TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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RIGHT TIME COMES IN ULM!
Sometimes, the time is just right. For ratiopharm Ulm, the right time was Saturday night. ratiopharm Ulm lost a player pre-game but gained much more after Saturdays 94-70 home win over Science City Jena at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Minutes before warmups, with both ankles taped, Ulm starting post player Bryan Lucas received word it was time. Not game time as he expected, Bryan's wife Jane was expecting and was rushed to the Ulm hospital having their baby! The amazing set of circumstances set the table for a tremendous team effort keyed by strong contributions from the bench as the entire squad played inspired basketball. A 28-12 third quarter surge delivered the knockout and ratiopharm Ulm celebrated their third straight win and birth of Hudson Lucas. Now that is a wonderful weekend! Saturday night, in Ulm, the time was right.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Kyle Bailey scored 19 points on 8 of 9 shooting and added 5 assists against Jena.
In a unique position to truly appreciate the depth of the basketball derby, Jena native Thomas Fritsche sat on the bench of his new team ratiopharm Ulm as strength coach. For extra motivation, Fritsche made a fun deal with the team --- with a win, Ulm players earned the right to put their Strength coach through workouts on Monday and Tuesday rather than the other way around! But both teams needed very little extra motivation. Building up for the matchup, both Ulm and Jena reflected upon their heated duels from 2.Bundesliga South days. Jena entered Sportszentrum Kuhberg with confidence despite their 1-10 record. Aiming to collect their second win of the season, Jena hoped to capitalize on the unique situation with ratiopharm Ulm. Not only would there be a change in the starting lineup and a shortened bench, the pregame warmups were momentarily disturbed while the net on the Ulm basket was changed. Certainly, pregame shaped up to be anything but a normal Saturday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
Ulm's EJ Gallup drilled 5 of 9 three pointers and sank this midlane runner for 17 points in Saturdays win over Jena.
Replanning the game without Bryan Lucas, the Ulm coaching staff decided to insert 7 foot center Sean Finn into the starting lineup for the first time with ratiopharm Ulm. Along with Finn in the first five, reliable post man Florian Mobius also moved up a spot in the depth chart into the backup big man role. The two would be important players in the Ulm game plan and a strong defensive presence along with excellent rebounding effort would be required. Bryan's fantastic family time opened up opportunity for playing time for Sean and Flo and both were ready to respond. Ironically, the ratiopharm Ulm team word of the week was PUSH as everyone focused on pushing themselves to be better. As the word PUSH hung high on the team lockerroom wall pregame, it held an entirely other meaning on the other side of the city for Jane and Bryan. In Ulm, the time was right!
Ulm's energizer Konrad Wysocki attacks the basket for two against Jena. Konrad totaled 12 points and 5 rebounds in the win.
Playing with both determination and inspiration, the Ulm team started strong. Ulm jumped to an 8-1 lead early in the game behind active inside play from Jeff Gibbs. Sean Finn also cracked the scoring column early grabbing an errant Ulm attempt and sticking it back in for two. Jena responded and found a rhythm as shooting guard Brendan Plavich buried an open three pulling the guests closer and igniting them with energy. Jeff Gibbs answered for Ulm with his first three pointer of the season. With the scoreboard knotted at 17 apiece, Ulm sniper EJ Gallup sank a three ball sending the hosts into the first quarter break leading 20-17.
Ulm All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs extends this jumphook over two Jena defenders in Saturday nights win. Gibbs scored 18 points with a team best 9 boards.
In the second quarter, Ulm point guard Kyle Bailey scored 7 straight points to open action and help Ulm open a 12 point lead 31-19. However, Jena fought back into the game. The Ulm team became confused at several officials calls which they felt were inconsistent viewpoints from the three man crew. While one official called the game in a certain way, the others seemed to be working from a different perspective. Florian Mobius was called for 4 first half fouls, mostly on post defense. As a team ratiopharm Ulm totaled 14 first half fouls to Jena's 8 and Jena attempted 14 free throws to Ulm's 7. Ulm fans became infuriated and were warned for throwing paper and objectiles at the officiating crew. While the whistles frustrated both teams, Jena closed the gap to 41-36 at the half.
