TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
@ 
EASTER WEEKEND SHOWDOWN!
RATIOPHARM ULM VISTS GOTTINGEN!
ratiopharm Ulm @ BG74 Gottingen Violets
Saturday April 11th, 2009 7:30pm
Lokhalle Gottingen, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to Gottingen for an exciting showdown against MEG Gottingen Saturday night at Lokhalle. A unique home court with tremendous fan energy, Lokhalle is a former factory building for the German railway and the steel beams and iron add character to the MEG Gottingen Violets home games. This season, Gottingen has enjoyed a tremendous run rising to the top of the Bundesliga standings. A university city with outstanding basketball tradition, the 2008-2009 Violets are on pace for home court advantage in the playoffs currently in third place with an impressive 20-7 record. ratiopharm Ulm look to seal their own spot in the Bundesliga playoffs with a road win at Lokhalle and are focused for the challenge against the Violets who are 13-2 at home.
ratiopharm Ulm All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs drives his team toward the showdown at Lokhalle in this Saturday's challenging road game against MEG Gottingen!
Both ratiopharm Ulm and BG74 Gottingen have enjoyed success in the 2008-2009 Bundesliga season. Entering Saturday night's tip-off, ratiopharm Ulm is ranked 5th and Gottingen 3rd. ratiopharm Ulm brings an 8-7 road record to Saturday's game and most recently earned a thrilling last second road win over Koln March 28th. Gottingen has been strong at home all season long losing their home opener to Trier and claiming victories over all opponents aside from a hardfought home loss to ALBA Berlin. Clearly, with the home court advantage provided by the Lokhalle, ratiopharm Ulm is ready for a hostile home crowd and energized environment Saturday night.
ratiopharm Ulm's Sebastian Betz has been outstanding over the last month including several big games in the last weeks. Basti scored 13 points in last Saturday's home game against Walter Tigers Tubingen!
This season Gottingen has raced to a 7-2 record. While most Bundesliga teams have 11 or 12 games under their belt (ratiopharm Ulm enters Saturdays game 8-4), event conflicts at Lokhalle in Gottingen have forced the Violets to adjust their schedule. But the problems have not stopped Gottingen's early season success. After dropping their season opener 72-69 at home to Trier September 21st, Gottingen bounced back with a week two home win over brose Baskets Bamberg Sunday September 28th 71-69 at Lokhalle. Gottingen lost their next game 56-49 October 4th at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig and have since reeled off 6 straight wins. The win streak started with a 83-72 home win over Artland October 7th and was followed with two consecutive road wins beating Frankfurt 64-61 October 18th and Giessen 92-86 November 8th. The Violets then earned an impressive 70-65 home win over Telekom Baskets Bonn November 16th at Lokhalle before holding off a 4th quarter Koln comeback last week to take an exciting 77-76 road win over the 99ers at Rheinenergie Dome November 22nd in Koln. Finally, Gottingen hosted Dusseldorf Thursday night December 4th in a game shown live on BBL.TV from Lokhalle and earned a convincing 88-74 victory.
ratiopharm Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald grabs a rebound in last Saturday's Baden Wurtemburg Derby game against Walter Tigers Tubingen.
Earlier this seaon, 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 December 6th, 2008 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. 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.
Click here for December 6, 2008 Ulm v Gottingen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm shaprshooter Lee Humphrey finishes against Gottingen's John Little earlier this season at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
After the December 6th road loss in Ulm, Gottingen won their next six games improving their record to 16-3. Taking over the top spot in the Bundesliga standings for several weeks, the Violets were the surprise team in the Bundesliga and Head coach John Patrick and the team were on a roll. After a hardfought road loss in Bamberg on Febuary 1st, Gottingen won their next 4 straight games. But after a 74-66 home loss to ALBA Berlin March 7th at Lokhalle, Gottingen fell on the road in Artland 71-66 March 14th at Artland Arena. The Violets picked up a 93-71 home win over LTi Giessen March 25th but lost 82-68 in Bonn March 28th. Gottingen bounced back with an 80-55 home win over Koln April 1st and last weekend, the Violets cruised to a convincing 89-73 road win in Bremerhaven. At 20-7, Gottingen is poised to make their first playoff appearance and are on track to earn a seed giving them home court advantage.
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce missed last weeks game against Walter Tigers Tubingen due to an ankle injury, but returned to practice mid-week and is expected to play Saturday at Lokhalle in Gottingen.
