TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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FOCUSED IN FRANKFURT!
TEAM EFFORT DRIVES ULM PAST SKYLINERS!
ratiopharm Ulm entered Sunday evening's road game at Ballsporthalle in Frankfurt, Germany focused for their best defensive performance of the season. A determined team effort with excellent bench production drove ratiopharm Ulm to a big 74-69 road win over Deutsche Bank Skyliners live on BBL.TV. Earning their first-ever win in Frankfurt and second win of the season over the Skyliners, underdog Ulm upset Frankfurt to take the head-to-head tie-breaker between the two teams. For ratiopharm Ulm, Sunday's terrific team effort led to a big road win!
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett grabs a rebound between Frankfurt's Adam Emmenecker (7) and Titus Ivory in Sundays action at Ballsporthalle. Triplett was a major part of Ulm's excellent team defensive effort that led to their big 74-69 road win.
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Ulm's Romeo Travis sank 7 of 10 free throws while grabbing 6 boards and giving great effort on D.
Excitement from both teams filled the weeklong buildup. All Star forward Konrad Wysocki anticipated his first home game against his former Ulm team. Fans looked forward to a competitive matchup between 4th (Skyliners) and 6th (Ulm) place teams. The Skyliners were focused to avenge their early season 66-63 loss at Sportszentrum Kuhberg and build on their 7 game Bundesliga home court winning streak while ratiopharm Ulm was determined to win for the first time in Frankfurt.
ratiopharm Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and Frankfurt's Lorenzo Gordon went head to head in the paint Sunday at Ballsporthalle providing fans with an entertaining matchup.
Featuring one of the Bundesliga's deepest and most talented rosters, Deutsche Bank Skyliners were shorthanded at tip off as former Ulm small forward Konrad Wysocki, talented shooting forward Ilian Evtimov and athletic post man Greg Jenkins all were inactive due to illness and injury. Demonstrating their outstanding depth, Frankfurt simply plugged in other excellent players. In fact, at tip off, Skyliners brought last seasons Bundesliga scoring leader Derrick Allen, All Star point guard and team captain Pascal Roller and former Koln All Star shooting guard Titus Ivory from the bench. Despite not having the three important players, Frankfurt simply reloaded with the depth on their roster. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm was happy to be mostly healthy after entering last weeks home game against Dusseldorf with several players under the weather. Most important, Ulm was happy to welcome sharpshooting guard Lee Humphrey back to the starting lineup after missing last weekends home win due to the flu. Only talented rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald was a bit under the weather on the weekend and ratiopharm Ulm was ready for a determined team effort aiming for their best defensive performance of the season.
ratiopharm Ulm's rookie point guard Per Gunther organizes his teams offense from the top of the key as Dan Fitzgerald (right) prepares to screen for a teammate in Sundays game against Deutsche Bank Skyliners.
With both teams on pace for the Bundesliga playoffs, the head to head-tie breaker between the two teams could become an important part of playoff position for later this season. A clear underdog, ratiopharm Ulm understood the challenge. At tip off, Ulm and Frankfurt were both focused for the important game. Action started with Ulm working the ball inside and Frankfurt working with excellent defensive pressure. Both teams fought for control. Skyliners held a 7-6 advantage 5 minutes into the game and the teams went back and forth. Lorenzo Gordon was effective scoring in the paint and Frankfurt capitalized in transition. Ulm's bench boosted the teams effort with Dan Fitzgerald and Keith Triplett playing productive minutes. Dru Joyce picked up his second foul midway through the first quarter and rookie point guard Per Gunther checked into the game to lead the attack. With Ulm trailing 9-8, Dan Fitzgerald drilled a three pointer just before the shot-clock buzzer regaining the lead for Ulm 11-9. Frankfurt called for time. Keith Simmons buried a right wing three against the Ulm zone reclaiming a 12-11 lead for the Skyliners. Minutes later, a Keith Triplett steal and coast-to-coast layin helped Ulm edge ahead. The Skyliners answered with more work from Lorenzo Gordon inside. After a defensive stop, Ulm's Keith Triplett once again made a play driving hard to the basket drawing a foul. Two Triplett free throws evened the scoreboard at 21 with 2 seconds remaining in the quarter.
ratiopharm Ulm's team defensive effort and competitive determination were keys to their important road win over the Skyliners.
