TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Ulm Wins On and Off Floor!
Rolling on momentum from last weekends upset win in Berlin and the positive vote for a new Arena, ratiopharm Ulm put together another outstanding team performance on both ends of the floor in their 84-61 home win over Koln 99ers Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. On the court Sean Finn powered his way to a team best 13 point 8 rebound night while Dru Joyce totaled 12 points and a Bundesliga season-best 13 assists in leading Ulm to the win. Off the floor, Ulm GM Thomas Stoll and Financial Manager Andreas Oettel made the plays and both city goverments from Ulm and Neu Ulm voted for a new multi-function Arena which will be the future home for Ulm basketball. A fantastic run of events for the ratiopharm Ulm organization, this weekend Ulm basketball won on and off the floor.
Ulm's Sean Finn hammers a dunk against the Koln 99ers Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Finn enjoyed another outstanding game topscoring with 13 points and 8 boards.
It was a busy week for Ulm basketball. With energy and enthusiasm from last weekends surprise upset road win over ALBA Berlin, ratiopharm Ulm players aimed to maintain the momentum with a strong performance against Koln. Thursday, injured point guard Kyle Bailey returned to the team after a week away. Needing more time to rehabilitate his thumb, it was clear Kyle would be inactive until his thumb could heal more. Friday, Ulm's standby American Romeo Travis arrived and was officially activated. A teammate and close friend of Dru Joyce, Travis would be worked in immediately. At the same time on the other side of town, Ulm GM Thomas Stoll and Financial Manager Andreas Oettel politiced at the Ulm/Neu Ulm City Council meetings where the vote for the new Arena took place. In a close vote, both city councils voted for the new Arena and the project has a green light and target date for late 2010 or fall 2011. Each of these points gave Ulm a boost as the team prepared for their home game against Koln and the important two victory points in the Bundesliga standings that were at stake.
Ulm's Dru Joyce defends Koln's Derek Raivio Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Dru scored 12 points and dished out a Bundesliga season-best 13 assists in the win.
After all the adversity the 99ers organization dealt with throughout the season, injuries forced Misan Nikagbatse and Yassin Idbihi to miss the trip to Ulm while Head Coach Sasa Obradovic worked with his young players and two new additions of Roy Booker and Brian Greene. Koln entered Saturdays game with a 12-11 record holding the 8th playoff spot, a tribute to the hardwork and determination from Obradovic and his team.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs blocks Koln's Brian Greene Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Ulm's team defense limited the 99ers to 31% from the floor.
Tipping off the action, Ulm started slow. The 99ers edged ahead as Ulm missed several attempts in the paint. While the offense took time to find rhythm, Ulm's team defense established itself well. Both teams settled into the game and Koln held a 16-10 lead with seconds remaining in the first quarter. Executing an endline inbound play with 3 seconds remaining on the first quarter clock, Ulm's Sean Finn popped to the left corner and quickly swing the ball to Jeff Gibbs on the left wing beyond the three point arc. Beating the buzzer, Ulm's All Star power forward sank a momentum building three, bringing the Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd to life and pulling Ulm to within three at 16-13 after one.
Ulm's Bryan Lucas powers a two hand slam against the Koln 99ers Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Bryan scored 11 points with 7 boards in a strong effort for Ulm.
In quarter two, it all changed. Ulm's exploded for a 27-7 frame behind a tough defensive effort and timely shooting. Sebastian Betz came off the Ulm bench to contribute on both ends with hardnosed defense and 6 second quarter points. Recently added forward Romeo Travis hit a pullup jumper in transition, drilled a baseline J and added defensive presence to the Ulm lineup in his Sportszentrum Kuhberg debut. Bryan Lucas finished buckets in the paint scoring 7 first half points with 4 boards to help spark the Ulm run. In the first half, Ulm defense limited Koln to 25% floor shooting and snuffed new Koln go-to guys Brian Greene and Roy Booker into a combined 1-12 from the floor. Ulm's defensive effort forced two shot clock violations and gave the team some positive results from their hardwork over the last weeks in practice. Building the halftime lead, Ulm went into the lockerroom up 40-23 despite going 9 for 20 in the paint in the first half.
Ulm's EJ Gallup buries a three in the win against Koln. The Bundesliga 3 point champion at All Star day, EJ currently has the most three point makes in the Bundesliga this season.
As play resumed in the third quarter, Koln made a push to get back into the game. With back and forth action, Ulm maintained the lead. The 99ers switched to a zone defense and the game momentarily changed. Then Sean Finn hammered home a dunk that energized an Ulm run. Dru Joyce split the middle of the zone from the top of the key and flipped a lob to Finn behind the 99er defense for an exciting Alley Oop Slam. Sebastian Betz sank a right wing three and Konrad Wysocki sank a transition three. With three minutes remaining in the third Ulm held a 58-38 advantage. The momentum from all the recent positive events around the Ulm team seemed to unfold on the floor with positive plays. By the end of the third, Ulm led 63-42.
Recently added forward Romeo Travis made his mark in his Sportszentrum Kuhberg debut scoring 7 points with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the Ulm win. Romeo's defensive work and versatility on offense were an excellent addition to the Ulm attack!
As the fourth quarter began, Ulm continued the attack. Sean Finn backdown a Koln defender and power dunked for two. Dru Joyce continued to direct the Ulm attack with precision. At the 7 minute mark, All Stars Jeff Gibbs and Konrad Wysocki subbed out after a job well done. With 5 minutes remaining the Ulm lead swelled to 29 at 74-45. Backups Jan Sprunken and Florian Mobius clocked court time and made plays. Joyce found Sprunken running the right wing in transition for a three. Romeo Travis found time to work into the Ulm system and get comfortable playing with his new teammates. Just like the courts of Akron, Joyce and Romeo connected for a beautiful pick and pop play that resulted in a left wing Travis J. Subbing in 16 year old rookie forward Alexander Heide, Ulm finished the game with good feelings. After a nervous Heide came up empty from the foul line, Dru Joyce found the rookie streaking to the rim for a transition layup before Joyce weaved through the 99er defense before dropping a beautiful dime to Heide right under the rim for him to put in. At the final buzzer, Ulm could celebrate their 84-61 win along with the win off the floor with the positive vote for the new Arena.
Ulm guard Sebastian Betz keyed the second quarter run with intense defensive effort and accurate perimeter shooting.
Sean Finn led Ulm's offense with a team best 13 points 8 rebounds. In the last two games, Ulm C Sean Finn has hit 12 of 15 shots from the floor for 28 points and 13 rebounds. Dru Joyce added 12 points 13 assists. Konrad Wysocki and Bryan Lucas scored 11 points apiece and Sebastian Betz totalted 9 points 6 rebounds for Ulm. Ulm shot 50% from the floor including 11 of 27 from three and dished out 20 team assists while outrebounding Koln 40-37. Meanwhile, Koln was led by Derek Raivio and Milko Bjelica who finished with 14 points apiece. Koln shot 31% from the floor including 5 for 21 from three point range.
Ulm fan clubs display a "Thank You" banner to the city council's from Ulm and Neu-Ulm for the vote for a new Arena!
ratiopharm Ulm's big win over Koln Saturday night capped a positive week for Ulm basketball on and off the floor. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
