TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
"KARNIVAL"
IN SPORTSZENTRUM KUHBERG!
ratiopharm Ulm v Rhein Energie Koeln
Saturday January 17, 2007 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
With the German holiday of "Fasching" kicking off with "Karnival" this weekend, ratiopharm Ulm returns home to a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg for one of the most anticipated games of the season as German Champion and Euroleague team Rheinenergie Koln visit Ulm for a 7pm tipoff Saturday night. A highlight of the Ulm home schedule, Rheinenergie Koln is out to prove they are the best team in Germany. Challenging for a back to back Bundesliga title, Koln has all the tools to regain their crown with a supertalented, ridiculously athletic, deep, experienced and battle-tested team. After tough Bundesliga road games the last two weeks in Berlin and Oldenburg, ratiopharm Ulm aims to carry over their momentum from Wednesday's midweek German Cup win in Giessen. Saturday night Sportszentrum Kuhberg will showcase highlevel European basketball as underdog ratiopharm Ulm aims to knock off topdog Rheinenergie Koln.
Ulm hopes to extend their three game home winning streak Saturday against German Champ and Euroleague team RheinEnergie Koeln.
After an exciting German Cup win Wednesday in Giessen and two tough road trips to northern Germany, ratiopharm Ulm will appreciate the friendly confines of Sportszentrum Kuhberg for Saturdays game, the teams first home game in Kuhberg since a January 20th overtime win against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Almost a month has passed since the excellent Ulmer fans have seen their team! Strengthened by the powerful "publikum", ratiopharm Ulm is currently riding a 3 game home win streak with impressive upset wins over Trier, Artland and Skyliners. Without question, the city of Ulm is hungry for Saturday night --- the game has been sold out since Tuesday Febuary 13th! Combine the German Cup win and the buildup, Sportszentrum Kuhberg could be crazy Saturday night!
Another city that is crazy right now is Koln --- crazy for the German festival of "Carnival" right now. While Koln is celebrating the traditional "Carnival" (much like Mardi Gras in New Orleans), the city can also celebrate their outstanding basketball team. Head coach Sasa Obradovic, a fantastic winner as a player in Europe, has continued his winning ways into the coaching craft and Koln's success is a direct result. A team filled with high-level talent, All Star game MVP and Bundesliga money player PG Demond Mallet leads the way. Averaging 14.2ppg while shooting 45% from three, Mallet is a heady point guard who is one of the best clutch performers in the Bundesliga. Along with Mallet, relentless wing Immanuel McElroy (10.5ppg 4.5reb) provides Koln with an outstanding perimeter attack. While Mallet is the clutch offensive player, McElroy is a tenacious defender, excels in transition and can finish around the rim like few other guards. Immanuel's heart and passion for the game makes him one of the special players in the Bundesliga. After talented twoguard Marcus Faison departed midseason for the Spanish ACB, former LA Laker wing Devin Green joined the Koln team. Since his Green ventured overseas, the lanky athlete has produced 11.8ppg 6reb with his new team. Smooth and versatile, Green has the potential to be a SUPERstar in Europe. In the paint, Koln features ultra athletic big man Marcin Gortat (9.3ppg 6.4reb) who will provide the Ulm frontcourt a major challenge. Gortat runs the floor with the best big men in the world and has skills to match. Experienced big man Aleksander Nadjefeji (9.5ppg 3.5reb) returned from injury and has made a tremendous impact on the Koln team. Nadjefeji is a cagey scorer with three point range, crafty post moves and a beautiful passing ability. Currently working his way back from injury, Forward Ronnie Burrell (9.8ppg 4.6reb) has been one of the most exciting additions to the Bundesliga this season. A highlight film dunker and posterizer, Burrell brings athleticism and energy to the Koln attack. German National team forward Guido Grunheid (6.3ppg 3.7reb) is another weapon in the Koln frontcourt. Grunheid is known as an athletic big man who has outstanding perimeter shooting touch. Team players Jannar Talts (3.9ppg 2.7reb 32% three), Johannes Strasser (2.3ppg 43% three) and Sljivancanin Mladen (4.1ppg 25% three) are all quality options. Talts is a physical, intelligent and skilled forward who can stick open J's. Strasser is a hardworking backup point who pushes the ball, defends and can also drill J's. Finally, Mladen ranks as a highly talented wing with unique "Ginobli-like" slashing ability. Together, these highlevel talents comprise an impressive team which is "Battle-tested" together through the Euroleague schedule this season!
Ulm G Jonathan Levy and teammates look forward to playing in front of their home crowd at Sportszentrum Kuhberg for the first time in nearly one month.
In the earlier meeting this season, ratiopharm Ulm competed intensely as a major underdog in Koln. Eventually, Koln's class showed and the team pulled away to earn a 9 point win 84-75 Sunday October 15th, 2006 at Rheinenergie Dome in Koln. Despite the loss, Ulm gained confidence from their performance and went on to record wins in their next two games. In Koln, Bryan Lucas and Austen Rowland enjoyed noteworthy games for Ulm.
Ulm Captain Emeka Erege leads Ulm in their challenge against Euroleague team Koln.
