TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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67
HARD-EARNED WIN!
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs posted a physical 16 point 17 rebound double double while Keith Triplett, Sebastian Betz and the bench picked up for the absence of a flu-stricken Lee Humphrey in Ulm's hard-earned 76-67 home win over the Dusseldorf Giants Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
Ulm's All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs slams home two of his outstanding 16 point 17 rebound double double in Saturday nights home win over Dusseldorf.
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ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce splits the gap against Dusseldorf in Saturdays win.
Excitement filled ratiopharm Ulm basketball fans early in the week as Ulm management led by Dr Thomas Stoll and Andreas Oettel announced a new 2 year contract extension with ratiopharm to remain as main sponsor. Stabalizing the organizations near-future, the contract contains a two year option and both the team and the world-wide pharmaceutical company hope to usher in Ulm's new Arena together in 2011. Certainly, positive news for the future, the announcement was received with energy and enthusiasm for basketball fans in Ulm and around the Bundesliga.
Ulm's Keith Triplett stepped into the starting lineup and responded with an excellent game.
The great news off the floor also injected positive energy into the Ulm team as they worked hard all week long aiming to bounce back from last weekends road loss in Braunschweig. On the heels of the teams excellent performance in their January 24th home win over brose Baskets Bamberg, Ulm's disappointing defensive effort in Braunschweig resulted in their convincing loss. With hardwork and attention to detail on the defensive end of the floor all week long on the practice floor, ratiopharm Ulm entered Saturday night's home game against the Dusseldorf Giants ready for the challenge.
Ulm's Sean Finn hammers home a dunk in the second half of Saturdays home win over Dusseldorf.
Ulm's packed Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd included several important politicians from the cities of Ulm and Neu Ulm. Unfortunately for ratiopharm Ulm, another spectator for Saturday nights game was sharpshooter Lee Humphrey. Stricken with the flu, the Tennessee native missed his first practice of the season Friday night and was unable to complete pre-game warmups in his attempt to play. Shorthanded without their best perimeter threat, Ulm looked to their team to step up and fill the gap. Lee's perimeter shooting ability was a key to success in Dusseldorf and the Giants offensive attack, small lineups and zone defenses provided a big challenge for the shorthanded Ulm team.
Ulm's rookie PG Per Gunther attacks the Dusseldorf defense.
At tip-off, Ulm penciled in defensive-stopper Keith Triplett into the starting five. But it was the visiting Dusseldorf team who opened with the better start pushing to an immediate 5-0 lead moments into the game. Early, Dru Joyce got Ulm on the scoreboard before Keith Triplett drilled back to back three point shots sparking Ulm to a 9-8 lead. Powered by the excellent inside play of Jeff Gibbs, Ulm made the games first run taking a 19-12 lead. Ulm's bench made an impact on the game as young wing Sebastian Betz and rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald were effective on the floor. Dusseldorf changed defenses from man to man and zone attempting to take advantage of Lee Humphrey's absence. Ulm's frontcourt began to amass foul trouble. Sean Finn finished a three point play in the paint and ratiopharm Ulm took a 22-15 lead into the first quarter break.
Ulm's wing Sebastian Betz gave his team a big boost in Saturdays win. Basti scored 9 points, grabbed 4 boards and played excellent defense for Ulm.
Quarter two featured another ratiopharm Ulm run. The inside game inspired an Ulm surge as Jeff Gibbs, Romeo Travis and Sean Finn got buckets. Ulm's lead grew to 28-17. With momentum, Per Gunther drilled a top of the key three giving Ulm a 31-17 advantage. But with Ulm on the brink of breaking the game open, the fiesty Dusseldorf team responded with a 8-0 run trimming the gap to 31-27. After the three that cut the game to 31-27, Ulm called a timeout. ratiopharm Ulm responded with a 10-4 finish to the first half in building a 41-31 lead.
Saturday's action was intense and physical as both teams competed to win. Ulm's Keith Triplett and Dan Fitzgerald battle Dusseldorf's Brant Bailey for a loose ball under the Ulm basket in the second half.
At the half, Ulm's solid performance resulted in 53% floor shooting including 5 for 12 from three (42%). Ulm limited Dusseldorf to 44% shooting and outrebounded the Giants 21-10 in the first twenty minutes. Reviewing their defensive performance at the half, Ulm reinforced several points to their defensive game plan and reminded themselves how important consistent free throw shooting is to winning. Ulm had hit 4 of 8 attempts at the half.
ratiopharm Ulm's Dru Joyce inexplicably attempted a dunk on a second half breakaway. He missed.
