TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM VISITS GIESSEN WITH APPETITE!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Giessen 46ers
Sunday Febuary 24, 2008 7pm BBL.TV
Sporthalle Giessen-East Giessen, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to Giessen for a Sunday night game against the 46ers in which both teams have alot to play for. Ulm looks to get back on track with a big win while the 46ers are playing to avoid the race for relegation. The exciting matchups in Sunday nights game will bring the on-court intensity to a boil! Ulm won the first meeting between the two teams back in October, but Giessen has added new players and a new main sponsor since then. With Ulm and Giessen both hungry for a win, Sunday nights game could come down to which team has the bigger appetite!
Ulm's Kyle Bailey has his sights set on a win Sunday night against Giessen! It was KB's key thid-quarter shots that helped Ulm break open the first meeting between the teams in October.
Both teams enter Sundays game looking to snap losing streaks. After opening the season with a 9-5 record, Ulm has dropped 6 straight Bundesliga games falling to 9-11. Wednesday night, Ulm held a 7 point advantage over Deutsche Bank Skyliners heading into the fourth quarter but allowed their lead to slip away in the 82-69 road loss. Now for the second time in five days, Ulm will travel north to the Hessen area of Germany aiming to get back on the winning track. Earlier this season, Ulm beat the 46ers in an offensive shootout at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. EJ Gallup sank six threes on his way to a game high 22 points and Konrad Wysocki added 20 points 8 rebounds along with 11 points and 12 boards from Jeff Gibbs to spark the win. Giessen shot 81% from the floor in the first quarter and scored 34 points as they ran to an early 34-25 lead. But Ulm's 33-21 second quarter responded to the 46ers fast start giving Ulm a 58-55 halftime lead. Ulm broke the game open with a 22-13 third quarter and never looked back. Click here for a link to Ulm v Giessen October 19th, 2007
Ulm's Bryan Lucas is ready for a strong game in Giessen Sunday!
Last season Giessen topped Ulm twice in Bundesliga action but ratiopharm Ulm knocked the 46ers from the German Cup with a win at Giessen's Sporthalle East. To read the Taylorhoops Game Summaries from these matchups, please click the links below:
Ulm @ Giessen April 13th, 2007
Ulm @ Giessen in German Cup Febuary 14th, 2007
Ulm v Giessen December 10th, 2006
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs is hungry for the ball and a win against Giessen!
Giessen has made several roster moves in recent days adding former St Josephs University post man Bill Philips to the front court and most recently veteran point guard Danny Lewis to the backcourt. The personnel moves were made as a result of injuries to athletic post man Corey Rouse and young shooting guard Marco Buljevic along with the loss of Patrick Sparks to Tubingen and the departure of big man Ed Nelson. Philips has ability to step out and drill threes along with scoring from the block. Meanwhile, the 37 year old Lewis, is an experienced left handed playmaker who has played in Israel and for the London Towers.
The 46er attack features an uptempo style and tremendous scoring ability from the perimeter. Rouven Roussler leads the production with 15.7ppg 4.3reb 1.8ast 37% from three and 72% from the foul line. The talented scoring wing is an outstanding one on one player who scores from long range, off the dribble, posting up and in transition. Roussler has made his case for a future spot on the German National team with a terrific season this year. Former UNLV Runnin Rebel Michael Umeh (12.1ppg 2.8reb 1.9ast 41% three) has also made his presence felt in his first Bundesliga season. A microwave capable of heating up from distance in seconds, Umeh drilled 4 threes in his first game against Ulm earlier this season. Certainly, the combination of Roussler and Umeh triggers the explosive Giessen attack. Point guard Obie Trotter has overcome early season injury to add 6.6ppg 2.6reb 1.9ast and 24% from three. A key figure for their success last season, Trotter pushes the ball, pressures the basketball on D and brings good leadership to the team. In the post, veteran four man Gerrit Terdenge (9.6ppg 4reb 37% three) is a lefty with nice shooting touch and a good fadeaway from the block. Athletic post man Seamus Boxley (6.2ppg 3.3reb 15% three) has brought a hardworking presence to the paint and good versatility in the frontcourt. From the bench, the 46ers feature talented young German wing Johannes Lischka (3.9ppg 2.1reb) who has been in top form the last month. Lischka was excellent in the 46ers German Cup loss to Tubingen and has given the team solid minutes as a young player. Veteran post man Florian Hartenstein (1.8ppg 1.5reb 20% free throws) is an outstanding team player who does the dirty work in the paint. Shawan Robinson (3.5ppg 1.1reb 41% threes) is a terrific shooter and adds ability to play both guard spots from the bench. Without Corey Rouse and Marco Buljevic, the impact of Bill Philips and Danny Lewis will be important. Both bring experience and ability to the team.