With almost a month since the last home game, several pieces of exciting news have been announced from the ratiopharm Ulm management. Saturday nights home game marks the first chance for fans to see their team since power forward Jeff Gibbs extended his contract for two more seasons through 2008. Second, the team announced plans in place for a new multi-purpose Arena in the region. Both new developments will be met with intense enthusiasm from the sold out crowd Saturday night. Also new to Sportszentrum Kuhberg, SUBWAY restaurants in Ulm kick off a new advertising campaign with ratiopharm Ulm head coach Mike Taylor as pitch man.
Eat at SUBWAY in Ulm!
While people enjoy their holiday weekend celebrating in costumes and at parties all over Germany, Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, with the reigning German champion Rheinenergie Koln as guests, ratiopharm Ulm fans hope to celebrate their own "Karnival in Kuhberg"!
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
FIRST GAME BACK!
ratiopharm Ulm returns home Saturday after back to back road trips to north Germany for challenging Bundesliga games in Berlin and Oldenburg. Saturday's return to Sportszentrum Kuhberg is not any easier with German Champion Koln as guest. Sold out since Tuesday Feb 13th, the Ulm-Koln game also marks the first home game since power forward Jeff Gibbs extended his contract with the team. Certainly, the excitement will be high at Kuhberg this weekend!
EUROLEAGUE
This season Rhein Energie Koeln competed in Group A with Olympiakos from Greece, Efes Pilsen from Turkey, Climamio Bologna from Italy, Tau Ceramica Victoria from Spain, Le Mans from France, Moscow Dynamo from Russia, Prokom Trefl Sopot of Poland. Koln did not qualify for the second round of the competition.
USBL TIES
Both Rhein Energie Koeln and ratiopharm Ulm are proud of their USBL ties. Demond Mallet and Immanuel McElroy were both members of the Dodge City Legend during their past career while Jonathan Levy and Bryan Lucas of Ulm played for Legend rival Kansas Cagerz for the last two seasons. Ulm head coach Mike Taylor has been a part of both Dodge City Legend and Kansas Cagerz coaching staffs over 3 summers. At times the basketball world seems small.
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: challenging matchup against elite Koln wings
Jonathan Levy: outstanding game v Giessen/carried team at times
Jeff Gibbs: 19pt in Cup win!/challenging matchup v Koeln
Austen Rowland: clutch plays in Cup win/head to head v Mallet
Bryan Lucas: strong streak of games!/ meets Gotat
Konrad Wysocki: energy for Ulm off the bench/matches up on wing
Maksym Shtein: strong off bench for Ulm/ will battle Koeln big men
Christian Grosse: can be important combo guard sub/shooter!
Florian Mobius: key post sub for Ulm/excellent team player
Jan Sprunken: experience and shooting big help to team
Ian Young: playing excellent defense/looking for consistency
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Cologne Germany
Main Sponsor: Rhein Energie
Home Court: Koln Arena/ Energie Dome
website: www.rheinenergie-koeln.de
2005-2006: 21-9 3rd place
(W 1st R playoff 3-0 Ludwigsburg; W 2nd R playoff 3-2 Bamberg; W German Championship 3-1 ALBA; FIBA CUP took 1st place (4-2) in Group B, then took 2nd place (4-2) in Group J, lost 1-2 to BC Kyiv in the quarterfinals)
Offense: An extremely athletic team, Koln features fantastic talent and will rank among the best teams in the Bundesliga. Behind the super perimeter play of Demond Mallet and the relentless play of slashing wing Immanuel McElroy, expect Koln to compete for a "Repeat"! Keep eyes on skilled combo guard Mladjen Sljivancanin who is a Bundesliga's "Ginobli". Athletic wings Faison and Ronnie Burrell and mobile big men Marcin Gortat and Guido Grunheid make Koln fantastic in transition. Head Coach Sasa Obradovic has scripted several excellent set plays which make his scorers hard to guard. In summary, all the pieces are in place for an excellent season ahead!
Defense: Koln's roster features fantastic athleticism which allows them to pressure all over the floor. McElroy,Green and Burrell are all excellent defenders and Koln likes to "hound" opposing PG's with relentless fullcourt pressure from these big athletic wings. Mobile big man Marcin Gortat is also a defensive key with his athleticism. Most important, Koln competes and plays with the heart of a champion.
GM: Stephan Baeck
Head Coach: Sasa Obradovic
Players:
Immanuel McElroy: Bundesliga playoff MVP/relentless player
Demond Mallet: one of top scorers and most skilled players
Devin Green: former LA Laker added midseason/ impressive skills
Aleksander Nadjfeji: crafty veteran/ excellent skill/smart
Ronnie Burrell: another super athlete/combo forward
Johannes Strasser: backup PG/hardnosed and skilled
Marcin Gortat: top athletic big man in Bundesliga
Guido Grundheid: 7 footer with J/National team player
Mladjen Sljivancanin: Ginobli of Bundesliga/ super skilled
Philipp Schuethelm
David Mertins: athletic young wing
Tibor Pleiss: young 7footer with potentia