Quarter two opened with Frankfurt showing signs to taking control of the game. Pascal Roller sank a three and Keith Simmons was productive for Frankfurt. Ulm hit a dry spell offensively as they worked to find their rhythm. Several good looks simply did not go in and allowed the Skyliners to take the lead. At the halfway point of the quarter, Skyliners held a 29-25 lead but a right corner transition three pointer from Dan Fitzgerald followed by a left wing Fitzgerald triple energized Ulm. Off a rebound and dribble-bust out Romeo Travis threw a perfect thread the needle-pass to a streaking Dru Joyce who finished the fast break with a strong layin. Ulm finished the first half with a 12-2 run and took a 37-31 advantage into the lockerroom.
Ulm met the challenge of Frankfurt ballpressure in the win. Here, Per Gunther protects the basketball from Skyliners guard Jimmy McKinney.
At the half, Ulm felt great about their defensive effort which limited Frankfurt to 42% floor shooting and outrebounded the Skyliners 21-16 allowing 2 offensive boards. Offensively, Ulm established the post well and did an excellent job getting to the foul line where they converted 9 of 10 in the first twenty minutes. A balanced offensive attack was led by Dan Fitzgerald's 14 first half points including his critical 3 three pointers. Sean Finn added 7 points 4 boards in a strong half and Jeff Gibbs chipped in 6 points 3 rebounds. Possibly the most important part of Ulm's quality first half was the terrific minutes from the bench as Dan Fitzgerald, Keith Triplett, Per Gunther and Sebastian Betz were all productive. During the first half, Ulm's solid defensive work was complimented perfectly when the team established the paint with an inside-out mentality. When Ulm's shot selection was perimeter oriented and quick, Frankfurt had the edge. Frankfurt 's Lorenzo Gordon was a force in the paint scoring 14 points with 6 rebounds in the first half. Making a few defensive adjustments and discussing a few offensive points, Ulm was focused for an exciting second half.
Frankfurt's Lorenzo Gordon was effective inside against the Ulm defense which limited the Skyliners to 69 points and 42% shooting.
As the second half started, both teams exchanged defensive stops before Dru Joyce took a ball reversal pass on the right wing and stepped into a deep three. The shot hit the rim, bounced high into the air, settled on the rim and finally dropped in. The suspenseful bucket energized Ulm and extended their lead to 40-31. Ulm's strong start continued as they outscored the Skyliners 8-4 over the first four minutes of the third quarter building a 45-35 lead. Jeff Gibbs and Sean Finn effectively finished plays in the paint during the stretch. Sebastian Betz entered the game and immediately made his mark burying a top of the key three. But the Skyliners charged back with a late third quarter run. Adam Emmenecker, who made 1 of 16 three point shots coming into the game, buried the first of his two triples in the Skyliners surge. Keith Simmons scored 5 straight points pulling Frankfurt within three 55-52 with 37 seconds to play in the third. Attempting to execute a two for one situation, Ulm beat the Skyliner backcourt pressure and point guard Per Gunther weaved through the Frankfurt defense. Cutting in behind Per, deep at the top of the key, Ulm forward Dan Fitzgerald took a perfect penetrate and pitch pass in rhythm and buried a three point bomb once again energizing his team with a big basket from beyond the arc. Ulm took the 58-52 lead and momentum into the fourth.
