TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM EDGED IN BRAUNSCHWEIG!
ratiopharm Ulm tipped off the 2007-2008 Bundesliga basketball season with a hardfought 75-70 road loss to NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig Germany. Showing strong signs of team play and playing with tremendous effort, ratiopharm Ulm received quality contributions from their entire active roster throughout the game. Unfortunately for Ulm, several unfinished plays in the paint, a Steven Wright shotclock beating deep three and two clutch free throws from Braunschweig's John Allen sealed the tight game down the stretch.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs played with tremendous effort in producing a 16 point 17 rebound double double at Braunschweig Saturday.
Click here for Ulm at Braunschweig Photo Gallery!
Opening the season is always special, but Saturdays game brought on special meaning as former Ulm wing Jonathan Levy suited up for opponent Braunschweig. Before the game, several nice moments occurred as close friends exchanged embraces and positive respect prior to intense competition. None was more meaningful than when close friends Bryan Lucas and Levy hugged --- the two have been teammates in Furstenfeld Austrian, with the Kansas Cagerz of the USBL and last season in Ulm. With respect and focus, both teams prepared for tip off hungry for a first win.
22 year old Ulm guard Sebastian Betz was excellent in his Bundeslgia debut Saturday night in Braunschweig. The sharpshooting rookie sank two threes to spark a first quarter Ulm run and played strong defense to help his team.
Action unfolded fast and with uptempo flair. John Allen drilled a pullup J before Lucas answered with a crafty post move. Teams exchanged baskets in the hot start for both squads. Ulm's Kyle Bailey snuck to the basket from the left wing beating Braunschweig's helpside and Lucas received a bullet high-low pass from Konrad Wysocki to finish a break as Ulm's offense opened a slim lead. Kyle Visser scored well in the paint for the hosts and Domonic Jones sent a beautiful 2 on 1 transition lob floating for a streaking Jonathan Levy --- the two hand hammer dunk was a sight familiar for Ulm players and fans, but this time, Jono wore the wrong uniform. Either way, the exciting play brought the fans into the game and the exciting first quarter continued. As teams stood at a stalemate late in the first quarter, Ulm rookie Sebastian Betz sparked Ulm with back to back three point baskets which helped the guests earn a 29-25 lead after one quarter. As both teams tipped off their seasons at full speed, the high scoring quarter was fantastic for fans but both teams knew the key to victory would be on the defensive end.
Ulm PG Kyle Bailey finishes this layup Saturday in Braunschweig. KB scored 11 points with 4 boards for Ulm.
As quarter two opened, Braunschweig's offense continued to execute with balanced precision. Ulm's team suffered several turnovers resulting from poor passes that allowed the Phantoms to break out into transition opportunities. Braunschweig capitalized and took a 4 point lead before an Ulm timeout. From the Braunschweig bench, birthday boy Anthony Collins showed his soft shooting touch by burying several mid range jumpers to boost the Phantoms O. EJ Gallup sank a corner three ball and Jeff Gibbs finished several post plays but overall, Ulm's second quarter performance was marred by missed layups, unfinished opportunities in the paint and a few costly turnovers. Competing well, Ulm stayed close and found themselves trailing by two 42-40 with less than one minute in the first half. After a pressing defense forced an errant Braunschweig pass, Ulm held the ball with 19 seconds for a 3/4 court sideline inbound. Designing a play for the final shot, Ulm returned to the floor focused to execute. Point guard Dru Joyce initiated the play and passed to a cutting Jeff Gibbs who drove a gap before passing to EJ Gallup. Reading the play, Gallup called for a Gibbs ballscreen and attacked. As EJ delivered a terrific bounce pass to the rolling Gibbs, the Braunschweig defense packed the paint. Gibbs pulled up for an open 5 footer which he banked hard off the glass. The ball rimmed out and a long outlet pass found Braunschweig with a two on one against the clock at the other end. One dribble and one pass later, German guard Flavio Stuckeman sliced to the basket laying in the ball just before the buzzer and sending Braunschweig into the halftime lockerroom with energy and momentum up 44-40. Ulm's lack of late clock execution cost them as they initiated the play a bit too early, failed to convert an easy look in the lane and forgot responsibility for defensive basket coverage. Despite the imperfect execution, although they were outscored 19-11 in the second, ratiopharm Ulm could feel good about their position to be down 4 with much room for improvement.
