Undeniable Ulm Will Outlasts Bayreuth!!
ratiopharm Ulm took a giant step toward the 2.Bundesliga South title with a fantastic 105-95 overtime team win over BBC Bayreuth Friday night at Oberfrankenhalle in Bayreuth. To improve to 25-1, Ulm demonstrated determination and team toughness as 4 players fouled out forcing the team to finish the game playing "small ball" with a 4 guard lineup around center Maksym Shtein. Although Shtein was the only big man on the floor for Ulm, it was his perimeter shooting in the clutch that keyed the Ulm win sparking his team with back to back three pointers that opened a 6 point lead for Ulm in OT. In earning one of the most significant victories in Ulm basketball history, Shtein and teammates played with an "undeniable will" finding a way to win overcoming tremendous adversity for this amazing result.
Ulm C Maksym Shtein drilled two HUGE Overtime threes in Ulm's win.
Game 26 Friday March 31, 2006 8pm
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ratiopharm Ulm showed the heart of a champion Friday night in Bayreuth overcoming difficult whistles, foul problems and a talented opponent to earn one of the biggest wins in recent Ulm basketball history. The 105-95 overtime victory improves Ulm to 25-1 and --- combined with 21-4 Jena's loss in Chemnitz --- gives ratiopharm Ulm a 3 game lead with 4 games remaining. A true team win, Ulm received outstanding effort from the entire roster which simply would not be denied the Win.
Konrad Wysocki's amazing effort
helped DRIVE Ulm to a key win!
Before the game both teams dug in for a 40 minute basketball battle. Ulm head coach Mike Taylor was headlined in local newspapers with the quote "We Will Win Bayreuth" while Bayreuth general Marco Amelow rallied his troops around the goal to beat every team in the league once. For Ulm, the mission was clear: a win was a giant step toward the Bundesliga. Two teams with tremendous tradition, Friday's on-court collision held high expectations --- and the evening's action exceeded the hype.
From the tip, both teams aggressively attacked each other with immediate success. Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs registered 6 of his teams first 8 points while Bayreuth answered with Logi Gunnarsson and Brandon Griffin. Early whistles foreshadowed the rest of the evening as officials hit Ulm defenders with quick fouls while allowing more on the Bayreuth D. Maksym Shtein scored off the glass to give Ulm a 10-7 advantage midway through the first quarter. Ulm effectively rotated its bench demonstrating the depth of its team. But soon, back to back Domonic Zimmermann three pointers powered Bayreuth ahead and the home team rode the momentum to a 21-17 lead at the end of the first quarter. In the break, Ulm focused on stemming the tide of the Bayreuth run while not getting caught up in strange whistles from officials. Foul trouble began to mount and Ulm turned to their bench. Forwards Konrad Wysocki and Florian Mobius made immediate impact on the floor defending, rebounding and working in the paint. Meanwhile, perimeter players Jan Sprunken and Christian Grosse helped Ulm overcome 2 early fouls on both Jonathan Levy and Martin Thuesen.
As Ulm worked to weather the storm of whistles that resulted in an Ulm12- Bayreuth 5 foul count with 5 minutes remaining in the first half, Bayreuth exploded to an 8-0 run that opened a commanding 29-17 lead. Trailing by 12, an Ulm timeout cooled the emotions and refocused the team. Needing an answer, Ulm captain Emeka Erege stepped to the plate keying an intense comeback. Erege's attacking offensive play and defensive effort inspired the team while Konrad Wysocki worked effectively around the basket scoring and rebounding with big plays. Ulm finally began to solve the Bayreuth zone as Jonathan Levy, Erege and Christian Grosse buried threes cutting into the lead. Soon, with 3:30 left in the half, an Erege three cut the lead to one at 38-37 for Bayreuth. Taking time to stop the run, Bayreuth hoped to hold on for a halftime lead but Ulm stormed back outscoring the hosts 8-3 to finish the half leading 45-40. At the intermission, Ulm could feel great about their comeback. Weathering the storm and erasing a 12 point deficit, Ulm overcame foul problems to shoot 58% from the floor in the first 20 minutes. Bayreuth held a rebounding advantage (17-13) because of their excellent work on the offensive boards (11 in the first half) and the hosts also were effective pounding the ball into the paint as Brandon Griffin led all scorers with 13 points on 6 of 9 shooting in the first half. Ulm simply shook their heads at the lopsided foul count (Ulm 17 Bayreuth 10), that resulted in 22 Bayreuth free throws to Ulm's mere 10. Fortunately for Ulm, Bayreuth converted only 12 of 22 first half free throws (55%). Taking everything into consideration, ratiopharm Ulm could be pleased with their position at the halfway point. After a motivational halftime, the team returned focused to finish the job and earn the important two points.
