TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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TopSpiel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ULM-Bayreuth Collide in German Cup
Two of the 2.Bundesliga South's top teams meet Wednesday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm as ratiopharm Ulm hosts BBC Bayreuth for a German Cup game showcasing two teams with big dreams --- an excellent environment, passionate players, ouststanding organizations with tremendous traditions and the German Cup's high stakes combine to create a must-see matchup for basketball fans to enjoy. Win and advance or lose and go home, Ulm and Bayreuth collide in a German Cup "TopSpiel" !
Ulm's Maksym Shtein made big baskets and grabbed strong rebounds to power Ulm past Stuttgart. Shtein and his teammates now look forward to playing Bayreuth in the German Cup!
Wednesday October 19th, 2005
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Over the summer months this past off season, few teams in the 2.Bundesliga South helped themselves as much as BBC Bayreuth on and off the floor. First, management in Bayreuth found a brand new big money sponsor for the former Bundesliga organization formerly known as Steiner Bayreuth during the clubs hey-day in the mid-1980's. With the fat pockets, Bayreuth re-tooled their roster with a tremendous mix of new talent to reach new levels and remaining players for consistency. Bayreuth's first order of business was to re-sign Ben Wallace-like power forward Brandon Griffin who demanded a heavy salary increase after his outstanding season last year with Bayreuth attracted attention from several teams in several countries. Writing a hefty check to keep the relentless rebounders services, Bayreuth also anted up to secure the services of Bundesliga-experienced big man Lars Grubler, a 6-10 center who spent 2004-2005 with Bayer Leverkusen. Together, Griffin and Grubler form an imposing post combination that commands respect. Along with the two big men, Bayreuth head coach Marco Amelow added an excellent team leader in point guard Quannas White who starred at the University of Oklahoma during an excellent NCAA career. Finally, Bayreuth waited until late in the preseason to cap off their recruiting additions when they signed skilled scoring guard Logi Gunnarson to a contact in September. The Icelandic native and former ratiopharm Ulm guard has emerged as a productive perimeter threat as he returns to the 2.Bundesliga South after two Bundesliga seasons with Giessen 46ers.
Along with the new additions, Bayreuth brings back several key players from last seasons 3rd place finishing team. Slashing, athletic small forward Christoph Tetzner returns to run the floor, actively cut and post up or rebound for Bayreuth baskets. Sharing small forward duties with Tetzner will be Bayreuth veteran Sebastian Schoch, a hardworking basket-attacking player who gives his all on the floor. On the perimeter, excellent team player Johannes Schlamminger looks to contribute as a strong defender and solid shooter from the combo guard spot off the bench. At the point, team captain and leader Dominic Zimmerman pushed off retirement one more season and returns to inject his heart and effort into the team. Finally, Undersized post man Sebastian Hanel, another Bayreuth veteran also returns to add depth and versatility to the teams front court. In conclusion, Bayreuth features a team that can go ten deep with skill and versatility and their expectations are nothing less than playing atop the league for a championship.
Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm also features a top team after consecutive second place finishes in the 2.Bundesliga South over the last two seasons. Veteran players such as Maksym Shtein, Emeka Erege, Christian Grosse and Florian Mobius, know the Bayreuth team well. New Ulm players Jeff Gibbs, Jonathan Levy, Martin Thuesen and Jan Sprunken are hungry to challenge themselves against a top opponent.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs ripped 20 rebounds against Stuttgart
For basketball fans, this early season German Cup matchup has much intrigue and excitement. For instance, both organizations have high team goals and have built strong rosters. Last season the two teams split, each enjoying victories on their own home floor. On a deeper level, matchups pique the interest of the basketball public: how will American power forwards Jeff Gibbs and Brandon Griffin produce? How will the American guards produce in Germany after meetings in the USBL this summer (Levy with Kansas Cagerz and White with Oklahoma Storm)? Which veteran players from each team will step their game up and make winning plays? Will it be Shtein and Erege or Schoch and Tetzner? How will former Ulm guard Logi Gunnarson play on his return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg after enjoying a strong season in Ulm during 2002-2003? How will homecourt advantage help ratiopharm Ulm a tremendously strong team at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, a place Bayreuth has struggled over the last two seasons? Finally, with both teams off to strong starts in the early season, which team will capture the first battle between two of the leagues 6 top teams.
