TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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TIP OFF!
ratiopharm Ulm returns to action Tuesday, tipping off their preseason schedule with an exhibition game against the Kirchheim Knights in Sporthalle Stadtmitte at 8pm. Both Ulm and Kirchheim won titles last season --- Ulm capturing the 2.Bundesliga South title while Kirchheim moved into the 2.Bundesliga South after winning the 3rd Division South-West. Former Ulm players Antonis Sivorotka and Kai-Uwe Kranz will also bring extra motivation when they meet familiar faces Tuesday night. Excited about their first game situations, ratiopharm Ulm looks forward to examining their 9 core players while integrating new Ulmers Austen Rowland and Byran Lucas. Feedback from the game should prove valuable toward the teams next steps in coming weeks.
Ulm tips off the preseason with a game in Kirchheim Tuesday night.
Tuesday August 29th, 2006
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ratiopharm Ulm opens the 2006-2007 preseason with a road game at 2.Bundesliga South newcomer Kirchheim Knights Tuesday night at 8pm in
Sporthalle Stadtmitte by the Aleenschule. After one week of preseason practice culminating in the annual Ulm Team Game held Satuday 8-26-06 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm, ratiopharm Ulm is ready to take preparations for the Bundesliga to the next level. This week, the second of preseason, includes two preseason road games against two 2.Bundesliga teams --- Kirchheim Knights Tuesday and Nordlingen Saturday night. One week of two-a-days under their belt, Ulm players are hungry for the chance for competitive basketball situations to check their progress.
Ulm guard Jonathan Levy models the teams new home uniform for the upcoming season. Jono enjoyed a terrific summer playing in the USBL with the Kansas Cagerz and in the San Francisco ProAm with GoldRush.
Judging by the first week of practice, Ulm is establishing a firm foundation for success into the season. Work ethic and teamwork have characterized the teams first few days together. Although it remains early with a long season ahead, ratiopharm Ulm has demonstrated positive signs.
While they play in different leagues, both ratiopharm Ulm and Kirchheim face similar challenges for the upcoming year. Both Ulm and Kirchheim won championships last season earing promotion to the next level. Ulm will be newcomers in the challenging Bundesliga, but the Knights face the stiff step up into the 2.Bundesliga South. One very positive aspect Kirchheim has going for them is the experience on their roster. The team added former Stuttgart and Bayern Munich forward Tom Klemm as an inside-outside scorer with 2.League experience. Next, the Knights accepted Antonis Sivorotka on loan from ratiopharm Ulm. Sivorotka demonstrated outstanding development last season splitting time with his double-lisence between ratiopharm Ulm and farm club Neu Ulm. Appearing in 16 games for Ulm, Antonis showed his terrific potential and made strong progress working every day in practice. His efforts showed through in Neu Ulm where he led the team in scoring at 22.5ppg including several nights where he dropped a Nowitzki-like 40+! Antonis remains affiliated with ratiopharm Ulm but will play in Kirchheim this season because he outgrew the 4th division competition for the farm team. With Klemm and Sivorotka, Kirchheim upgrades their frontcourt well. But the strength of the team could be the backcourt where veteran US PG Ross Jorgusen has led the team for several seasons. A quick playmaking University of Portland product, Jorgusen led the Knights in scoring last season at 21ppg. Like Sivorotka, Jorgusen's backcourt partner also played for ratiopharm Ulm --- shooting guard Kai-Uwe Kranz averaged 4.4ppg on Ulm's 26-4 2003-2004 team but might best be remembered for his unconscious shooting on the teams US Tour.
Ulm loaned talented young power forward Antonis Sivorotka to Kirchheim for the 2006-2007 season. Playing in 16 games for ratiopharm Ulm last year, Antonis averaged 22.5ppg with farm team Neu Ulm leading the squad in scoring.
Other players making contributions for the Knights this season wil be veteran big men Bill Goehrke, Askraba Husein and Nenad Lukic and perimter players Karl-Wilhelm Lenap and Joe Hountondji. Building on their 3rd Division championship from last spring will be the goal for the Kirchheim Knights in their debut season in the 2.Bundesliga South! Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm also has something to prove. Their fantastic 29-1 2005-2006 season made the teams Bundesliga dreams come true. Now, the team prepares to take the next step in their development --- establishing themselves and earning respect in the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm aims to build on their success and stayed true to this blue-print by keeping their 9 key players from last seasons "Aufstieg". Adding new PG Austen Rowland and C Bryan Lucas, the team remains committed to team basketball emphasizing fun with discipline. Making the next step into the Bundesliga brings big challenges, but this 11 man team is up to the task and embraces the obstacles ahead. One obstacle for Ulm will be playing without Captain Emeka Erege who will miss the game in order to rest a slight muscle pull suffered last week in practice. Erege is expected to return later in the week.
Point guard Martin Thuesen remains with the Danish National team playing important qualifying games for his country as the starting point guard.
Tuesday night is a special night for Ulm as they tip off the first exhibition game of the preseason. Taking their first steps toward their potential, the team is excited to get back on court and get back to action. The game in Kirchheim will give the coaches, staff and management an indication of where the players and team are at and how much progress has been made after one week. Feedback from the action will provide direction for improvement and for the future.
PERSONAL NOTE
The Kirchheim game is special for personal reasons too --- celebrating a 34th Birthday on Tuesday August 29th, Ulm head coach Mike Taylor certainly knows no better way to celebrate than tipping off a new season coaching the Ulm team!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
SCOUTING REPORTS
Emeka Erege: Ulm Captain resting slight muscle pull; a leader we can be proud of!
Jonathan Levy: terrific summer playing in USBL and San Fran ProAM
Jeff Gibbs: great news with green light to wear #34 = Ulm's Round Mound of Rebound!
Bryan Lucas: skilled big man making outstanding impression with new team
Maksym Shtein: returned from Honeymoon to post 14pt13reb in Ulm team Game
Austen Rowland: spent summer with personal training in Miami FL working.
Christian Grosse: in good fitness after enjoying family vacation in Bali.
Florian Mobius: Ulm 5-seasons deep in his heart, Flo ready for Bundesliga challenges.
Jan Sprunken: crafty vet shooter traveled to Thailand and France in offseason
Konrad Wysocki: enjoyed excellent 1st week; spent summer preparing future in FLA.
Martin Theusen: starting PG for Denmark National team in qualifiers next 3 weeks.
Antonis Sivorotka: talented prospect also developing
Ross Jorgusen: vet USA PG from Portland; very quick and skilled; 21ppg in 3rd div.
Kai-Uwe Kranz: former Ulm shooter; 4.4ppg with Ulm in 2003-2004/16ppg last yr in Kirch.
Tom Klemm: inside-out skill/7.7ppg 4.9reb 28% 3pt shooter with Stuttgart last yr
Bill Goehrke: GER-USA big man/ physical rebounder/5.5ppg 9reb for Knights in 05-06.
Nenad Lukic: physical veteran forward/shooter/4ppg last season/ friend with Maksym Shtein
Askraba Husein: veteran 3rd div big man brings experience from Reutlingen
Karl-Wilhelm Lenap: athletic 6'4 wing avg 4.3ppg for Knights last yr
Joe Hountondji
