TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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Two Streaks Collide --- Ulm Hosts Langen.
Who knew it would mean so much? After trailing the entire game, Christian Grosse's last minute transition layup gave ratiopharm Ulm their first lead of the game capping a come from behind rally resulting in Ulm's thrilling 89-86 opening game escape from Langen October 1st. The stunning win propelled Ulm to a strong start which has snowballed into the teams 15-0 record, while the Langen Giraffes hit an early season slump dropping several close games as they recovered from the traumatic opening night loss. Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Ulm and Langen meet again, this time with different story lines. A streaking Langen team has added quality players and won 6 games in a row to charge up the league standings. While the Giraffes seek revenge and paybacks as they look to continue their winning streak, Ulm looks to continue their momentum from last weeks big win in Kaiserslautern. Saturday night, two streaks collide at Sportszentrum Kuhberg --- Ulm hosts Langen.
Saturday January 21st, 2006
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ratiopharm Ulm stretched past the Langen Giraffes 89-86 with an amazing come from behind win opening night in Langen and used the victory as energy for a strong start to the season. Meanwhile, a snake-bit Langen team struggled to find wins early on losing several close games on the road before finally finding a way to win. October was a painful month for the Giraffes --- difficult losses like opening night stunner to Ulm or an 86-83 set back in Chemnitz 10-30-05 or the 88-86 loss in Bayreuth 10-26-05 and hardest of all 93-92 in Kaiserslautern 10-3-05 hurt the Langen confidence. A team of streaks, the Giraffes sank to 1-8 before beating Crailsheim 100-89 at home November 26th in Langen. Since that breakthrough, the Giraffes have reached new heights winning 6 in a row and elevating themselves up the standings board. In the 6 game win streak, Langen has won three games on the road beating Weiden, Ehingen and Nordlingen. Several key factors have emerged that influenced the positive change in fortune for Langen. First, American power forward Bryce Burch joined the Giraffes in November and has helped the team to a 5-2 record scoring 20ppg with 5.1 rebounds. A smart, skilled big man, Burch has added physical play and rebounding presence in the paint. Burch led Langen in scoring for six straight games including impressive outputs of 33 points against Ehingen and 28 points 10 rebounds against Crailsheim. Along with adding Burch, Deutsche Bank Skyliners prospects Alex King and Dominik De Mello have made a major impact for the Giraffes. King, a slashing forward who excells in transition averages 12.3ppg while De Mello produces 13ppg and topscored with 25 points in last weeks win against Stuttgart. Along with Burch, King and De Mello, three other Giraffes have been extremely productive. Point guard Ty Harrelson, shooting guard Sebastian Barth and three point shooting big man Koray Karaman have all been excellent at times for Langen. Harrelson's deliberate and skilled style of point guard play has been solid for the Giraffes as the 6'4 playmaker has produced 13.4ppg 5.2ast and 4.9reb while shooting 32% from three. Ty is a terrific passer who sees the floor extremely well while managing the game and running his team efficiently. Meanwhile, Sebastian Barth averages 15.2ppg 2.9reb 2.9ast while shooting 40% from three. One of the top young perimeter players in the 2.Bundesliga South, Barth will also play some point for the Giraffes. Finally, three point shooting center Koray Karaman scores 11.8ppg 5.1reb while hitting a team best 41% from three. Karaman topscored in the Giraffes last road win over Nordlingen Jan 7 '06 with 25pts. Together, these six Giraffes have propelled their team to improved play resulting in the six game win streak. Playing as one of the top teams in the league, Langen features 6 players averaging double figures in scoring, boasts one of the top field goal percentage shooting teams in the league, ranks a close 3rd behind Ulm in points per game (88.3) and is a top free throw shooting precentage team in the league. Not super athletic, Langen does lead the league in fouls committed per game at 23.7.
Meanwhile, energized from their opening season comeback win, ratiopharm Ulm has charged to several big wins and a perfect 15-0 record at the midway point of the 2.Bundesliga South season. Earning key wins in three 1 vs 2 head to head games by beating Chemnitz, Jena and Kaiserslautern, ratiopharm Ulm has built a 3 game lead plus head to head advantage over the league. Outstanding team chemistry has been the key as players know and perform their roles within the team concept. Quality balance and teamwork along with intense defensive play have contributed to Ulm's success. Captain Emeka Erege has provided the team with excellent leadership while Americans Jonathan Levy and Jeff Gibbs have both ranked among the leagues most effecient players this season. Center Maksym Shtein has enjoyed a strong year establishing an important inside presence for Ulm while point guard Martin Thuesen has run the team effectively and distributed the ball well. Bench players Florian Mobius, Christian Grosse and Jan Sprunken have been fantastic fitting in as key players to spark the team with high level play as reserves and recently added Konrad Wysocki has the potential to be a major factor for Ulm in the second half of the season. Combined, the synergy among the team has produced positive results and has everyone excited about the future of basketball in Ulm. After celebrating the big win over Jena December 16th, Ulm fans have been hungry for more basketball waiting for over one month (37 days) until the 2006 home opener against Langen. Certainly Sportszentrum Kuhberg will be ready Saturday night when two streaks collide. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
SCOUTING REPORTS
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain is the best leader in the league
Jonathan Levy: collected 2nd straight Ulm fan club "Player of Month" for Dec.
Jeff Gibbs: was in top form when Ulm needed him most 3rd Q in Kaiserslautern
Maksym Shtein: excellent game in Kaiserslautern/has good matchups v Langen
Martin Theusen: fully recovered from foot inflamation/ good game v Kaiserslautern
Christian Grosse: game winning basket v Langen Oct 1st/ started v Kaiserslautern
and guided team during 3rd Q run
Florian Mobius: key post sub for Ulm will have important minutes at 4 and 3 spots
Jan Sprunken: super team player/ important perimeter threat/ made BIG plays in
comeback vs Langen Oct 1st
Konrad Wysocki: excellent debut for Ulm with good mintues v K'lautern/scored
19pt with 14reb in Ehingen loss to Langen 12-11-05
Antonis Sivorotka: young post grasping system
Benni Gulde: young guard developing daily with hardwork
Marcel Freide: talented young forward making great progress in practice
Alex King 6'5 athletic wing/ top young prospect/ slasher/ 12.3ppg
Dominik De Mello 6'1 skilled scoring combo gd/ 3range/ 13ppg 25pt vs Stuttgart
Ty Harrelson 6'1 floor general/ makes teammates better 13.5ppg 5.2ast
Bryce Burch 6'8 new American post/ hardworking/ 20ppg 5.1reb
Sebastian Adeberg 6'7 physical in-out/good rebounder/posts/ 9.2ppg
Sebastian Barth 6'2 3pt threat/ looks to score/ 15.2ppg 2.9r/2.9ast/ 40% 3pt
Koray Karaman 6'8 3pt shooting post/ rebounds/ 11.8ppg 5reb 41% 3pt
Mirko Damjanovic 6'8 3pt shooting 4man/ 5.9ppg 4.5reb/ 24% 3pt