Last year, Ulm and Gottingen split two games with each team picking up a road win in the opponents building. In the seasons first meeting on December 13th, 2007, ratiopharm Ulm used a strong second half surge to earn a 91-82 road win at Lokhalle. All Star forward Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 21 points 17 rebounds, Bryan Lucas added 15 points 4 rebounds and Konrad Wysocki went for 13 points 10 boards in leading Ulm's attack to the win. Gottingen's full court pressure helped them take the lead in the second quarter, but a strong late first half Ulm run pulled them even at 46 at the half. Ulm's 25-16 third quarter keyed the win.
Click for Ulm @ Gottingen December 13th, 2007 Game Summary
Click here for Photo Gallery of Ulm @ Gottingen
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis pushes the basketball against MEG Gottingen earlier this season at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
Later in the 2007-2008 season, Gottingen earned their road win in Ulm on Saturday March 1st, 2008. ratiopharm Ulm started fast with an 11-2 explosion sparked by 3 EJ Gallup three pointers in the opening minutes, but it was BG74 Gottingen who finished strong at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Ulm's attack sputtered to 9 for 38 second half shooting and the Violets hit big shots (4 of 7 from three in the fourth quarter) to earn a hardfought 89-79 win over ratiopharm Ulm who finished shooting a season low 35% from the floor spoiling an intense team defensive effort with their inaccuarcy.
Click for complete Ulm v Gottingen March 1, 2008 Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther stepped into the starting lineup last weekend in the Baden Wurtemburg Derby against Walter Tigers Tubingen. The talented young playmaker is among top candidates for German rookie of the year.
On the court, Gottingen features a talented and athletic team which thrives playing aggressive basketball. Former ratiopharm Ulm point guard Kyle Bailey was enjoying an all star season with the Violets, but will be out of the lineup with a foot injury and miss the rematch against his former team. Kyle has produced a terrific 14.2ppg along with 3.3 assists as the quarterback of the Gottingen team. A big loss to the Violets attack, Kyle will miss the remainder of the regular season. In recent games, Ben Jacobsen has emerged as an excellent player for the Gottingen attack. The former Northern Iowa guard is producing 9ppg with 2.7reb but his numbers will go up in the primary role as his team needs him to help fill in for Bailey. Possibly the most exciting player in the Bundesliga, talented Gottingen guard Rocky Trice (12.4ppg 5.7reb) plays high above the rim and excels in transition. Without go-to guy Kyle Bailey in the lineup, the Violets will rely on Rocky Trice and Ben Jacobsen to handle the ball and make plays. Athletic scoring forwards Charles Lee (13.2ppg 4.2reb 2ast), Chris Oliver (8.3ppg 4.8reb)and Clif Brown (11.3ppg 5.4reb) are difficult matchups, add outstanding athleticism and are productive one on one scorers. All three talented forwards work hard defensively and are extremely active on the offensive boards. Hardworking team players John Little, Jason Boone, Marco Grimaldi, Robert Kulawick and Robert Dill round out the roster. Little, a former Northern Iowa coaching staff member, has emerged as an intelligent team player for the Violets and enjoyed an excellent game against ratiopharm Ulm earlier this season in Ulm. Boone is an athletic and physical forward who has worked hard to get into top physical condition. Kulawick is a quality young German wing with ability to hit perimeter shots. Grimaldi is a harworking team player who defends fullcourt and pushes the basketball well. Finally, Robert Dill adds depth to the front line and works hard on the boards. Head Coach John Patrick has done an outstanding job with the Violets this season and their exciting, uptempo, aggressive defensive style has led them to excellent play and success throughout the year.
ratiopharm Ulm physio Andi Lacher has been outstanding keeping players healthy and on the floor throughout the year.
ratiopharm Ulm prepares for Saturday's challenging road game in Gottingen with several minor bumps and bruises to their roster. Point guard Dru Joyce missed last weekends Baden Wurtemburg Derby against rival Walter Tigers Tubingen due to an ankle injury. Thanks to excellent work in rehab by the Ulm medical staff, the Ulm floor General Joyce returned to the practice court Wednesday and is expected to be in the lineup against Gottingen. Along with Dru, Ulm defensive stopper Keith Triplett is working through a foot injury that has prevented him from practicing throughout the week. Triplett will give his best effort to play Saturday night at Lokhalle. Dealing with these minor injuries, ratiopharm Ulm is happy to have center Sean Finn ready for the game against Gottingen after the starting five man missed the December 6th game against the Violets at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. As a team, ratiopharm Ulm has done a terrific job of covering for injured teammates throughout the season. Last weekend, young German players Per Gunther and Sebastian Betz enjoyed strong games against Tubingen and played a Bundesliga season best 53 minutes as U24 players. Playing against the fullcourt defensive pressure and uptempo attack, Ulm will rely on their complete roster and likely go deep into the bench Saturday night at Lokhalle.
