TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
vs 
FASHION SHOW?
PINK TEAM PLAYS ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm vs Telekom Bonn
Saturday March 31, 2007 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm hosts Telekom Baskets Bonn Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in a "Can't Miss Matchup" --- that is the game will be full of exciting Bundesliga basketball action for fans and the visiting team will be hard to miss in their PINK uniforms. As with ratiopharm, the main sponsor for Ulm whose colors are orange and black, Telekom, the main sponsor of the Bonn team wants official company colors. Although officially called "Magenta", ratiopharm Ulm clearly got the better of Bonn when it comes to "manly" uniform colors. But getting the better of Telekom Bonn on the basketball court is not as easy. A talented, experienced, well-organized team, Bonn has established themselves as an upper echelon squad with potential for a deep post season run. But with six straight home wins at Sportszentrum Kuhberg and finally back even at 13-13 following Wednesdays exciting Overtime win in Braunschweig, ratiopharm Ulm enters Saturday's game aiming to make Sportszentrum Kuhberg more than a fashion show.
ratiopharm Ulm goes for their 7th straight home win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg this weekend when they host powerful Telekom Bonn Saturday night in Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm took a big step forward with their midweek road win over Braunschweig on Wednesday and now must quickly refocus to meet one of the toughest "Road Teams in the Bundesliga. Telekom Bonn has enjoyed a terrific season to this point and demonstrated potential for a memorable postseason this spring. Entering Saturdays game against Ulm at 18-9, Bonn pulled off impressive wins throughout the season away from their Hardtberhalle home and is currently the only team to sweep league leading power ALBA Berlin in Bundeslige play. Clearly, Bonn has been an exciting team in the league and show more flash than just their "Hot Pink" uniforms.
Ralf Jannke
Saturday night will be a basketball battle between Telekom Bonn and ratiopharm Ulm. Here, Ulm C Bryan Lucas grabs a rebound away from Bonn's John Bowler in the teams first meeting November 17th at Bonn.
Floor general Point Guard Jason Gardner has been a fantastic leader this season and produces 15.8ppg 4.3reb and 3.1ast per game while shooting 36% from beyond the arc and 78% from the foul line. Known for his ability to make big plays, Gardner's unselfish point guard play and poised leadership is the main reason for Bonn's consistent play. Teaming with Gardner in the backcourt, three point specialist Jeff Schiffner has been an outstanding addition as well. While, 138 of his 168 total field goal attempts have been from three, Schiffner has fit in perfectly with his teammates and contributed a solid 7.7ppg while drilling 36% from three and 80% from the foul line. Schiffner stretches the floor and provides instant energy with his trifectas. Athletic scoring wing Jason Conley continues to be an underrated player in the Bundesliga. Doing everything well, Conley averages 11.6ppg 5.4reb while shooting 31% from three. Outstanding in transition and terrific one on one, Conley benefits from Gardner's skills and creativity. Power forward John Bowler is a "rookie" Bruiser who brings pride and a power game to the paint. The first year pro from Eastern Michigan averages 10.3ppg 5.6reb and hits 72% from the foul line. Teaming with Bowler in the starting front court, former Penn State Nittany Lion Gyasi Cline-Heard, also adds a big athletic presence to the lane and produces 8.4pt 4.8reb. Key bench players play their rolls perfectly for Head Coach Michael Koch. Ultra-athletic post Patrick Flomo is a talented shotblocker, active rebounder and exciting dunker. Flomo fits in well as another style of play in the post who adds 5.9pt 4.5reb. Veteran Big man Bernd Kruel is a terrific post passer and has a nice shooting touch also available from the bench. Kruel scores 5.4ppg with 4reb for Bonn. Last week, another skilled big man deepened the Bonn bench as Tyray Pearson returned from an achilles injury which had sidelined him since preseason. Bolstering the Bonn frontcourt even more, Pearson played in last week's win over the Frankfurt Skyliners and is a welcomed addition to the team. Talented guards Martynas Mazieka (5.4ppg 2.6reb 30% three) and Artur Kolodziejski (4.1ppg 37% from three) bring energy from the bench and also help Bonn win. Mazieka is an aggressive defender and strong driver as a backup combo guard. Meanwhile, Kolodziejski is a former Ulm player who will likely receive a warm reception upon his return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Artur played for Ulm in 2002-2003 in the 2.Bundesliga South and was a fan favorite before moving on to Bundesliga seasons in Leverkusen and now in Bonn. Also available for Bonn is back up shooting guard Markovic who has seen limited minutes this year. Together, Telekom Bonn is a well coached team with disciplined talent and strong chemistry. The pieces simply fit together well.
Ralf Jannke
Ulm forward Konrad Wysocki and Bonn G Martynas Mazieka are well-known as "energy" players for their respective teams!