Entering Sundays game, the 46ers are fighting hard to hold the Bundesliga. A charter member of the Bundesliga over 40 years ago, Giessen has battled through financial issues over the last two seasons and found a way to keep their strong basketball tradition alive. This year, searching for a support off the floor, LTi emerged as the new main sponsor. With the second win from LTi off the floor, Head Coach Thorsten Liebenath and his 46ers are working for wins on the floor. Overall at 4-16, Giessen has gone 4-6 in home games but remain winless on the road at 0-10. After dropping their season opener 88-81 to BG74 Gottingen October 6th, Giessen lost in Berlin 92-54 at ALBA on October 10th. October 14th, Giessen captured their first victory of the season beating Koln 99ers 78-68 at home before dropping the first meeting with ratiopharm Ulm 104-82 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg October 19th. The 46ers bounced back with a 107-98 home win over TBB Trier in OT October 21st before falling 95-72 in Bremerhaven October 28th. Giessen responded with an important 81-72 home win over Jena November 3rd. The next weekend in Oldenburg, Giessen fell in a tight 88-85 game on November 10th. digibu Baskets Paderborn earned a tough 89-80 win over Giessen in Giessen November 17th and brose Baskets Bamberg followed that with an 80-60 win in Giessen November 25th. The 46ers fell 80-77 the next weekend in a December 1st rivalry game against Deutsche Bank Skyliners and saw their losing streak stretch to five games with a 91-71 road loss at Telekom Bonn December 8th. But Giessen bounced back in a big way beating Walter Tigers Tubingen 90-50 December 15th. Just before the Christmas break, the 46ers lost in Braunschweig 78-66 December 22nd. The loss was followed with losses January 5th at home to Leverkusen 87-71, January 11th at home to Ludwigsburg 88-79, January 25th at Artland 80-69, Febuary 2nd in Gottingen 91-75, Febuary 9th home to ALBA Berlin 77-64 and last weekends Febuary 16th 78-67 loss in Koln. Even with Trier at 4-16, every game for the 46ers counts for survivial.
Ulm's Sean Finn looks to continue his strong play Sunday!
Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm looks to put a full 40 minutes together and get back on the winning track. Sunday night provides the next opportunity. The team is focused for a strong defensive performance against the skillful 46er attack and aims for improved execution down the stretch. Staying positive and together, Ulm looks to meet the challenge on Sunday at Giessen.
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki will enjoy a homecoming Sunday night in Giessen!
For Ulm All Star forward Konrad Wysocki, Sunday night is a homecoming. Konrad grew up in the Giessen area and his father is a former Bundesliga player with 46ers. Their family is currently building a new house in the Giessen area and Sunday night will provide Konrad with an opportunity to play in front of family and friends. While family and friends of Konrad will enjoy seeing their hometown hero play live in person, basketball fans all over the world can see the Ulm at Giessen game live online through BBL.TV at www.sportdigital.tv. The coverage begins Sunday night at 6:50pm German time (12:50pm East Coast time).
Ulm focuses on teamwork and togetherness to help them through their tough stretch!
As both teams enter Sunday nights game hungry for a win, the result might rest on which team has the bigger appetite! Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
SPLIT!
ratiopharm Ulm and Giessen have split 4 matchups with 2 wins apiece since Ulm returned to the Bundesliga last season. Ulm won in Sporthalle East last season in the German Cup Sweet 16 advancing to the Elite 8 and took this seasons first meeting at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Giessen won both Bundesliga regular season meetings last year.
BAILEY IS BACK!
ratiopharm Ulm PG Kyle Bailey continues to find his top level of conditioning and game rhythm after missing over one month with a fractured thumb. Kyle's best performance since returning came against the Artland Dragons. It was KB's hot shooting in the third quarter that helped Ulm build a lead in the first game against Giessen in October.
www.bbl.tv
Basketball fans all over the world can watch Sundays Ulm @ Giessen game live online with BBL.TV www.sportdigital.tv.