As the third quarter began, ratiopharm Ulm started strong outscoring the Giants 11-6 over the first five minutes. Jeff Gibbs powered his way to points and rebounds in the paint and Dru Joyce sank a top of the key three. After a technical foul called against the Giants, Ulm had fantastic opportunity to stretch their lead with four consecutive free throws plus ball possession. Unfortunately, Ulm came up empthy missing all four foul shots and without a basket on the ensuing play. Holding a 52-37 lead, the game turned strange. After a mid-court steal, Ulm's Dru Joyce dribbled in alone behind the Dusseldorf defense for a breakaway. It was a sure Ulm two. But inexplicably, the Ulm floor general attempted to slam home his first career dunk. He missed. Stunned, his Ulm teammates were slow in transition. In the wacky game that it was, on the other end, with an easy opportunity at the rim, Dusseldorf's TJ Carter missed his dunk attempt. The action was in a frenzy for a few moments. But Ulm seemed to maintain control. Dusseldorf stayed within striking distance and both teams were well aware of what happened in their first meeting --- a tremendous second half Giants comeback before Jeff Gibbs made the game winning basket with 8 seconds to play in Ulm's 72-71 road win. Certainly, the Giants were capable of erasing their deficit and Dusseldorf had a full quarter plus to play. Poor free throw shooting and turnovers prevented Ulm from breaking the game open. Dusseldorf had their chance. But after a defensive stop in the third quarter's final possession, Ulm held a 57-45 lead and sideline inbound situation at 3/4 court with 8.5 seconds to play. Organizing the floor, Ulm's Romeo Travis hit Per Gunther with a pass and the rookie point guard sliced through the Dusseldorf defense drawing opponents to him. Spotting a wide open Dan Fitzgerald on the left wing, Per slipped a perfect penetrate and pitch pass out to the hot-shooting forward. Fitzgerald buried a big three right before the third quarter buzzer giving Ulm a 60-45 lead and plenty of momentum.
Ulm forward Romeo Travis finishes a fast break against Dusseldorf.
With a full quarter to play and plenty of experience making exciting comebacks, Dusseldorf was focused to pull off another come from behind performance against Ulm. The Giants outscored Ulm 13-8 over the first five minutes of the fourth quarter cutting the game to 68-58 with five minutes remaining. Ulm's Per Gunther and Dan Fitzgerald hit big shots keeping the Ulm guest at bay. Led by Matt Lottich, the Giants kept coming. Dusseldorf trimmed the gap to 70-62 with three minutes left. But a key Sebastian Betz right corner three pointer helped preserve the Ulm win. Down the stretch, Ulm's team came through at the foul line. Shooting 11 for 21 from the charity stripe through the first three quarters, Ulm's team combined to hit 8 of 10 in the fourth quarter. The 76-67 home win was a terrific bounce-back performance for ratiopharm Ulm and followed up the positive news from ratiopharm's extension.
Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald finished with 8 points 3 boards in a solid effort that included two important second half three pointers.
In the win, Ulm shot 44% from the floor making 9 of 26 from three (35%). Ulm finished the game 19 for 32 from the foul line (59%) and outrebounded Dusseldorf 38-25. The Giants shot 44% from the floor including 7 of 18 from three (39%) and 10 of 16 from the foul line (63%). Definitely not ratiopharm Ulm's sharpest offensive performance, Saturday nights home win as a hard-earned defensive oriented performance that limited highscoring Dusseldorf to 31 points in the first half and 67 total in the game.
ratiopharm Ulm received excellent minutes from Keith Triplett (8), Sebastian Betz (left), Per Gunther and Dan Fitzgerald in Saturday's home win.
Jeff Gibbs sparked 'MVP' chants from the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd with his outstanding 16 point 17 rebound double double. Dru Joyce chipped in 13 points 3 assists and Sean Finn, Romeo Travis and Sebastian Betz added 9 points apiece to the Ulm attack. Matt Lottich paced Dusseldorf production scoring 14 points while Brendan Winters scored 13 and Pete Campbell 11.
The hard-earned home win ups Ulm's record to 13-7 on the season and maintains the sixth place in the Bundesliga standings. Ulm now looks ahead to an exciting road game Sunday Febuary 15th against Deutsche Bank Skyliners next weekend. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