Tempo and matchups will be critical in the game. Point guards Austen Rowland and Jason Gardner will matchup head to head in an interesting duel between experience and energy. Ulm wings must limit Schiffner's three point threat and defend the talented one on one ability of Conley. In the paint, ratiopharm Ulm big men will be challenged physically by the versatile and deep Bonn frontcourt. Finally, both teams possess weapons from the bench and which players assert themselves into the game could possibly significantly influence the outcome. In the first meeting between Ulm and Bonn earlier this season at Hardtberghalle in Bonn Friday November 17th, 2006, Bonn broke open a close first quarter game with explosive transition baskets and opened up a 15 point halftime lead. Ulm fought back in the third quarter, but key reserves Kolodziejski and Mazieka sparked a game-breaking run which helped push Bonn to their 87-75 win. Bonn put five players in double figures led by Gardner who tallied 20 points, 6 rebounds on 6 of 9 floor shooting. While Gardner led the way, backup guards Artur Kolodziejski and Martynas Mazeika sparked Bonn's stretch run sinking big baskets as both finished with 13 important points apiece. Jonathan Levy led Ulm's effort with 23 points 4 rebounds while Jeff Gibbs was relentless inside recording a 13 point 11 rebound double double. Ulm found out after the hardfought game, real men can wear pink!
Bonn big man John Bowler is enthusiastic about his "Pink Uniform"
With 8 games remaining, ratiopharm Ulm aims to take each opportunity one step at a time. Emphasizing a "Short Memory" and strong "Focus on the Task at Hand", the young Ulm team heads into Uncharted waters against talented opponents like the "Men of Magenta" from Bonn. For basketball fans in Ulm, Saturday nights exciting events at Sportszentrum Kuhberg will be the next big challenge for their team. ratiopharm Ulm hopes to get the better of Bonn in more than just uniform color. To do that, Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg will have to be more than a fashion show.
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
MEN OF MAGENTA !
Telekom Bonn plays in the color of main sponsor "Telekom" which is pink. Members of Bonn will tell you it is "Magenta", but clearly it can be refered to "Hot Pink".
FINALLY, A FACE OFF!
Friends Jan Sprunken and Artur Kolodziejski go way back. In fact, they traveled the world together this summer trekking to Thailand and France. Both anticipated the first game between Ulm and Bonn back in November as a special night for competitors. Unfortunately, with Jan's fractured face bone injury (which kept him out of action for three months), Sprunken and Artur were unable to "Face off". Kolodziejski is a former Ulm G and is a fan favorite whereever he plays! Finally, these two friends become rivals in a HEATED matchup Saturday March 31st in Ulm!
MY MAN!
Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs and Bonn big man Patrick Flomo both call Columbus Ohio home in the USA and play alot in the summer.
FORMER TEAM!
ratiopharm Ulm captain Emeka Erege once wore "Pink" with pride! Emeka was a part of the Bonn youth teams and played for Bonn development teams before leaving Germany for Long Island Luthern High School in New York and Davidson College in North Carolina. On the other end, Artur Kolodziejski meets his former team for the first time after playing for ratiopharm Ulm in 2002-2003.
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: excited about opponents pink uniforms!
Jonathan Levy: 18pt and big baskets in Braunschweig win!
Jeff Gibbs: ready to battle friend Patrick Flomo!
Austen Rowland: PG has excellent challenge in Gardner
Bryan Lucas: important matchups with Bonn big men
Konrad Wysocki: energy for Ulm off the bench!
Maksym Shtein: key matchups v Bonn bog men
Christian Grosse: talented young shooter
Florian Mobius: reliable post sub/ Ulm's underrated big man!
EJ Gallup: progressing well with integration into the Ulm team!
Ian Young: 1st game with Ulm was earlier this year at Bonn
Jan Sprunken: ready to meet "Men of Magenta"
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Bonn, Germany
Main Sponsor: Telekom
Home Court: Hardtberghalle
website: www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de
2005-2006: 16-14 7th place
(L 1st R playoff 1-3 Bamberg; FIBA CUP
took 4th place (1-5) in Group G)
Offense: Despite an excellent season last year, preseason predictions bode well for Bonn. The addition of top PG Jason Gardner has inspired an unselfish, team attitude on the PINK players leading them to impressive preseason wins. Returning players Jason Conley and Artur Kolodziejski give balance to the perimeter while newly signed big men John Bowler (physical) and Patrick Flomo (ultra-athletic) provide unique weapons inside. Although TyRay Pearson ruptured an achilles, he recently returned to the Bonn lineup to finish the season and strengthen the bench for the playoff run. Big man Gyasie Cline-Heard bolsters the block. Joining Bonn from Berlin, hardnosed Martynas Mazieka adds intensity and toughness to the team.
Defense: Although Bonn plays in PINK uniforms, they are anything but soft. Kolodziejski is a tough defender and Bowler is very physical. Flomo could develop into one of the best shot blockers in the league. The team oriented offense this season should also strengthen the teams commitment to the defensive end. Expect legendary German player Michael Koch to continue his success as Bonn head coach this season with a strong year and good push into the playoffs!
GM:
Head Coach: Michael Koch
Players:
Jason Gardner: team leader and floor general PG
Jason Conley: outstanding scoring wing
Bernd Kruel: veteran big man
Martynas Mazieka: intense/hardnosed G
Artur Kolodziejski: captain/team player/excellent on D
TyRay Pearson: recently returned from injury
Gyasie Cline-Heard: quality to post/ physical and skilled
John Bowler: physical and hardnosed/ underrated/ worker
Patrick Flomo: ultra athletic F/ shotblocker and rebounder
Jeff Schiffner: excellent perimeter shooter
