TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
ULM TOPS VIOLETS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN!
ratiopharm Ulm celebrated 'Saint Nikolaus Tag' with a terrific team effort in an exciting 76-69 holiday home win over a hot BG74 Gottingen Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Lee Humphrey led a balanced Ulm attack with 13 points hitting 4 of 8 threes and Dru Joyce sank 8 of 10 free throws to finish with 12 in the win. As a team, a hot shooting ratiopharm Ulm hit 11 of 22 threes including several clutch baskets in the fourth quarter to wrap up the victory as Christmas Man (Santa Claus) enjoyed the action from the crowd.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald drilled 3 of his 6 threes to finish with 9 points in Saturday's Saint Nikolaus Day victory.
Click here for Ulm v Gottingen Saturday 12-6-08 Box Score
click here for Ulm v Gottingen Photo Gallery!
Christmas Man (Santa Claus) enjoyed Saturday nights game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg as ratiopharm Ulm fans got into the Holiday Spirit!
For most basketball fans, Saturday nights game was special because of the holiday, but for Ulm's Michael Schroeder and Gottingen's Kyle Bailey, the game was special for a different reason. Both Schroeder and Bailey were on opposite sides of the matchup last season and knew their opponents well. Although both players downplayed the unique situation, the different uniforms and familiar faces added intensity to the holiday spirit.
In the Christmas Spirit, ratiopharm Ulm huddles after player introductions in pre-game warmup.
Both teams entered Saturdays game with confidence as they each owned win streaks. ratiopharm Ulm's three game winning streak included last weekends exciting road win over rival Walter Tigers Tubingen which gave the team and fans tremendous enthusiasm and energy. Meanwhile, Gottingen entered Saturday nights game in Ulm as the hottest team in the Bundesliga owning a terrific six game winning streak. The Violets win streak included a Thursday night home victory over Dusseldorf. For head coach John Patrick and his Violets, the short turnaround between games and an illness within the team were extra challenges to deal with. Unfortunately for Gottingen, two key players were not with the team as former Kansas Cagerz and Science City Jena post man Jason Miller was not with the team suffering from the flu and former Ehingen Steeple Ben Jacobsen was also not available due to injury. Ulm was also without a key player as center Sean Finn did not dress due to an ankle injury suffered in Tubingen. As both teams prepared for the game in warmups, Christmas Man was ready for a holiday hoops matchup of two hot teams.
ratiopharm Ulm's Dru Joyce handled the Gottingen pressure defense with skillful point guard play in Saturdays win! Dru sank 8 of 10 free throws including several key foul shots down the stretch to seal the win.
At tip off, Ulm opted to play with a small lineup as defensive-stopper Keith Triplett earned the starting nod in a three guard backcourt alongside Dru Joyce and Lee Humphrey. Romeo Travis slid from the small forward to the power forward spot, a position he earned MAC Player of the Year honors at while playing for University of Akron, and Jeff Gibbs started at center. The undersized All Star powerforward was in the center jump circle as the ball went up for tipoff and Ulm's smaller lineup matched up well with Gottingen's athletic uptempo team. Early action saw both teams miss several easy baskets as players adjusted to the quick pace of play. With every touch, the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd whistled and booed Kyle Bailey. Ulm's bench became a positive factor as wings Sebastian Betz and Emeka Erege entered the game and gave their team energy. When Dan Fitzgerald found Erege under the basket for a reverse layup finish to a fast break, Ulm took an 18-15 lead into the quarter break.
Ulm captain Emeka Erege finishes a reverse layup finishing a first half fast break in Saturday nights home win over Gottingen.
Quarter two opened with the teams working to find their rhythm. Gottingen's pressure defense forced 10 first half Ulm turnovers and the doubleteaming and trapping hurried Ulm's offense. Dan Fitzgerald played an outstanding first half hitting shots, moving the basketball and defending from his forward spot. As the quarter developed, Kyle picked up two fast fouls --- his second and third. Knowing his importance to the Violets teams, Head Coach John Patrick decided to keep Kyle in the lineup. At the five minute mark, hustling for a loose ball rebound, officials whistled the former Ulm guard for his fourth foul in the first half. As the Ulm crowd reacted, Patrick went to the scorers table to discuss the foul situation. Gottingen felt Bailey had three fouls and was awarded a foul from another player. Officials conferred and the game delayed. Officials reviewed the fouls and upheld the calls. Gottingen subbed backup guard John Little in and the game went on.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs glides past Gottingen defender Rocky Trice in Saturdays action.
With momentum and energy from the crowd, ratiopharm Ulm burst to an 11-0 run breaking open the game in the late second quarter. Gottingen worked against the wave of momentum but three pointers from Sebastian Betz and Lee Humphrey energized the crowd. As the first half buzzer sounded, ratiopharm Ulm held a 38-30 halftime lead.
