TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM FOCUSED ON BAYREUTH
Time off --- possibly the hardest part of dealing with a loss. Last Friday nights loss in Nurnberg did not sit well with ratiopharm Ulm and the team could not wait to do something about it. Getting back to work and getting after it on the practice floor, Ulm got back to basics in preparations for this weeks opponent, 5-2 BBC Bayreuth. Rather than focus on the negatives of last weekend in Nurnberg, Ulm has reviewed their performance, made corrections and now looks for improvement Saturday night in Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Ulm unveils their Orange Uniforms for the first time in regular season play
BBC Bayreuth, unbeaten on the road, crunched MTV Kronberg 94-72 Saturday night in Bayreuth. A team with excellent basketball tradition, Bayreuth (like Ulm) played for years in the Bundesliga, Germany's top level --- since financial problems forced them into the 2.Liga South, Bayreuth has been a consistent winner. Head Coach Marco Amelow did a fine job bolstering his roster this offseason attracting several key players from other teams. Bayreuth's attack revolves around skilled playmaker LyRyan Russell, a ballskilled, fast guard who was one of the league's most productive players last season with the Langen Giraffes. This year, playing more 2 than point, Russell has averaged 13.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 34 minutes per game. Powerful forward Mario Matic, who went for 27 points and 9 boards against Ulm with Kaiserslautern last season, solidified the Bayreuth front court with 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game after the team lost key center Lars Buss to Chemnitz this summer. Conversely, Chemnitz lost talented forward Christoph Tetzner to BBC Bayreuth in the offseason. Tetzner brings multi-dimensional skills, ability to play the three and four spot, along with experience from time with Bundesliga's MiddleDeutcherBC last year. Maybe the hottest Bayreuth player this season, Sebastian Hanel has led the team in scoring with 14 points per game adding 6.7 boards. With Tetzner and Hanel, Bayreuth likes to play an undersized lineup allowing them to run the floor and get good perimeter production from their four men. American forward Brandon Griffin, a physical inside scorer and athletic rebounder, joined Bayreuth from Southeast Missouri State and brings a strong post man from the bench. Griffin leads the team in rebounding at 7.3rpg. Veteran point guard Dominic Zimmerman, a clever, crafty player, also makes a major contribution to the team. Shooting guards Johannes Schlamminger and Bastian Kneuse provide perimeter shooting with Schlamminger being the better defender.
With Ulm focused on their defensive fundamentals including one on one defense, defending ballscreens and transition defense, Mike Taylor hopes for a more team oriented approach. Incidentally, Saturday also marks the first game for ratiopharm Ulm in their home Orange uniforms. Due to road teams wearing red, Ulm was unable to play in their orange uni's until this weekend. Unfortunately, one Ulm player will not be suited up. Forward Antoine Sinclair twisted his knee in practice Wednesday night when he landed on a teammates foot after scoring a layup in transition. Team Doctors examined Sinclair Thursday morning and more will be known soon. One thing we know now is that Sinclair will be unavailable against Bayreuth.
Ulm's depth will help the injury situation, but Head Coach Mike Taylor is looking for more consistency and teamwork from his players. In recent games, Ulm's offense has been very individual and one on one. Working hard this week in practice, Ulm is focused on carrying over these intense practice performances onto the game floor against Bayreuth.
Currently one game behind Nurnberg(7-0) after last weeks loss, Ulm (6-1) could regain a share of first place with a win over Bayreuth and a Nurnberg loss in Heidelberg on Sunday. However, the team can not overlook BBC Bayreuth who are only one game behind Ulm at 5-2. Clearly, anything can happen this season and teams must be mentally ready to play each weekend against everyone.
Be sure to follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long and check out TAYLORHOOPS INTERACTIVE with the new MESSAGE BOARD and CHAT ROOM on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Antoine Sinclair, here stretching pregame with Ulm fitness coach Renee Porada, injured his knee in practice and will be unavailable Saturday against Bayreuth.
4 MICHAEL BREE working hard to find his rhythm/ leading team in assists 4.1/
8 KENNY PRICE 12pts 3.4reb 3.1ast team best 2.0 stls per game for Ulm's three point threat
10 EMEKA EREGE Ulm's key 3man looks to continue strong play/ 56% fg% and amazing 67% from three this year
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS 8pts and 7 rebounds plus great D in loss to Nurnberg/ Flo takes added responsibility with injury to Sinclair
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN Ulm's most consistent player to date/ 12pts 13 reb vs Nurnberg/ working extremely hard in paint
5 NIKI ARINZE skilled scorer (team best 17ppg)/ looks to boost rebound and assist stats in coming games
11 PETER HEIZER excellent defender/ working hard to help team improve on and off the floor
12MICHAEL NIEBLING extra work in morning shootarounds has paid off with excellent practices/ expect Big Mike to be physical and make an impact
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE firery point shooting team best 48% from three/ excellent defense recently/ looking to take passing and playmaking to next level
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR hardworking forward injured his knee in practice Wednesday landing on teammates foot after scoring layup in transition/ unavailable Saturday against Bayreuth
6 DENNIS WOOLFOLK veteran guard making daily positive impact on team
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworking Ulmer inspiring teammates with effort
11 LYRYAN RUSSELL creative, ballquick and fast/ excels in transition/ rebounds well for guard/ 13ppg 4.7rpg 3.8apg/ makes Bayreuth go
4 DOMINIC ZIMMERMANN crafty point/ works on D/ runs team/ floor general/ 4.4ppg/
7 SEBASTIAN SCHOCH attacking wing/ aggressive with dribble/ 3 range/ works on boards/ 12ppg 5.7rpg 3stlpg
5 SEBASTIAN HANEL shown impressive improvement/ leading scorer 14ppg and 6.7rpg/ inside-outside scorer/ runs and rebounds
10 MARIO MATIC physical inside scorer/ 12.6ppg 5.7rpg/ seals well inside/ works on boards/ strong post defender
13 CHRISTOPH TETZNER skilled wing/ playing some undersized 4 man/ runs, posts, rebounds, good 3pt shooter/ led Bayreuth with 22pt v Kronberg
15 BRENDEN GRIFFIN athletic/ physical/ rebounder/ inside scorer/ works on boards/ runs floor/ 11.6ppg and team best 7.3rpg
9 BASTIAN KNEUSE spot up 3pt shooter/ 5.6ppg 31%from three
6 JOHANNES SCHLAMMINGER worker on D/ signed from regionalliga Wieden in offseason.
