TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Ulm visits Crailsheim Sportsarena Saturday
Riding high from a convincing German Cup victory over BBC Bayreuth Wednesday night, ratiopharm Ulm boards the team bus and heads just over one hour north to meet the Crailsheim Merlins for an 8:15pm 2.Bundesliga South Saturday night tip-off at Crailsheim Sportsareana.
Ulm has their sights set on a strong performance in Crailsheim Saturday.
Saturday October 22nd, 2005
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Fresh from an impressive German Cup victory over BBC Bayreuth, ratiopharm Ulm boards the team bus for a short hour plus trip north to the small town of Crailsheim Germany where Game Day 5 of 2.Bundesliga South action tips off at 8:15pm against the Merlins.
Returning the majority of their lineup from last season, Merlins head coach Arne Alig enjoys excellent continuity within his team. Key pivot man Lucian Kieser is the teams most productive scorer with a team leading 21ppg and 8 rebounds a night. A faceup post man, Kieser loves to sweep through and swoop into the lane with long strides and leaning finishes against slower big men. Kieser has been a star in the 2.Bundesliga South with both Crailsheim and Lich. Interestingly enough, Lucian is not the only Merlin with ties to Lich. Veteran scoring combo guard Willie Young also starred for Lich several seasons ago --- now in his late 30's, Young has returned to Crailsheim in top physical condition and his team has benefitted. Young is currently averaging 13.8ppg along with 2 ast and 2reb while shooting 40% from behind the three point line. The last former Lich player, Milan Azanjac, remains sidelined with a injury --- though nearly recovered, the big wide body center is not expected to be available for the Game against Ulm Saturday night. The connection between Crailsheim and Lich for both Kieser and Young is simply the head coach, Arne Alig who coached several seasons in Lich before moving to Crailsheim.Unfortunately, for Lich, Kieser and Young, the Merlins came up short in Wednesday nights German Cup action against their former team TV Lich 80-73 in Crailsheim. Clearly improved over last season, the Merlins added three point threat Igor Starcevich and top young point man Sebastian Kling, who spent last 2.Bundesliga South season with Bayern Munich. Starcevic, a sharshooting big wing, is capable of getting hot and carrying his team with three point shooting. To this point, Igor has averaged 12.3ppg 4.5reb and hit 31% of his three point attempts. Interestingly, 38 of Starcevich's 43 fieldgoal attempts to this point in the season. Exactly the opposite, Kling has not hit a single three all season and loves to drive often spinning against a defender's contact. Kling contributes 5ppg 4red and 3 asssits per game. Finally, opponents must not overlook veteran Merlin players like left handed shooter Michael Heck, big physical post man Fabian Spindler and hardworking forward Philipp Wildermuth. Rumours are currently flying around the league that the Merlins will add a Canadian power forward to their roster as an injury replacement for Azanjac prior to Saturday night's tip off against Ulm.
Christian Grosse blows by Quannas White in Ulm's Cup win.
Riding momentum from their mid-week 30 point German Cup win, Ulm shot 55% from the floor and 48% from three point line while forcing 19 turnovers against Bayreuth. Five Ulm players reached double figures and the team played outstanding defense in the win. Mike T and his men look forward to translating their roll into 2.Bundesliga South league play.
Crailsheim Sportsarena features one of the most unique basketball environments in Europe. A sunken floor surrounded by hockey-like sponsor boards, fans are literally on the floor in the front rows. Looking over the team bench, rowdy Merlin fans routinely interrupt timeouts with screams or distracting noises. At halftime and after games, teams and referees must walk up the ailes of stairs to their lockerrooms which are directly on the walkway out of the gym and are easy access for fans to pound on doors while walking to their car. Certainly a special place, Crailsheim uses their homecourt advantage to play extremely physical and rough with opponents.
To this point in the season (after 4 games), ratiopharm Ulm has displayed excellent team chemistry and execution on both ends of the floor. The team has won close games on the road and demonstrated outstanding play at home. Athletic guard Jonathan Levy has shown versatility in being a defensive stopper as well as scoring a team best 20.3ppg. Jeff Gibbs has recorded a double-double in every 2.Bundesliga South game he has played in an Ulm uniform. Maksym Shtein enjoyed a tremendous preseason and continues to anchor the team at the center position. New point guard Martin Thuesen has settled in to run the team effectively and is showing signs he is ready for a breakout game. Christian Grosse has made excellent progress as a point guard while scoring 10 points per game off the bench and hitting 44% from three point land. Experienced wing Jan Sprunken has hit 39% of his threes while adding 8.8ppg and post sub Florian Mobius has played his role expertly with strong defense and rebounding. Ulm's 8 man rotation has clicked with astounding "synergy" this season.
What a ball must feel like when Ulm's Jeff Gibbs grabs it....
Off to an excellent 4-0 start in the 2.Bundesliga South, Ulm looks to bring a strong effort to Crailsheim this Saturday and recent success in the Crailsheim Sportsarena gives the team confidence they can earn another hard-fought road win. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
SCOUTING REPORTS
Emeka Erege: has enjoyed several strong games in Crailsheim last 2yrs
Jonathan Levy: leading scorer and key defensive player in Ulm system
Jeff Gibbs:Double -Double man (has recorded double-double every game)
Maksym Shtein: sidetracked by funny calls and fouls in Cup.
Martin Theusen: strong second half in Cup game/3-4 from floor
Christian Grosse: 14pts 3ast in Cup win off bench
Florian Mobius: 17pts 4reb in Cup win off bench/ plays well in Crailsheim
Jan Sprunken: shows Trent-Tucker like ability to come off bench hitting J's
Antonis Sivorotka: talented prospect also developing
Benni Gulde: young guard developing daily with hardwork
Lucian Kieser 6'8 skilled inside scorer 21ppg 8reb 87%FT
Willie Young 6'2 vet 1-2/ 13.8ppg 2reb 2ast 40%3pt 81%FT
Igor Starcevic 6'8 excellent 3pt shooter/ 38 3ptfga in 43 total shots
Fabian Spindler 6'9 physical, strong, rebounder / banger/12.5ppg
Sebastian Kling 6'2 skilled PG/creator and driver/ good defender
Philipp Wildermuth 6'3 hardworking wing/4.5ppg 27% 3pt
Michael Heck 6'3 lefty veteran/ 2.5ppg 1.3ast 1.3reb
Thomas Simon 6'3 hardworking perimeter/ adds depth
Milan Azanjac 6'8 big man/ played well in Lich last yr/PF/injured