Ulm guard Keith Triplett sizes up Gottingen's Robert Kulawick in Saturday nights game. Triplett finished with 8 points and made several key assists and steals in the game.!
At the half, Ulm shot 52% from the floor and hit 6 of 10 three pointers while outrebounding Gottingen 20-9. Balanced scoring highlighted the Ulm attack as Lee Humphrey and Romeo Travis contributed 6 points along with 5 points from Sebastian Betz and Keith Triplett as all ten players in the Ulm rotation scored in the first half. One unusual aspect of Ulm's first half, the team was 0 for 3 from the foul line. Focusing on strong plays against ballpressure and solid passing, Ulm aimed for consistent conversion on fastbreaks and getting to the foul line better in the second half.
Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey finishes a first half layup in the lane. Lee topscored for Ulm with 13 points on 4 of 8 three point shooting.
While Ulm's small lineup adapted perfectly to the uptempo flow of the game, Ulm aimed to reduce their turnovers in the second half and complete their plays against the trapping and doubling Gottingen defense. The terrific teamwork in the first half had the team on the right track.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Romeo Travis finishes with authority in the first half of Saturday nights game. Romeo played a solid game with 11 points in the win.
As the second half opened, Gottingen showed tremendous determination and worked back. Trimming the deficit to 41-37, Ulm's Keith Triplett buried a big top of the key three to give Ulm a 44-37 lead. Gottingen fought back again pulling within one at 50-49. But this time, ratiopharm Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald had the answer drilling another big three. Ulm led 53-49. Gottingen had the final shot in the third and added another two bringing the score to 53-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Ulm point guard Per Gunther drives past Gottingen defender Marco Grimaldi in transition Saturday night.
On the first possession of the fourth quarter, Dan Fitzgerald made the big play for ratiopharm Ulm again. 'Deep Shot Dan', as he was known at Marquette University in the Big East, sank his second clutch three pushing Ulm's lead to 56-51. Showing no-quit, Gottingen worked back again pulling within 58-56. Again, Ulm's three point shooting was the key. This time, Lee Humphrey capped an outstanding team possession with a big three pointer from the right wing giving Ulm a 61-56 lead. The play began with Dru Joyce feeding the post to All Star Jeff Gibbs. Double-teamed, Gibbs skipped a pass to Fitzgerald who swung the ball to Keith Triplett who immediately slashed to the basket drawing Gottingen defenders to the middle. Triplett skillfully slipped a perfect pass to Lee Humphrey spotting up on the right wing where the former Florida Gator sharpshooter stuck one of the most important shots of the game. The excellent teamwork and ballmovement was important in breaking down the Violets defense and executing against pressure. Gottingen picked up their defensive pressure once again, but an Ulm lineup featuring two point guards (Dru Joyce and Per Gunther) helped the team handle the playmaking necesary for the open court and scrambled game. As Gottingen hustled for their comeback, their effort took a hit as Kyle Bailey picked up his fifth foul and fouled out. Down the stretch, Ulm sealed the game with two important aspects. Keith Triplett stole a baseline pass and sent a touchdown bomb to a streaking Romeo Travis who was sprinting the floor behind the Gotitngen defense. Romeo raced to the basket and slammed home a two hand transition dunk over Violets defender Charles Lee who fouled the athletic Akron native from behind. Whistled as an intentional foul, Romeo stepped to the line and stuck the free throw completing the three point play. Later, as Gottingen played the fouling-game sending Ulm to the line, Dru Joyce sank several key free throws to ice the game. With under one minute to play, Ulm subbed in NBBL players Nemanja Kekic and Cedric von During who each scored their first Bundesliga points. At the final buzzer, Christmas Man and the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd could celebrate the hard-earned 76-69 Holiday win.
Former teammates went head to head Saturday as Ulm's Dru Joyce matched up with Gottingen's Kyle Bailey.
Lee Humphrey led Ulm scoring with 13 points while Dru Joyce added 12 and Romeo Travis finished with 11. The balanced scoring continued with 9 points from Dan Fitzgerald and 8 points apiece from Jeff Gibbs and Keith Triplett. Ulm shot 49% from the floor making 11 of 22 threes while outrebounding Gottingen 37-28. Ulm's Dru Joyce made 8 of 10 free throws but the rest of the Ulm team made only 3 of 12. Gottingen was led by Rocky Trice's 19 points 7 rebounds followed by 14 from John Little and 13 from Charles Lee.
ratiopharm Ulm earned their fourth straight win as they improved to 9-4 on the season. Up next for ratiopharm Ulm is a road trip to nearby Ludwigsburg for a Sunday evening tipoff at Rundesporthalle. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