Ulm shooting guard EJ Gallup splits the Phantoms defense Saturday night at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig. Gallup scored 11 points in a solid game for Ulm.
At the half, Ulm made several defensive adjustments and refocused on details in their offensive execution. Understanding the game would be a 40 minute basketball battle, the team returned to the floor with attention to detail and concentration. But the beginning of the third quarter saw Braunschweig deliver the first blow. Three consecutive Ulm turnovers led to Phantom points and when Kyle Visser slammed home a transition dunk, Ulm called timeout to regroup. From that point, the game changed and Ulm turned the tide. Outscoring Braunschweig 16-9 in the third, the visitors in black and orange opened a tight 56-53 advantage heading into the final quarter. Key to the Ulm run was bench contribution as point guard Dru Joyce, wings Sebastian Betz and Jan Sprunken and big men Florian Mobius and Sean Finn played quality minutes. Several highlights included, a Mobius block in the paint, a Sprunken running bank shot from and inbound play and Sean Finn's offensive rebound put back buzzer beater to energize Ulm. With starters resting on the bench, Ulm was poised for a fantastic fourth quarter finish.
Rookie Ulm PG Dru Joyce was excellent off the bench in Saturday's game against Braunschweig. The Akron product scored 4 points, ran the team effectively and defended extremely well.
On the first possession of the fourth, Anthony Collins spun baseline and finished a strong three point play tying the game at 56. The next three minutes were back and forth and filled with exciting basketball action. Soon, Braunschweig's team surged forward opening a 62-58 lead. During the first few minutes down the stretch, Ulm offense missed several open shots from the perimeter. On the inside Jeff Gibbs, Bryan Lucas and Konrad Wysocki gave tremendous effort but missed several opportunities for big baskets. The next two minutes were split 8-8 and Braunschweig maintained their 4 point lead at 70-66 with just under two minutes remaining. Focused for one defensive stop, Ulm dug in and defended with toughness and intensity. As the shot clock ran down, Jeff Gibbs tipped the ball away from a Braunschweig ballhandler and the ball rolled toward halfcourt. Scooping up the loose ball, rookie Phantom's PG manuevered toward the sideline infront of the Ulm bench as the clock ticked down. Open at 30 feet, Wright hoisted a shotclock beating three that swished in three key points to build a 7 point Braunschweig cushion at 73-66 and near a minute to play. After an Ulm timeout, two Jeff Gibbs baskets cut the lead to 73-70 and forced into fouling, Ulm sent John Allen to the foul line where he sealed the win with two clutch free throws to set the score at 75-70 with 9 seconds to play. As the buzzer sounded on the seasons first game, both teams could take many positives from the evening while finding much room for improvement.
Good friends and former teammates Bryan Lucas and Jonathan Levy embrace in a memorable moment before Saturday's Ulm v Braunschweig game at Volkswagonhalle.
In the game, ratiopharm Ulm shot 38% from the floor (26-69) and only 14% from three (3-21). Positively, Ulm hit 15 of 19 (79%) free throws and outrebounded Braunschweig 49-36. Meanwhile, the Phantoms sank 46% (31-67) and 5 of 23 (22%) from three but only converted 8 of 15 (53%) from the foul line. Braunschweig also tallied a strong 20 team assists. Both teams put four players in double figures as Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 16 points 17 rebounds and Konrad Wysocki added 10 points 15 boards in the loss. Kyle Bailey and EJ Gallup chipped in 11 points apiece for Ulm. Phantoms C Kyle Visser topscored in the game with 17 points and 8 boards while Anthony Collins celebrated his birthday in style scoring 13 points and 6 rebounds Saturday night. Talented wing John Allen scored 11 points, dished out 7 assists and grabbed 7 boards while Andrew Drevo totaled 10 points for the Phantoms.
Head Coach Mike Taylor was extremly proud of Ulm's teamwork and effort in Saturday's loss. In particular, Konrad Wysocki who finished with 10 points 15 rebounds against Braunschweig.
Enjoying a day off Sunday, Ulm returns to the practice floor Monday as they look to make strides in preparation before their challenging and exciting double-GameDay weekend next weekend. Friday, Ulm hosts powerful EnBW Ludwigsburg in their home opener at Sportszentrum Kuhberg before heading north to Quakenbruck for a meeting with the Artland Dragons at Artland Arena. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