Ulm C Sean Finn hammers home two points dunking on Jena's Sean McCaw in Saturday nights game. Starting in place of Bryan Lucas, Finn gave Ulm excellent minutes!
At the half, the main focus in the Ulm lockerroom was on maintaining composure. Too much emphasis had been placed on the confusing calls from the officials. Unable to get a feeling for the inconsistent whistles, the Ulm team committed to each other to concentrate on their own work rather than get worked up over other distractions. The team reviewed their defensive game plan and discussed several minor adjustments to the strategy. Later, Ulm looked at key points for better offensive play. Still without word from the hospital about Jane and Bryan, ratiopharm Ulm returned to the floor ready to make a big push.
Ulm veteran Jan Sprunken lifts this beautiful floater in the first half of Saturdays game against Jena.
Ulm opened the third quarter with an immediate move. From the halftime lockerroom, Ulm bolted to a 7-0 run. Point guard Kyle Bailey made his presence felt with excellent leadership and accurate shooting. In under two minutes, the lead stretched past double digits. Picking up their fullcourt pressure and changing the defenses regularly in the second half, Jena struggled to find their rhythm and Ulm went on a run. Of note, Ulm's defensive effort, spearheaded by captain Emeka Erege and energizing Konrad Wysocki, put the clamps on former NBA player Mark Davis. Late in the third, Davis was called for his fifth foul as Sebastian Betz sank a baseline turnaround which turned into a momentum building three point play. Later, Betz would make his presence felt with a powerful shotblock of Jena big man Ajmal Basit. Along with Basti's big plays, Ulm also gained momentum from a sideline inbound play with one second on the shot clock. Erege lobbed a pass to Wysocki to caught and finished the alley-oop action before the buzzer exciting the Ulm side and defelating their guests. Ulm raced to a 28-12 third quarter building a 69-50 advantage after three.
Ulm PG Dru Joyce gave his team a boost with another strong game against Jena Saturday.
The fourth quarter found ratiopharm Ulm clicking on all cylinders. Three point shooting from Kyle Bailey and EJ Gallup poured on the points. A powerful two hand slam from C Sean Finn brought more enthusiasm to the home crowd and a fantastic Jeff Gibbs shot block of a Mischa Zlotowski three point attempt turned into a breakaway Gibbs bucket sending Sportszentrum Kuhberg into celebration! As the game clock ticked down, Jena continued to battle especially with Brendan Plavich from beyond the arc. Plavich kept working and buried three consecutive three pointers. Minutes before the final buzzer, Ulm youth player Alexander Heide, a 16 year old NBBL player, made his first official appearance with ratiopharm Ulm playing over 2 minutes and grabbing 2 boards. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm earned their third straight win with a convicing 94-70 victory over Science City Jena.
Ulm rookie Sebastian Betz attacks the rim in Saturdays action. Betz made his presence felt with his first career blocked shot in the second half.
Without Lucas, ratiopharm Ulm's balanced team attack continued. Kyle Bailey topscored sinking 8 of 9 shots for a game best 19 points and 5 assists. Jeff Gibbs powered his way to 18 points with 9 rebounds and EJ Gallup buried 5 of 9 threes to chip in 17 points for Ulm. Konrad Wysocki added 12 points with 4 boards. Starting for the first time, Sean Finn was solid on both ends scoring 8 points on 4 of 5 shooting with 3 rebounds. For the game, ratiopharm Ulm shot 49% from the floor and dished out 16 assists to only 4 turnovers. Ulm buried 12 of 27 threes for 44% accuracy from distance. Jena made 34% from the field including 8 of 28 threes (28%) and outrebounded Ulm 40-29. Brendan Plavich made 6 of 12 threes for a team best 18 points in the loss.
After the game in the VIP room, as players enjoyed dinner and social time with sponsors and fans, Radio 7 personality Mark Harmann annouced the birth of Hudson Lucas and all were happy for Bryan and Jane. Several players and staff went to visit the hospital to see Ulm's newest talent. A special game for several reasons, Ulm's victory over Jena was a clear example of teamwork and togetherness --- and the fact that sometimes, the time is just right. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
