rd in Braunschweig, Bamberg lost their first game 65-64 at the buzzer to NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig. Bamberg bounced back in a big way with a 76-49 home win over EnBW Ludwigsburg November 11th. November 17th, in a rematch of last seasons Championship series, Artland Dragons topped Bamberg 73-69 in a showcase of top teams. At 8-2, Bamberg won back to back games beating LTi Giessen 46ers 80-60 November 25th and December 2nd in Gottingen 73-66. December 8th ALBA Berlin beat Bamberg 80-60 at Nurnberg Arena and the next week Bamberg fell 94-92 at Rheinenergie Dome to the Koln 99ers on December 15th. January 6th Science City Jena upset Bamberg 71-63 in Jena and Bamberg dropped to 10-5. Snapping their 3 game slide, Bamberg edged Trier 73-71 January 13th and followed with a 71-67 road win at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg Febuary 3rd. Febuary 10th Bamberg won 84-60 over digibu Baskets Paderborn at JAKO Arena before dropping a tight 70-68 decision on the road at Wilhelm Dopatka Halle in Leverkusen Febuary 17th. Bamberg rebounded to win their last two games winning 57-54 over Deutsche Bank Skyliners at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt Febuary 24th before beating Telekom Baskets Bonn 79-50 March 2nd.
Along with a strong Bundesliga season, brose Baskets Bamberg represented the Bundesliga in the Euroleague this year. Despite their 2-12 mark, Bamberg's Group C competition was outstanding as they faced home and home matchups with European powers Panathinaikos (Greece), Real Madrid (Spain), AXA FC Barcelona (Spain), Fenerbahce Ulker (Turkey), Partizan Igokea (Serbia), Lottomatica Roma (Italy) and Chorale Roanne (France). The two highlights of the Bamberg Euroleague campaign came in their 78-62 win over Partizan Igokea and their 81-73 victory over Fenerbahce Ulker at JAKO Arena.
Ulm's Sebastian Betz was part of the Bamberg organization last season playing with Breitengussbach in the 2.Bundesliga South while practicing with the brose team.
rookie point guard Dru Joyce takes the reigns of the Ulm attack. Joyce stepped into the starting five before when Kyle Bailey fractured his thumb and provided the team with a strong spark. The Akron native has made excellent strides this season and ratiopharm Ulm has tremendous confidence in their rookie PG. Ulm will once again rely on a variety of secondary ballhandlers including EJ Gallup and power forward Jeff Gibbs. The absence of Bailey also provides opportunity for Sebastian Betz to gain more minutes in the rotation on the wing. Wednesday will be a special game for the 22 year old Ulm wing as Betz played in the Bamberg organization last season with 2.Bundesliga South squad Breitengussbach and practicing with the brose team.
Since starting the season 9-5, ratiopharm Ulm has endured an eight game losing streak and fallen to 9-13. Wednesday night in Bamberg, few would give Ulm a chance to win, but through the recent adversity, ratiopharm Ulm remains together and working hard. Captain Emeka Erege and veteran players are working to provide leadership and the team is staying tough through a challenging time. Over the past month the team has lost several close games. Rallying the team together, ratiopharm Ulm is earning their Bundesliga stripes on and off the floor. Now the goal is to earn their tenth win.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
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Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain demonstrating leadership in tough time!!
Kyle Bailey: has left the team for personal reasons
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's All Star ready to help team as ballhandler!
Bryan Lucas: excellent game coming off bench last weekend
Konrad Wysocki: named to German National team roster this week!!
Dru Joyce: steps into starting lineup replacing Kyle Bailey!
Florian Mobius: key for Ulm depth also adds perimeter touch
EJ Gallup: Ulm sharpshooter ready for first game v Bamberg!
Sean Finn: Ulm big man ready to battle excellent bamberg front line
Sebastian Betz: young wing ready to face former team!!
Jan Sprunken: experience a good presence on team!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Bamberg, Germany
Main Sponsor: brose
Home Court: JAKO Arena
website: www.brosebaskets.de
2006-2007: 24-10 3rd Place
Playoffs: German Champions (1st round beat Bonn 3-2; 2nd Round beat Ludwigsburg 3-1, Finals beat Artland 3-1)
ULEB Cup: 5th place (3-7) in Group A
Offense: After revamping their team midway through last season, Bamberg built themselves into a Bundesliga power which rolled all the way to the Bundesliga title. While Bamberg lost Bundesliga offensive player of the year Casey Jacobsen to the Memphis Grizzlies, Head Coach Dirk Bauermann welcomes impact players in German F Ademola Okulaja, 7'C Luke Schenscher, talented wing Predrag Suput, skilled New Zealander combo guard Mark Dickel and athletic German G Demond Greene. Mix these top new players in with returning PG Steffan Hamann, skilled C Darren Fenn, bruiser Chris Ensminger, rising talent Tim Ohlbrecht and veteran shooter Robert Garrett and most preseason expectations consider Bamberg as a terrific chance to repeat. A structured halfcourt power team, Bamberg is solid and fundamental with excellent perimeter shooting and size with quality in the paint.
Defense: Hardnosed and physical, the trademark of Bamberg championship teams revolves around their team defense. Winning some games ugly, Bamberg simply shuts down opposition with tough man to man defense. PG Steffen Hamann sets the tone with outstanding perimeter defense and the physical presence of Ensminger in the lane makes a major difference. As with last season, expect Bamberg to be among the top defensive teams in the Bundesliga which will help them again challenge for a championship.
Manager: Wolfgang Heyder
Head Coach: Dirk Bauerman
Key Players:
Darren Fenn: outstanding C/Bamberg from Bermerhaven
Steffen Hamann: excellent PG/ competes/ makes plays
Ademola Okulaja: top German F returns to Bundesliga
Demond Greene: athletic G joins Bamberg from ALBA
Predrag Suput: talented three man new to Bamberg
Jared Reiner: strong and skilled post man
Dwayne Mitchell: NBDL all star scoring wing new to team
Mithat Dimeral: experienced veteran PG
Chris Ensminger: physical/big/experienced/depth in post
Tim Olbrecht: top German talent/6'11 and skilled!
Robert Garrett: German National team wing/tough with J
Ivan Pavic: hardworking team player
