TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM MEETS MERLINS FRIDAY NIGHT!
Facing a weekend with two road games, without injured shooting guard Kenny Price, ratiopharm Ulm made a major move leading up to Friday nights meeting with the Crailsheim Merlins.
Thursday afternoon in Ulm, manager Thomas Stoll announced the addition of Shaheen Holloway as the newest member of the team. A true New York City point guard, Shaheen has established himself as one of the top playmakers in the European market after strong seasons in the British Basketball League (with London Towers 12pt 7.4ast) and last season in top Division Turkey with Aras ITU Istanbul where he averaged 12 points and 4 assists a night. Earlier this year, Shaheen was the last cut from the New Jersey Nets when the NBA team kept veteran point guard Travis Best. The Seton Hall product was named MVP of the 1996 McDonald's High School All American game, played on the US Junior National team and played for the New York Knicks summer league team in 2000. He was also named Big East Conference All-rookie team in 1997, 3rd team in 1998, 2nd team in 1997 and 1999 and Most Improved Player in 2000. Holloway is expected to bring slashing penetrating and playmaking to Ulm along with excellent point guard defense.
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY
Ulm faces the up and down Merlins who have actually performed better this season on the road. New Head Coach Arne Alig, signed from TV Lich in the offseason, has brought a Lich feel to Crailsheim implementing a similar system while signing several familiar players. Center Lucian Kieser, a hardworking and skilled big man, averages 18ppg and 9reb after following Alig from Lich --- Kieser loves to swoop across the lane or spin in the paint for easy scores. Veteran combo guard Willie Young, an excellent one on one player, also played for Alig in Lich and averages a strong 15.5ppg and 3.4 boards a night. Young shoots a respectable 36% from three and handles point guard duties as well as the shooting guard spot. A third key addition joined the Merlins from Bundesliga Ludwigsburg last season --- Phillip Wildermuth plays very hard, runs the floor, rebounds and adds another solid three point threat. While Alig enjoys the services of these familiar players, two key holdovers, Sova Taletovic and Michael Heck, provide the production. Taletovic, a talented point guard, thrives as a terrific perimter shooter as he leads the team with 21ppg. The veteran Merlin point man gets his shots and is capable of catching fire at any time. Heck, a lanky lefty, has nice shooting touch and is an active cutter and driver. Together, the two make for a strong one-two combination. Crailsheim rounded out their roster by adding two players from the relegated Ansbach Piranahs. Banger Fabian Spindler rebounds hard and defends but adds little on O while active Thomas Simon brings an undersized and active post forward to the team. Merlin manager Martin Romig is rumored to have signed a new Canadian center who will make his debut Friday night against Ulm as well.
Playing in Crailsheim means making sure one is prepared for a wild and enthusiastic environment. Hockey style boards line the out of bounds with fans close to the floor and on top of the action. Fans hang over a ledge right into each huddle and when heading into the lockerroom for halftime, teams must use the stairs up through the stands. The classic gym is a great place to play!
Ulm looks for improved defensive intensity and strong offensive plays Friday night. Co-captain Peter Heizer moves into the starting lineup replacing the injured Kenny Price. The team also looks to integrate Shaheen Holloway into the system. With quality depth, Mike T's team seem able to withstand the recent roster activity. Ulm forwards Florian Mobius and Antoine Sinclair will be relied heavily upon for increased rebound production and post defense. Expect Ulm to play with more three guard lineups, especially when sharpshooting Kenny Price returns.
With two road games in three days, Friday evenings action at Crailsheim kicks off an excellent basketball weekend in Ulm. The team travels to Breitengussbach Sunday.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com !
GO ULM!
MIKE T
4 MICHAEL BREE point was Taylorhoops Player of Game last week
8 KENNY PRICE will not play this weekend as injured ankle heals
10 EMEKA EREGE Ulm forward focused on productive game
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS expected to continnue solid play
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN excellent season includes improved 3pt shot
11 PETER HEIZER back in starting lineup at 2 spot
12MICHAEL NIEBLING big man will bang inside with Merlin posts
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE productive at both guard spots
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR role increases with signing of point guard
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworker helping team daily
18 BENNI GULDE youth prospect had great week of practice
SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY new addition ready to do his thing
5 SOVA TALETOVIC 3pt threat from point/ 21.7ppg / leading scorer
4 WILLIE YOUNG combo guard/ 1on1 scorer/ 15.5ppg 36% from 3
11 MICHAEL HECK 12ppg lefty shooter/ active cutter/ driver
10 PHILLIP WILDERMUTH physical/aggressive/ 3pt threat/ worker
15 LUCIAN KEISER skilled center/ 18pt 9reb a game/ plays hard
13 FABIAN SPINDLER physical big man/ inside banger
14 THOMAS SIMON active undersized 4/ cuts/ runs floor/ hits J