In the fourth quarter, Frankfurt kept coming. Head coach Murat Didin adjusted his lineup playing a majority of the last ten minutes with a small lineup first with three guards and then with four guards down the stretch. The Skyliners attempted to isolate Ulm defensively using ballscreen plays in the middle of the floor and the hosts worked furiously for Lorenzo Gordon post touches. A 7-0 run pulled Frankfurt within a basket at 61-59, but Ulm responded with a 5-0 stretch which helped them rebuild their cushion to 66-59 with 5 minutes remaining. Romeo Travis cooly sank two free throws pushing Ulm's lead to 63-59 and after a Sean Finn offensive rebound and pass, Lee Humphrey buried a clutch left wing three and Ulm led 66-59. Frankfurt made another run coming back to within four points and Ulm led 68-64. Later, Jeff Gibbs sank two clutch free throws giving Ulm a 70-66 lead and after a Frankfurt turnover, ratiopharm Ulm aimed to seize their opportunity. An Ulm timeout with 1:45 to play organized the attack for a crucial offensive possession and rallied the team to focus for game-winning defensive stops. Ulm and Frankfurt traded defensive stops. With one minute to play, ratiopharm Ulm had another opportunity to seal the game. This time, Ulm delivered. The possession started as Dru Joyce zipped a post feed pass to Jeff Gibbs who drew a double team and made his move baseline away from pressure. Spotting up in the right corner, Lee Humphrey took a post-reaction pass from Gibbs and skillfully sank the biggest shot of the game as he knocked down the clutch contested corner three. Ulm's fans and bench exploded with celebration as Lee's three gave Ulm a 73-66 lead with less than one minute to play. A possession later, Ulm's Dru Joyce drew a foul from Frankfurt and toed the line looking to further ice the game. Both Joyce free throws rimmed out, but time ran out on the Skyliners as Titus Ivory's step through basket in the lane dropped for two just before the final buzzer of Ulm's 74-69 road win. ratiopharm Ulm's determination was the key. Ulm had earned their first Bundesliga win in Frankfurt and swept the season-series with the Skyliners to take the tie-breaker which could be important later this season when considering playoff position.
Sebastian Betz was part of excellent production from the ratiopharm Ulm bench in the big road win over the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Basti buried a key second half three, pulled down 3 boards and gave great effort on defense.
The Ballsporthalle scoreboard displaying ratiopharm Ulm's important 74-69 road win.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald was outstanding in Frankfurt drilling 4 of 8 threes to finish with 14 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals in the win!
Focused for their best defensive performance of the season, Ulm held the Skyliners to 69 points, their second best away-points-against behind the season opening road win in Bamberg 66. Offensively, ratiopharm Ulm shot 44% from the floor including 9 of 24 threes (38%) and 21 of 28 from the foul line (75%) while the Skyliners hit 42% of their shots making 6 of 20 threes (30%) and 11 of 19 from the foul line (58%). Frankfurt outrebounded Ulm 37-33 in the game. Ulm's offensive production was led by All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs with 17 points 6 rebounds and a clutch 9 of 10 from the foul line, Dan Fitzgerald followed with 14 points on 4 of 8 from three and Dru Joyce chipped in 10 points 4 assists in the win. Sean Finn added 9 points 7 rebounds, Romeo Travis sank 7 of 10 free throws while grabbing 6 boards and Lee Humphrey sank two critical threes in the fourth quarter that became two of the biggest baskets of the game. Ulm's bench production was excellent with Per Gunther, Keith Triplett, Sebastian Betz joining Dan Fitzgerald with good games. Lorenzo Gordon paced the Skyliner production with a 23 point 12 rebound double double while Keith Simmons added 14 points 4 boards and Adam Emmenecker totaled 10 points for Frankfurt.
ratiopharm Ulm Head Coach Mike Taylor was so happy after the big road win in Frankfurt, he was cross-eyed!
With the big road win, ratiopharm Ulm vaults over the Deutsche Bank Skyliners into fourth place in the Bundesliga standings. Now 14-7, Ulm looks ahead to their next game Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm when they entertain 'Tabellenfuhrer' Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
