Ulm Surprises Bayreuth 97-67 in German Cup!
ratiopharm Ulm used an 18-2 second quarter run to break open a close game in Wedensday nights surprising 97-67 German Cup win over BBC Bayreuth at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Scoring guard Jonathan Levy topscored with 19 points as Ulm put five players in double figures. Forward Florian Mobius came off the bench to play outstanding minutes when foul trouble hit Ulm big men in the first half --- Flo finished the game with a strong 17 points and 4 rebounds on a sharp 8-11 shooting.
The German Cup 2nd Qualification Round win earns ratiopharm Ulm another home game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Wednesday night November 9th against league rival and title favorite Erdgas Baskets Jena who won on the road in Weiden 90-78. In the meantime, Ulm looks to carry over momentum from their strong win Saturday night for a 2.Bundesliga South road game at the Crailsheim Merlins.
(Complete German Cup Scores and link to image gallery below)
Ulm's Florian Mobius played strong in the Cup win
With much anticipation around the game between two top 2.Bundesliga South teams, Ulm and Bayreuth fans witnessed two teams feeling their opponents out in the first few minutes. End to end action and easy baskets characterized the beginning of the game.
Ulm offense failed to capitalize on several easy opportunities early on as Emeka Erege rimmed out two finishes and the teams offensive execution was less than perfect. Bayreuth forwards Sebastian Hanel and Sebastian Schoch drove hard to the rim and finished athletic plays in the paint. Living up to billing, the game was basket for basket. Maksym Shtein picked up an early foul as Hanel sealed inside and scored. Ulm concentration drifted. Immediately, a Mike T timeout addressed the issue. Emeka Erege drilled a three from the right low wing and Ulm adjusted their defensive pressure. Checking into the game, Christian Grosse jogged off the bench into his correct endline inbound play position --- the Ulmer sharpshooter set a screen, received a screen, shuffled out to the right wing, received the inbound pass and sank a three only seconds into game action. Ulm maintained the lead and continued to gradually build momentum. Hardwork and excellent effort on the offensive boards gave Bayreuth second chance points and kept them within striking distance after one quarter with the score 22-18.
Crafty Ulm PG Martin Thuesen penetrates in the Cup win.
Early in quarter two, Bayreuth players caught fire hitting open perimeter shots against the Ulm zone defense. Athletic power forward Brandon Griffin drilled open foul line J's and Christoph Tetzner sank one of his own. On the other end, Florian Mobius made plays in the paint and alertly re-positioned himself off teammates penetration getting open for passes. When Shtein picked up his second foul, Flo entered the game and knocked down two clutch jumpshots as Ulm navigated the Bayreuth defense with the shot clock ticking down. Jeff Gibbs also worked hard for rebounds and post ups in this phase. In an effort to answer, former ratiopharm Ulm star guard Logi Gunnarssson squirted free for an open three --- the Icelander was hot and hit the trey setting the score at 29-23 for Ulm with 6 minutes remaining in the first half. Energized by Logi's three, Bayreuth defense picked up and pressured the ball fullcourt. Ulm's Christian Grosse advanced the ball against extreme physical contact. Right in front of the midcourt official, Bayreuth's Johannes Schlamminger heavy-handidly applied what was deemed clean defensive pressure. Reacting, Grosse shook loose driving middle to beat the extensive extended on ball heat. Full speed down the right lane line into the teeth of the Bayreuth defense, Christian attacked the rim and found a lane to finish. Again, body contact disrupted the play as Bayreuth help defenders rotated to clog the paint. Christian came up empty trying to find two points, but in the process found two key words for the baseline referee. Hit with a "T", Grosse was frustrated with the way whistles were going. Gunnarsson registered the two technical foul shots and Bayreuth hoped they could gain momentum.
Jonathan Levy sparked Ulm in transition
Instead, Jonathan Levy scored 5 straight points off a three ball and driving layin. Ulm defense picked up their performance in the late second quarter. Presses and traps finally got to the Bayreuth players who suffered 11 turnovers in the first half. Jan Sprunken came off the bench to secure three steals in the second quarter that sparked the Ulm running game. Slowly the lead lengthened. Martin Thuesen stroked a smooth three pointer from the top of the key. Jan Sprunken drilled a three of his own. Before the final buzzer sounded to end the half, Ulm broke the game open with their 18-2 run giving them a commanding 18 point halftime lead 49-31.
At the half, Ulm could feel good about several aspects of their performance. First, the team played outstanding defense, particularly in the second quarter. Forcing 11 turnovers and holding Bayreuth to 13-32 (41%) shooting from the floor, Ulm did a fine job of executing their game plan and changing defenses effectively. After a slow start, Ulm's offense picked up using hot three point shooting and converting opportunities created by their defense to spark the game breaking run. As a team Ulm hit 6-11 (55%) three point shots in the first half, but the beauty is that the six threes came form six different Ulm players. Ulm's 59% shooting (20-34 from the floor in the first half), keyed their 27-13 second quarter and helped the team build their lead.
Emeka Erege sticks a pull up J
Much as the game began starting the first half, both teams exchanged easy baskets as they settled into action in the third quarter. In an unusual play, Maksym Shtein ripped down a strong defensive rebound in traffic with several players aggressively attempting to grab the loose ball off the glass. As the Ulm center landed on the floor with a defensive rebound and a wide two foot jumpstop, Bayreuth's relentless rebounding power forward Brandon Griffin continued to poke and pry at the basketball as he pressured the outlet pass near the right block in front of the Ulm bench. Reacting to possession, players for both teams sprinted up court as the natural flow of the basketball. Clearing space for himself, Shtein held the ball securely in his left arm and swiped through hard to get the Bayreuth forward off of him and assert himself. In an instant, the trail official whistled Shtein for an intentional foul calling Max for throwing an elbow. Picking up his fourth foul, Max checked out of the game while Florian Mobius made another appearance. Capitalizing on the call, Bayreuth trimmed into the lead pulling to a 16 point deficit.