HOMECOMING FOR KONRAD!
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki watched his father play basketball in Giessen for the Giessen 46ers as he grew up. Now, his father and family will enjoy the chance to see Konrad play at Sporthalle East as an All Star forward for ratiopharm Ulm. Certainly, the Wysocki homecoming is a special night for the family.
LTi
Giessen's new main sponsor LTi has helped the 46ers during a tough time for the organization and strengthened the team. Giessen's long basketball tradition is a terrific aspect of the Bundesliga and basketball fans appreciate the storied 46er past. LTi gets a big assist from the Bundesliga for making the big play in Giessen.
FORMER TEAMMATES!
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and Giessen's injured shooting guard Marco Buljevic played together for 2.Bundesliga South squad Ehingen.
A-10 REMATCH!
When Ulm C Sean Finn matches up with new Giessen C Bill Philips, the two can consult old college game films for a scouting report. The two played against one another when Sean played for University of Dayton and Bill for St Joe's Hawks in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Sunday is the first rematch!
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain an excellent leader during tough stretch
Kyle Bailey: Ulm PG hit big shots in first Giessen game!
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's all star a force in the paint (11pt 12reb v 46ers)!
Bryan Lucas: Ulm post man looking forward to challenge from 46ers
Konrad Wysocki: Homecoming for Konrad on Sunday!
Dru Joyce: will be key in matchups against 46er guards!
Florian Mobius: reliable post sub hit three vs Frankfurt Wed!
EJ Gallup: 6 threes 22pts in first meeting v Giessen!
Sean Finn: excellent on both ends for Ulm over last month
Sebastian Betz: young wing remains ready
Jan Sprunken: dependable wing stabalizes Ulm bench
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Giessen, Germany
Main Sponsor:
Home Court: Sporthalle Giessen East
website: www.giessen46ers.de
2006-2007: 11-23 16th place
Offense: Struggling to start last season, Giessen went through many changes but eventually emerged safe in the Bundesliga keeping their record streak of 41 consecutive seasons in Germany's top league alive. But the changes this offseason in 46er-land could make this significantly better for them in 2007-2008. Young head coach Thorsten Liebenath returns to Giessen after a successful stint with the Scottish Rocks in the British Basketball League. Along with the new coach, several new players will make a mark in Giessen. First, veterans Tory Walker (Braunschweig) and Corey Rouse (Nurnberg) move to the 46ers from within the league and add athleticism and skill. New guards Michael Umah (UNLV) and Shawan Robinson (newcastle eagles) add perimeter shooting and new big man Ed Nelson is a physical force with scoring skill in the paint. Returning players Rouven Roussler (a Giessen fan favorite), Gerrit Terdenge (a talented 4 man with inside-out skills), Marco Buljevic (a talented young shooter) and Flo Hartenstein (a physical team player), provide a strong foundation for the team. Unfortunately, skilled PG Obie Trotter opens the season injured and former Kentucky Wildcat Patrick Sparks has been added to the roster.
Defense: Giessen improved their team athleticism with the addition of Walker and Rouse and features better depth this season. Certainly the new players and new coach bring re-newed enthusiasm to the 46ers who aim to get off to a better start than last season. With Nelson and Rouse to defend inside and Walker upgrading the perimeter, the pieces are in place. Losing Trotter for several weeks early is a challenge and Giessen fans hope the combination of Sparks, Robinson and Umah can compensate until Obie can return. For the 46ers, look for an easier road to Bundesliga year 42.
Head Coach: Thorsten Liebenath
Players:
Shawan Robinson: shooter arrives from Newcastle Eagles
Michael Umah: new PG from UNLV
Rouven Roussler: scoring wing playing 2nd yr with 46ers
Danny Lewis: 37yr old vet pg signed with 46ers Thursday
Bill Philips: veteran C with nice moves and soft touch
Corey Rouse: athletic F moves to Giessen from Nurnberg
Gerrit Terdenge: veteran forward one of 2 returning players
Flo Hartenstein: 46ers tradition/ hardworking team player
Marco Buljevic: talented young shooting guard
Obie Trotter: athletic G could be best defender
Johannes Lischka: talented young German F
Richard Poiger: young player
