TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Ulm Celebrates Season with Win Over Bonn!
ratiopharm Ulm celebrated the final game of the 2007-2008 Bundesliga season and close of two careers by earning an exciting 93-83 home win over Telekom Baskets Bonn before a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm Saturday night. More than just a game, Saturday night was recognition for unselfish effort, appreciation for committment and a thank you for hardwork. In a tribute to retiring German players Florian Mobius and Jan Sprunken, ratiopharm Ulm played inspired basketball jumping to a 31-19 lead after one quarter and they never looked back. Led by All Stars Jeff Gibbs, who produced a 20 point 10 rebound double double, and Konrad Wysocki, who added 18 points 6 rebounds in the win, ratiopharm Ulm completed their season in style Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Ulm's unselfish team players Jan Sprunken and Florian Mobius went out in style Saturday night with a season-ending 93-83 victory over Telekom Baskets Bonn.
Click here for Photo Gallery from Ulm vs Bonn game!
Entering Saturdays season finale, much interesting news filled the 18 days since Ulm's last game in Tubingen April 23rd. First, ratiopharm announced its return as the teams main sponsor solidifying the future of basketball in the city. Along with the news a new Arena is on its way, the return of ratiopharm as main sponsor is a second significant victory for ratiopharm Ulm basketball off the floor. Next, ratiopharm Ulm announced the addition of top young German point guard Per Gunther who will back up Dru Joyce next season. A highly sought after player, Per was named Newcomer of the Year in Pro A while playing with his hometown Phoenix Hagen this season. Third, key Ulm team players Jan Sprunken and Florian Mobius announced their retirement from ratiopharm Ulm basketball after the Bonn game. Already a close to the 2007-2008 season, Saturdays Bonn game also became the close to two solid Bundesliga basketball careers.
Ulm's Jan Sprunken scored 7 points in 20 minutes of action in his last hurrah.
In a tribute to two fan favorites, both ratiopharm Ulm fan clubs came to Sportszentrum Kuhberg in full force with signs and chants and cheers. The Ulm team also wanted to give back to two players who had given so much during their time with the team. Marking the special occassion, both Jan and Flo were in Ulm's starting five on their special day. Along with the meaningful moment for Flo and Jan, Konrad Wysocki was also facing a bittersweet event. The Ulm All Star small forward likely took the floor with Ulm for the last time as well. Ulm's energizer has attracted tremendous attention from other teams in the Bundesliga and throughout Europe and is likely to sign elsewhere with Ulm unable to match high priced offers. Ulm fans filled Sportszentrum Kuhberg to show their team and these three special players their support. In one final demonstration of their togetherness, Ulm turned the Bonn game into team "HeadBand day" with GM Thomas Stoll even getting into the mix.
Ulm's dependable forward Florian Mobius wore the #14 for the final time in Saturdays win over Telekom Baskets Bonn!
For Bonn, Saturdays game was a tune up for playoffs and the most important thing for Head Coach Michael Koch was keeping his team healthy. Unfortuantely, Bonn was unable to rest their team or take it easy as playoff position was still up for grabs as Bonn, Frankfurt and Oldenburg all entered Saturdays regular season ending action even in the standings. For Ulm, the motivation to win for their teammates was apparent even before tip.
Ulm Energizer Konrad Wysocki hammers home and AND1 Dunk against Telekom Baskets Bonn in Saturdays season finale. The Ulm all star finished with 18 points 6 boards in the win.
As the teams took the floor, Ulm's unusual starting lineup with Sprunken and Mobius caught the fans eye. Meanwhile, the hot-pink Telekom Bonn uniforms also could not be missed. With emotion and intensity for each other, ratiopharm Ulm started strong opening a 12-5 lead. After five strong minutes, Ulm regular starters Jeff Gibbs and EJ Gallup returned to the floor and kept the run going. In particular, Konrad Wysocki sparked Ulm with active cutting, strong finishes and accurate shooting. Ulm's momentum rolled to a 31-19 first quarter. In the fast start, Ulm shot 60% from the floor making 3 of 5 threes and outrebounding Bonn 13-6. Sean Finn and Konrad Wysocki scored 6 points apiece in the opening minutes.
Ulm C Sean Finn powers to the basket as Bonn's John Bowler defends. Finn finished with 13 points 7 rebounds in the win.
ratiopharm Ulm rolled to their early lead with strong defense and efficient offensive execution. As quarter two opened, Ulm aimed to continue their run. Konrad Wysocki curled to the basket and hammered an AND1 thunderdunk to energize the Ulm crowd. Bonn began switching defenses to play more zone. Bryan Lucas buried back to back threes to keep Ulm's roll. Lucas also made an entertaining hustle play poking loose a steal at halfcourt as a Bonn player stepped on his foot giving Bryan a flat and taking the Ulm post man out of his shoe. Racing to the rim with one shoe, Bryan's layup rimmed out as he flipped over the sponsor boards on the endline. Ulm limited the Bonn attack to 19 points for the second consecutive quarter and took a 53-38 lead into half.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs stuffed his stat sheet with a 20 point 10 rebound double double.