The German Cup is survive and advance with the winner of Wednesday's game moving on to the next round likely to meet the winner of Jena's visit to Weiden. Last season, ratiopharm Ulm advanced past Heuchelhof before being knocked out of the Cup after an upset loss in Chemnitz. In 2003-2004 ratiopharm Ulm beat Nordlingen and USC Freiburg before losing a close game to Bundesliga Karlsruhe in the 1st Bundesliga Round.
An exciting tournament to be a part of, Ulm fans look to turn out in large numbers and the new fan club seating "MONSTER BLOCK" will be in full effect for this exciting matchup!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
SCOUTING REPORTS
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain has fire in his eyes and hunger in heart
Jonathan Levy: has important matchup defensively in Cup!
Jeff Gibbs: 20reb vs Stuttgart and double-double in EVERY GAME!
Maksym Shtein: BIG baskets/STRONG Reb down stretch v Stuttgart
Martin Theusen: crafty PG looks forward to CUP competition
Christian Grosse: enjoying excellent start to season!
Florian Mobius: strong min v Stuttgart/key post sub for Ulm
Jan Sprunken: 13pts and big plays in win v Stuttgart
Antonis Sivorotka: talented prospect also developing
Benni Gulde: young guard developing daily with hardwork
Quannas White 6'1 former Sooner PG/11ppg 6rpg 4ast
Logi Gunnarson 6'2 quick 1st step/20ppg/active/former Ulmer
Brandon Griffin 6'8 relentless reb/one of best 4men in league
Lars Grubler 6'10 big skilled Bundesliga vet with Leverkusen last yr
Christoph Tetzner 6'4 slashing/skilled/3man/ likely starter
Sebastian Schoch 6'3 hardworking defender/driver/ veteran 2-3
Sebastian Hanel 6'7 athletic/driver/rebounder/excellent off bench
Johannes Schlamminger 6'1 team player/solid defender/ combo G
Dominic Zimmerman 6'1 Captain/team leader/PG/injured
German Cup
2nd Qualification Round (BBL-Pokal 2006)
Tuesday October 18, 2005
(HOME TEAM Listed first)
VfB Gießen vs USC Heidelberg 7:30pm
BG 74 Göttingen vs Mitteldeutscher BC 8pm
Wednesday October 19, 2005
Vegesacker TV vs. BG Magdeburg 7:30pm
VfB Hermsdorf vs. SSV Lok Bernau 7:30pm
BC Hamburg vs. Wolfenbüttel Dukes 7:30pm
Osnabrücker SC vs. Bremen Roosters 7:30pm
SVD 49 Dortmund vs. ART 77/90 Düsseldorf 7:30pm
EBC Rostock Cuxhaven vs. BasCats 7:30pm
NVV Lions Mönchengladbach vs. FC Schalke 04 7:30pm
BSG BW Grevenbroich vs. ETB SW Essen 7:30pm
TV Langen vs. TSG Ehingen 7:30pm
TV Rastatt Rheinau vs. 1. FC Kaiserslautern 7:30pm
TSV Nördlingen vs. USC Mainfranken Basket 7:30pm
ratiopharm Ulm vs. BBC Bayeuth 7pm
TB Weiden vs. erdgas baskets Jena 7:30pm
TSV Tröster Breitengüßbach vs. BV TU Chemnitz 7:30pm
Paderborn Baskets vs. Hertener Löwen 8:00pm
Baskets 98 Völklingen vs. MTV Stuttgart 8:00pm
BC Zwickau vs. TSV Jahn Freising 8:00pm
ASC Theresianum Mainz vs. USC Freiburg 8:15pm
Bye: Brauerei Gotha Rockets (3. Liga)