Ulm Captain Emeka Erege gave fantastic effort for his team scoring 20 points with 5 rebounds before fouling out.
But like the last road game in Chemnitz, early second half momentum favored the home team. Bayreuth used three point shots from Chaz McCrommon and Johannes Schlamminger to reclaim a 49-46 lead. After Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs was whistled for an offensive foul that sent him to the bench with his fourth, officials threw salt on the wound hitting Ulm Head Coach Mike Taylor with a bench technical. "Blind" to the bench, officials only heard a lound noise from the Ulm bench which was really Gibbs smacking the advertisement board in front of the team. Unsure of where the aggression came from, the referee simply awarded Taylor with the tech. Bayreuth used the events to charge forward. But like every big game, Ulm captain Emeka Erege lead with his heart. When Ulm needed him most, the slashing athletic wing exploded to the basket from a left win drive rising high above helpless Bayreuth defenders for an emphatic power-slam that asserted Ulm like an exclamation point. Also showing heart, forward Konrad Wysocki worked relentlessly on the block on both ends actively finishing plays around the rim and rebounding with endless energy. Late in the 3rd, Jonathan Levy drilled back to back three pointers and an emotional Ulm team roared ahead. Inspired by these performances and ignited by intense team defense, Ulm regained momentum and outscored Bayreuth 25-21 in the third to open a solid 70-61 lead after three.
But like the first three quarters, whistles in the final ten minutes would provide more adversity for Ulm. If fouls had been a problem in the first three quarters, then in the fourth they became a disaster. It started when reserve forward Florian Mobius was hit with his fifth foul with 8:44 remaining. Flo was the first to foul out. Capitalizing on the blow to the Ulm bench, Bayreuth guard Logi Gunnarsson and forward Christoph Tetzner got buckets to pull to within 3 at 74-71. Riding the wave of momentum from their enthusiastic crowd, Bayreuth used baskets from Chaz McCrommon and Tetzner to tie the score at 79-79 with 3 minutes left. The next to foul out was power forward Jeff Gibbs who was forced to the bench with his fifth foul midway through the fourth quarter. Adding more adversity, Ulm absorbed another crushing blow when Captain Emeka Erege fouled out seconds later. As the Ulm small forward stood on the sideline shaking his head, Bayreuth stood poised to take over the game. A Brandon Griffin "And1" gave the home team the lead 82-80 and Ulm searched for an answer. As with most of the evening, forward Konrad Wysocki's effort and energy brought good things to Ulm. Now, a crafty finish around the basket tied the game at 82. Tetzner drove right from the top of the key to put Bayreuth up 84-82 before Maksym Shtein evened the scoreboard with a skillful behind the board finish in the paint. It was Tetzner again going one on one from the top of the key reclaiming the lead for Bayreuth at 86-84 with under one minute to play. Like before, Wysocki evened the score 86-86 with relentless effort. Fans in Oberfrankenhalle stood in excitement as the two teams wrestled for control with seconds to play.
Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs scored 11 points in 16 minutes before fouling out.
With 30 seconds remaining, it was Tetzner's driving finish that gave Bayreuth an 88-86 lead. Needing a basket, Ulm went inside to big man Maksym Shtein who was fouled while working middle. In the act of shooting, Shtein stepped to the line with 15 seconds on the clock trailing by two. Cooly, Shtein sank the first shot pulling Ulm one point closer at 88-87. Unfortunately, the veteran Ulm center's second shot bounced hard off the back of the rim popping straight up into the mix in the paint. As the ball hung in the air, Bayreuth's excellent rebounders Brandon Griffin and Chaz McCrommon eyed the floating rock. But before they could reach the rebound, Ulm guard Jonathan Levy rose above them both for an amazing 5 foot tip in that unbelievably gave Ulm an 89-88 lead with 14 seconds to play!
Stunned, Bayreuth came up the floor looking to score. Scrambling, the hosts ran their "headpat" play which was extremely effective for them down the stretch as it gave Tetzner one on one space from the top of the key. Again going to Tetzner, the athletic 6'5 driver went hard into the paint forcing a collision in the lane. Wysocki's 4th foul was called with 3 seconds to play sending Tetzner to the line down one with two shots. Enjoying a strong game, Tetzner's first shot rattled out increasing the pressure of the second. His second shot was good and tied the score at 89-89 with 3 seconds to go. Out of timeouts, Ulm inbounded the ball to point guard Martin Thuesen who weaved his way full court through Bayreuth defenders only to see his running 12 foot fingerroll from the left baseline go long. The horn sounded.