At the half, Ulm could feel great about their performance and position. With attention to details defensively and a tweaked zone attack, Ulm's play would be terrific. Meanwhile, Bonn continued to check the out of town scoreboard hoping results would go their way. Ulm shot 55% in the first half compared with Bonn's 46% from the field. With hardwork on the boards, Ulm outrebounded Bonn 20-13. While Ulm made 5 of 12 from three, Bonn managed only 1 of 6 from long distance. Bonn did enjoy an advantage from the foul line making 13 of 19 to Ulm's 8 of 11. The strong team effort on both ends was exactly what Ulm was looking for in their season finale.
Ulm's Romeo Travis was solid from the bench scoring 9 points.
Early in the second half, Ulm built on their lead expanding the advantage to 21 points at 64-43. With an effective halfcourt trap, Bonn fought their way back into the game cutting the margin to 68-53 but Jan Sprunken buried a three with three minutes to play in the third quarter giving Ulm a 71-53 lead.
Ulm's Dru Joyce manuevers past Bonn's JJ Strasser. Dru chipped in a solid 9 points 8 assists for Ulm.
With ten minutes remaining in the game, Ulm also knew there were ten minutes together and ten more minutes in two careers. Holding a 19 point lead, Ulm played the final ten minutes together in a tribute toward their teammates. Entering the bench late in the game, one by one top Ulm players subbed out taking their turn for an ovation from the crowd.
Ulm's EJ Gallup extends to the rim past Bonn's Miah Davis.
At the final buzzer, the sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg stood to support their team. In return, ratiopharm Ulm saluted their fans for all of their support throughout the season. Ulm's 93-83 home win in the last game of the season was the perfect way to close a second successful Bundesliga year and say good-bye to two great teammates.
Ulm's Bryan Lucas goes to the basket without his left shoe after a mid-court steal and hustle play.
Ulm shot 53% from the floor and made 7 of 22 threes (31%) and 16 for 21 from the foul line (76%). Ulm outrebounded Bonn 37-30 in the win. Bonn shot 49% from the floor and made 25 of 38 free throws (65%). Bonn made only 2 of 13 threes (15%). Jeff Gibbs led Ulm's attack with a strong 20 points 10 rebound double double and Konrad Wysocki added 18 points 6 boards in the win. Sean Finn contributed 13 points 7 rebounds and Dru Joyce chipped in 9 points 8 assists. Romeo Travis also added 9 points 3 boards. Bryan Lucas returned from his leg injury for the season finale to add 8 points 7 rebounds to the win. Big man John Bowler led Bonn with 14 points 4 rebounds followed by 11 points 5 rebounds from Moussa Diagne and 10 points from Ronnie Burrell.
Ulm GM Thomas Stoll having fun on team "Head Band Day"
Midcourt immediately after the game, Ulm management set up an autograph table for fans of all ages. But before the signatures, Thomas Stoll spoke with the Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans giving the season an official close. Ulm's Jeff Gibbs was presented with a trophy for his Rebounding title and Konrad Wysocki a trophy for Most Improved Player. Then, Konrad Wysocki was presented with a "GeldKofer" and delivered a message to the Ulm fans. Later Jan Sprunken and Florian Mobius were presented with gifts from the team and spoke with the crowd. Finally, Bonn presented their former player Sprunken with a pink #13 Sprunken jersey. Soon after, centercourt at Sportszentrum Kuhberg became a place for fans and players to celebrate their season together. With the season-ending win, ratiopharm Ulm matched their 2006-2007 record of 16-18 but this season finished ahead of local rivals Walter Tigers Tubingen and EnBW Ludwigsburg in the standings.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs holds his Bundesliga Rebounding King Trophy.
DANKE JAN! DANKE FLO!
Konrad Wysocki thanks Ulm fans as Thomas Stoll displays the GeldKoffer.
While Saturday night was a close to the 2007-2008 season and final chapter in the Bundesliga careers of Jan Sprunken and Florian Mobius, the evening became a special celebration for fans and team. Finishing a second successful season in the Bundesliga, the basketball future in Ulm is bright. With a new arena on the horizon and the return of ratiopharm as main sponsor, Ulm heads into the offseason with energy and momentum to build with. Focused to make the next steps together on and off the floor, Ulm will work for improvement through the summer and return to open preseason training camp August 10th in Ulm.
Thank you for follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