Ulm's Michael Schroeder is excited to meet his former team!
Saturday's game is a special one for ratiopharm Ulm big man Michael Schroeder. A key member of the Gottingen 2.Bundesliga North championship team in 2006-2007, Michael played his first Bundesliga season with Gottingen before moving South to Ulm this year. Certainly, Schroeder's first game in Gottingen with the guest team is a memorable moment for the German big man.
For both Ulm and Gottingen, two cities with excellent basketball tradition, the 2008-2009 Bundesliga season has been successful. Over the past few seasons, both organizations have worked very hard to establish themselves in Germany's top league after success in the 2.Bundesliga level. Saturday night at Lokhalle in Goettingen, these two teams with post-season hopes meet head to head with playoff implications.
HAPPY EASTER!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
OPPONENTS AND TEAMMATES
Current ratiopharm Ulm big man Michael Schroeder played with Gottingen over the last two seasons and helped the Violets win the 2006-2007 2.Bundesliga North Championship. Teammates with Schroeder, current Gottingen players Kyle Bailey, Robert Dill and Marco Grimaldi remain on the Violets roster. Of course, Ulm fans remember, Kyle Bailey who started last season as the starting point guard with ratiopharm Ulm before having his season cut short by a fractured thumb.
SEC
Current ratiopharm Ulm shooting guard Lee Humphrey and BG74 Gottingen wing Rocky Trice have faced each other before. Both players competed collegiately in the Southeastern Conference with Humphrey drilling threes for the Florida Gators and Trice making highlights for South Carolina.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain remains ready to help team
Romeo Travis: ready for challenging road game at Lokhalle
Jeff Gibbs: All Star power forward faces athletic Violet front line
Keith Triplett : injured foot kept him from practice
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter focused for Saturday's game
Dru Joyce: Ulm floor general missed last week but expected to play
Per Gunther: rookie star establishing himself in Bundesliga!
Dan Fitzgerald: perimeter skilled F a key to Ulm success
Sean Finn: Ulm big man missed game v Gottingen back in December
Sebastian Betz: enjoying great games over the last month!
Michael Schroeder: former Gottingen post man excited for Saturday!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Goettingen, Germany
Main Sponsor:
Home Court: Lokhalle
website: www.bg74.de
2007-2008: 13-21 13th place Bundesliga
Offense Gottingen features several ballskilled players with the ability to attack the basket and break down the defense with the drive. Attacking in transition and pushing the basketball at an uptempo pace, the Violets like to use smaller and athletic lineups to create mis-matches and emphasize one on one driving opportunities for each position. With the return of Kyle Bailey, Gottingen has a scoring point guard who likes ballscreens. One interesting part of the attacking Gottingen offense is the teams excellent work on the offensive boards.
Defense: Basing their game plan on ballpressure and teamwork, Gottingen excels at their fullcourt pressing and trapping defense. The Violets have outstanding athleticism and play passing lanes extremely well. Gottingen will randomly run and jump, trap out of control ballhandlers against pressure and double team the post. The teams excellent individual defenders and athletic wings give opponents problems. One benefit from their defense is the easy baskets it produces for their offense. Gottingen's aggressive team defense is a key to their early season success.
GM:
Head Coach: John Patrick
Players:
Kyle Bailey: injured and out for game against former team.
Rockey Trice: athletic wing one of most exciting players in league
Clif Brown: impact go-to post player
Charles Lee: versatile wing enjoying outstanding season
Chris Oliver: athletic forward gives Gottingen talent in frontcourt
Ben Jacobsen: smart/skilled combo guard/played well in Ulm last yr
Marco Grimaldi: adds depth to backcourt with defensive effort
Jason Boone: physical post man Gottingen compares to Jeff Gibbs
Peer Wente: post man with shooting touch
Robert Dill: hardworking post sub played collegiately at Lafayette
Robert Kulawick: young german wing scored 10pt v Dusseldorf