OVERTIME!
Ulm PG Martin Thuesen penetrated effectively in Overtime as part of Ulm's "small ball" lineup that sealed the win!
As teams huddled during the break, Ulm felt tremendous momentum after surviving regulation. With five minutes extra time, Ulm confidently set their strategy and went to work rallying around the thought "Go Make Plays!" Without Captain Emeka Erege, power forward Jeff Gibbs and key sub Florian Mobius, Ulm started overtime with the lineup of Thuesen, Sprunken, Levy, Wysocki and Shtein. After five years in the 2.Bundesliga South, Ulm center Maksym Shtein stepped up. As Bayreuth big men sagged off to help on dribble penetration, the Ulm big man stepped behind the three point line to an open area on the right wing. As the ball found Shtein, Shtein found the bottom of the net sinking a momentum generating three to give Ulm a 92-89 lead. After another defensive stop Shtein did it again drilling another three this time from the left wing! Making two of the biggest shots of his career, Max singlehandidly gave Ulm command with his clutch shooting. Up 95-86, filled with confidence and energy from Shtein's back to back triples, Ulm set their mind on the win. Bayreuth pulled closer at 95-91 as Konrad Wysocki was called for his fifth foul seconds later while trying to draw a charge. The aggressive Ulm forward was spectacular scoring a game best 25 points on 11-14 shooting but would join Mobius, Gibbs and Erege on the bench for the final moments after fouling out. With 4 key players fouled out, Ulm head coach Mike Taylor turned to guard Christian Grosse and went with a "small ball" lineup for the final 3 minutes of OT. Adjusting the strategy accordingly, Ulm pressed and played zone to overcome their size and matchup problems on defense. More importantly, the Ulm coach turned his team loose spreading the floor with a four out one in motion instructing his team to attack Bayreuth defenders with the dribble. With big defensive plays that included a tremendous defensive rebound from Levy and a high-flying shot block from Levy on Tetzner, Ulm got key stops in overtime. Meanwhile on the offensive end, guards Thuesen, Sprunken and Grosse took turns beating Bayreuth defenders off the dribble and finishing at the rim. Before anyone could blink, Ulm extended their lead to 103-95. Dribbling out the clock, Ulm captured a critical two points toward the league championship by demonstrating the heart of a champion in surviving tremendous team adversity to take their 105-95 overtime victory from Bayreuth.
Ulm's Jonathan Levy scored 14 points with a team best 10 boards!
With several fantastic efforts and a true team achievement, ratiopharm Ulm took a major step toward the title with the win. Konrad Wysocki led Ulm scorers with a tremendous 25 point 8 rebound night before fouling out. Captain Emeka Erege's 20 point 5 rebound effort included fantastic clutch plays when Ulm needed them most before he fouled out. Center Maksym Shtein sank two of the most important shots in Ulm basketball history burying the two overtime threes on his way to 20 points and 8 boards. Jonathan Levy was clutch on both ends of the floor scoring 14 points with a team best 10 rebounds. Power forward Jeff Gibbs was limited to 16 minutes by fouls but scored 11 key points in the game. Point guard Martin Thuesen made key plays in overtime and set the table effectively while Ulm subs Jan Sprunken, Christian Grosse and Florian Mobius made key contributions off the bench throughout the game. As a team Ulm hit 56% of their shots (41-73), 44% from three (7-16) and 62% from the foul line (16-26) compared to Bayreuth's 45% from the floor (29-65), 5-19 from three (26%) and 70% from the line (32-46). The 33-26 foul count granted Bayreuth a 46free throw attempts compared with Ulm's 26 as 4 Ulm players fouled out while none left the floor for the home team. Most important, Ulm players should be recognized for their outstanding teamwork and determination in the win. Truly the team found a way to win and simply "BELIEVED!" Click on the following link for photos on the Ulm team website: http://www.basketball-ulm.de/index.asp?lang=DE&ShowNews=199
The Ulm win combined with Jena's loss in Chemnitz gives Ulm a 3 game lead with 4 games to play and reduces the magic number to 2 games. With an Ulm road win at Lich next Saturday, it becomes possible for Ulm to clinch the league championship at home Easter Saturday against USC Freiburg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com
GO ULM!
MIKE T
