TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM VISITS PHANTOMS!
ratiopharm Ulm @ New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig
Wednesday March 28, 2007 7pm
Volkswagon Arena Braunschweig, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels north to Braunschweig for a mid-week Wednesday night tipoff to complete Game Day 26 in the German Bundesliga. Both teams are battling for position in the standings as the league heads into the stretch run. For ratiopharm Ulm, who enter the game 12-13 with 9 regular season games remaining, Wednesday nights matchup opens an exciting six game-three week stretch with important games against opponents like New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig also fighting for position. The entire ratiopharm Ulm team embraces the challenge. Earlier this season, Braunschweig beat Ulm 83-80 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Now, entering the home-stretch of the season, Ulm aims to return the favor against the Phantoms.
ratiopharm Ulm enters a key stretch in their schedule with a midweek road game at Braunschweig!
ratiopharm Ulm officially accomplished their main preseason goal of staying in the Bundesliga last weekend and they did it without even playing a game! While ratiopharm Ulm rested over their game-free weekend, many results in other games went their way including a Paderborn 100-66 win at Nurnberg Arena. Since Nurnberg has 5 wins and only 7 games remaining, ratiopharm Ulm mathematically clinched the Bundesliga as a result of their head to head advantage over Nurnberg along with their 12-13 record. Even if Nurnberg would win all 7 of their remaining games, Ulm holds the tie-breakers. Way ahead of schedule, ratiopharm Ulm can relax and play the remainder of the season for accomplishment without pressure.
Ulm extended Konrad Wysocki's contract two seasons earlier this week!
With 9 games remaining in the regular season, ratiopharm Ulm finds themselves in the thick of the race for a playoff spot. Over the next 3 weeks, Ulm plays 6 games including several key head to head matchups. Results over this important stretch in the season could go a long way in determining the standings.
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| Jeff Gibbs looks to battle Braunschweig big man on the block!
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Starting with Wednesday's game in Braunschweig, ratiopharm Ulm has several areas of focus. First, Braunschweig beat Ulm 83-80 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday November 11th. A disappointing performance for the Ulm team, defensive intensity was at a low point in the season and the Phantoms capitalized with a strong team effort. ratiopharm Ulm is focused to improve their defensive performance against Braunschweig. Next, ratiopharm Ulm aims to perform much better than earlier overnight road trips to the north. The young Ulm team continues to make progress playing away from home and the stretch run will be a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate their hardwork. Wednesday night against Braunschweig, ratiopharm Ulm has the opportunity they want in their hands.
Ulm pg Austen Rowland drives baseline against Braunschweig opponents Drazan Tomic and Ashanti Cook as Phantoms Head Coach Emir Mutapcic directs.
Braunschweig is a team built around balance and solid production. Center Milko Bjelica is a terrific talent with ability to score on the block or drill shots from the perimeter. Bjelica has been outstanding the second half of the season and currently leads the Phantoms in scoring at 13.2ppg and 5.8reb. Along side Bjelica, powerful lefty post presence Greg Morgan has been a physical player on both ends of the floor and given his team 7.4ppg and 6reb. Big man Vladimir Tica (9.5ppg 4.7reb) must also be accounted for on the block. Talented wings Tory Walker and Awvee Storey also produce quality numbers for Braunschweig. A Bundesliga All-Star this season, the lanky, lefty wing Walker scores 11.2ppg with 4.2reb on 35% three point shooting. Meanwhile, Storey, who joined Braunschweig 7 games ago after a short stint in the NBDL, has added 10ppg with 3.9reb on 41% from beyond the arc. Crafty two guard Vujadin Subotic has enjoyed several big nights this season and contributes 12.3ppg with 3.5reb for the Phantoms offense. Also key to the backcourt, PG Gregory Davis is an underrated floor general who gives his team 7.3ppg 2.8reb and 2.6ast while shooting 35% from three. Backing up Davis is rookie PG Ashanti Cook who provides 5.8ppg 1.4reb and 2ast off the Braunschweig bench. Together, Davis and Cook are terrific defenders who create many steals and pressure the ball well. Other solid supporting cast members for the Phantoms include veteran sharpshooter Drazan Tomic and former Seattle Supersonics second round draft pick forward Peter Fehse. Tomic is a top three point marksman and smart player and Fehse has not lived up to the billing of a second round draftee. Under the direction of excellent head coach Emir Mutapcic, the Phantoms have been extremely competitive this year after last seasons relegation debacle.
ratiopharm Ulm's Jonathan Levy continues his drive for improvement!
For ratiopharm Ulm, Wednesdays midweek road game opens the key stretch in their schedule as the team concentrates completely on finishing the season strong after last Wednesday's German Cup Elite Eight loss in Ludwigsburg. Although a bit disappointed with the result, the Cup loss was positive because few if any expected Ulm to advance that far at the beginning of the season. Taking the positives from their run and having a short memory, ratiopharm Ulm aims to start their key three week stretch with a victory in Braunschweig.