Pulling together, Ulm defense created more turnovers and recorded more stops which resulted in rebuilding the lead. Fast break opportunities from Jonathan Levy and powerful plays in the paint from Jeff Gibbs pushed Ulm further ahead. Martin Thuesen finished a reverse layup along the baseline ran the team effectively getting everyone involved. Florian Mobius continued his excellent game and Emeka Erege went about his business. Capping off the third quarter run, Jan Sprunken looped around a midcourt screen, took a reversal pass from Christian Grosse and sent a buzzer beating three straight to the bottom of the net. Sprunken's timely shot gave Ulm a 30 point 70-40 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs powered his way to his fifth straight double-double
With the game in hand, Ulm experimented with several new set plays and defensive tactics in the fourth quarter. Gradually, the bench players were worked in. In an impressive effort, Ulm defense held Bayreuth to lower shooting percentage than the 41% in the first half limiting the guests to 37% second half shooting. During the fourth quarter, Christian Grosse made several beautiful fullcourt dribble moves finishing one with a transition layup for two. The 21-21 fourth quarter was extremely physical as both teams set the table for two upcoming 2.Bundesliga South games later this season December 3rd in Ulm and April 1st in Bayreuth.
For the game Ulm shot 55% from the floor hitting 38 of 69 shots including a hot 10-21 from three (48%). The team took care of the ball well losing only 5 turnovers while distributing 12 assists. Bayreuth, tied for the top rebounding team in the league, outrebounded Ulm 35-29 but lost 19 turnovers and managed only 3 assists in the game.
Jonathan Levy played a well rounded game leading Ulm in scoring with 19 points but also playing excellent defense on Logi Gunnarsson. Florian Mobius enjoyed a strong night off the bench scoring his 17 points but possibly more important to the team was his excellent post defense. Power forward Jeff Gibbs was also in fine form recording his 5th consecutive double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds against Bayreuth. Christian Grosse added 14 points with 3 assists and Emeka Erege quietly contributed 11 points with 5 boards.
Ulm's Maksym Shtein for two!
Sebastian Hanel, a hardworking Bayreuth veteran, topscored for the visitors recording 16 points and 8 rebounds playing effectively in the paint. American power forward Brandon Griffin scored 13 with a team best 9 rebounds and Sebastian Schoch added 12 points 5 rebounds in the loss. Logi Gunnarsson's return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg where he starred for Ulm in 2002-2003 will go in the books as an 11 point 3 rebound, 3 turnover, 3-8 shooting night in 32 minutes.
Ulm looks ahead to a road game in Crailsheim this Saturday night as the team returns to 2.Bundesliga South action. The Merlins were eliminated from Cup competition Wednesday night with a tough 80-73 home loss to TV Lich.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
GERMAN CUP RESULTS
2nd Qualification Round
October 18th, 19th, 2005
Northern Games
Mitteldeutscher Basketball-Club (2.Liga North) 92 BG74 Göttingen (2.Liga N) 78
Bremen Roosters (2.Liga North) 84 OSC-Ballers Osnabrück (3.Liga) 81
Vegesacker TV Bremen (4. Liga) 92 BBC Febro Eagles Magdeburg (3. Liga) 81
Cuxhaven BasCats (2.Liga North) 102 EBC Rostock (4. Liga) 71
Barnim RimRockers (3.Liga) 97 VfB Hermsdorf Berlin (4. Liga) 78
Wolfenbüttel DUKES (2. Liga) 96 BC Hamburg TIGERS (4. Liga) 52
SV Derne 49 Dortmund (3. Liga) 77 ART Düsseldorf MAGICS (2. Liga) 71
FC Schalke 04 (2. Liga) 94 NVV LIONS Mönchengladbach (2. Liga) 60
ETB Schwarz-Weiß Essen(2. Liga) 82 Elephants Grevenbroich (2. Liga) 79
Schröno Paderborn Baskets (2. Liga) 90 Hertener Löwen (2. Liga) 62
Southern Games
USC Heidelberg (2. Liga) 92 VfB 1900 Gießen (3. Liga) 85
TV 1862 Langen (2. Liga) 95 Erdgas Ehingen/Urspringschule (2. Liga) 67
1.FC Kaiserslautern (2. Liga) 87 TV 1919 Rastatt-Rheinau (3. Liga) 58
MTV Stuttgart 1843 (2. Liga) 113 Baskets '98 Völklingen-Warndt (3. Liga) 73
ASC Theresianum Mainz (3. Liga) 98 USC Freiburg (2. Liga) 94
TV 1860 Lich (2. Liga) 80 Crailsheim MERLINS (2. Liga) 73
ratiopharm Ulm (2.Liga) 97 BBC Bayreuth (2.Liga) 67
erdgas Baskets Jena (2.Liga) 90 COOCOON Baskets Weiden (2.Liga) 78
TSV 1861 Nördlingen (2. Liga) 96 USC Mainfranken Baskets (2. Liga) 70
BV TU Chemnitz 99ers (2. Liga) 83 TSV Tröster Breitengüßbach (2. Liga) 73
TSV Jahn Freising (3. Liga) 102 BC Zwickau (4. Liga) 82
BYE: Brauerei Gotha Rockets (3. Liga)
LINK TO IMAGE GALLERY
view image gallery: goto www.nuz.de, click on "Bildergalerie"
then find ratiopharm Ulm v BBC Bayrueth
direct link at http://www4.azol.de/index.php?tpid=4&galerie=1420&p=3
Link to Taylorhoops German Cup photo Gallery