Earlier in the week, ratiopharm Ulm extended the contract of energizing 6th man Konrad Wysocki for another two seasons as the team continues to build for the future while maximizing the present. Konrad can now settle in as a key building block for the future. Also settling in, new shooting guard EJ Gallup continues to integrate into the team learning the systems and situation. Along with Konrad and EJ, everyone involved with ratiopharm Ulm is excited about the stretch run of the season!
ratiopharm Ulm positively approaches the stretch run!
With the main season goal for the organization already achieved and under their belt, ratiopharm Ulm positively embraces the stretch run of their "rookie" Bundesliga season with energy and enthusiasm. Starting with Wednesdays game in Braunschweig, the next three weeks will be outstanding experience for the young Ulm team. One game at a time, Ulm hopes to continue their climb. And with their mission to hold the Bundesliga safely completed, Ulm can refocus toward higher goals. And for Ulm, it all starts Wednesday with Braunschweig.
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
NBA DRAFT CHOICE
When ratiopharm Ulm faces the Phantoms from Braunschweig this Wednesday, Ulm will be facing an NBA draft pick on the opposing roster. Peter Fehse, a Braunschweig big man, was selected by the Seattle Supersonics with the #49 pick in the second round of the 2002 NBA draft.
6 GAMES IN 3 WEEKS
ratiopharm Ulm enters a key stretch in their schedule as they play 6 games in the next three weeks. Interestingly enough, Ulm plays several key head to head games against opponents battling for playoff position. Ulm has 4 home games and 5 road games remaining.
MOVIE STAR
Braunschweig shooter Drazan Tomic recently starred in the German comedy film "Wo ist Fred?" playing a professional basketball player for ALBA Berlin.
NBDL RENEGADE
New Braunschweig shooting G Awvee Storey joined the Phantoms 7 games ago after his NBDL season was cut short and he was suspended from playing in USA minor leagues. Storey was involved in an altercation with a Dakota Wizards teammate.
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain embracing stretch run challenges!
Jonathan Levy: working for consistency/key offensive force for Ulm
Jeff Gibbs: Great games v Ludwigsburg last week/key in paint for Ulm
Austen Rowland: solid floor game in Cup loss/important matchup with Davis
Bryan Lucas: important matchup with Bjelica in paint
Konrad Wysocki: energy for Ulm off the bench/extended contract 2yrs!
Maksym Shtein: strong offense v Ludwigsburg/ must D and rebound
Christian Grosse: talented young shooter/ developing well
Florian Mobius: reliable post sub/ Ulm's underrated big man!
EJ Gallup: scored first pts with Ulm in Cup loss at Ludwigsburg
Jan Sprunken: broke bone in face in first meeting with Phantoms
Ian Young: G ready to meet Phantoms for first time
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Braunschweig, Germany
Main Sponsor: BS Energy
Home Court: Volkswagenhalle
website: www.BS-ENERGY-Basketball.de
2005-2006: 7-23 16th place Bundesliga
Offense: Like Nurnberg, Braunschweig --- a traditional Bundesliga team ---overcame potential relegation to earn a BBL Lisence for this season. Outstanding head coach Emir Mutapic, who joined Braunschweig from ALBA Berlin, has renovated his roster with interesting recruiting over the summer. Only Peter Fehse (a 2nd round draft pick of the Sonics a few seasons back) and Flavio Stuckeman return. Another skilled big man, Miko Bjelica has been signed. Former Georgetown Hoya PG Ashanti Cook will run the offense and Tory Walker joins Braunschweig from Artland. Drazan Tomic, Kujadin Subotic, Nikita Kartchenkov, Vladimir Tica, Greg Morgan and Greg Davis round out the lineup. Interestingly, Davis and Morgan played in Poland last season, Tica for Belgian Champ Mons while Bjelica was with Moscow Red Star. F Wayne Powell was briefly with the team in the preseason but left in early September.
Defense: Coach Mutapic, a winner and veteran, has brought in his players and will form a strong unit from them. Always a strong defensive coach, Mutapic and Braunschweig can only be better than last seasons last place finish. Look for the new players to bring new life to the team.
GM: Norbert Volling
Head Coach: Emir Mutapic
Players:
Ashanti Cook: former Georgetown Hoya PG a rookie/ 5.8pt 2a
Tory Walker: Bundesliga all star 11.2pt 4.2reb 35% three
Milko Bjelica : 13.2ppg 5.8rpg 28% 3pt as inside-outside scorer
Drazan Tomic: Bjelica teammate w Moscow Red Star
Vujadin Subotic: played in Greece last year/ 12.3ppg 3.5reb
Jorge Schmidt: 1 of 2 returning players
Flavio Stuckemann: returns to Braunschweig
Peter Fehse: 2nd Round drft pick of Sonics in 2002
Vladimir Tica: talented player won Belgian title last yr/ 9.5ppg 4.7reb
Greg Morgan: played in Poland last yr/ 7.4ppg 6.9reb 4.1fouls per game
Greg Davis: played in Poland last yr/PG 7.3ppg 2.8reb 2.6ast
Awvee Storey: joins Phantoms from NBDL/10ppg 3.9reb 41% three
