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ULM CRUISES PAST GIRAFFES 104-75! ratiopharm Ulm returned to 2.Bundesliga South basketball action Sunday afternoon with a 104-75 win over injury depleated TV Langen at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. As expected with any first game following an extended Holiday break, all was not pretty or perfect for Mike Taylor's ratiopharm Ulm team --- but in the end Ulm played well enough to cruise to their 11th league win of the season. On the positive side, the team clicked on the offensive end smoothly converting transition breaks and expertly executing the teams sets and systems for easy scores. Six Ulmers reached double figures in scoring and the teams excellent ballmovement resulted in a team total of 27 assists and 56% field goal percentage for the game. Ulm hit 13 of 27 three point looks for a sizzling 48% over the four quarters. Ulm was sharp on offense in the first quarter scoring 32 points in the opening 10 minutes. Along with the fast start to the first half, Mike T's men dominated the third quarter 21-8 blowing the game open. Ulm overcame a lackluster defensive performance in the first half --- a half which saw Ulm struggle to contain the basketball one on one and allow easy baskets in transition. Knowing center Kevin Hansen, forward Robert Dill and guard Sebastian Barth (all key components of the Langen attack), seemed to affect Ulm's defensive energy. Instead of capitalizing and stretching the lead, Ulm let the Giraffes stay close through the first twenty minutes of play.
ULM FORWARD EMEKA EREGE ATTACKS THE BASKET IN TRANSITION. After a slow start and mental mistakes, both coaches called timeouts less that three minutes into the game. Ulm established their lead early behind hot outside shooting. Kenny Price and Florian Mobius drilled three pointers and Ulm opened a 22-13 lead. Langen hung around behind hot shooting of their own as American guard Terry Thompson sank three pointers and scored off the fast break. Ulm subbed in reserves and the game progressed to a 32-21 first quarter break. Quarter two saw Ulm's defensive intensity slip. While the offense clicked with surprisingly quality execution, the teams defensive energy level was low --- both teams traded baskets. Whistles became a factor as Maksym Shtein and Michael Bree picked up first half foul trouble. Searching for the right combination, Mike T went with a small lineup in an attempt to speed up the game and increase the teams intensity level on the defensive end. The Langen Giraffes fought hard and made plays to outscore Ulm 25-21 in the second quarter. Again, Thompson was the key playmaker for Langen. There wasplenty for Ulm to discuss in the lockerroom as they held a 53-46 lead. Langen could be proud of their first half performance. Despite playing without two starters and an important sub (all missing from their rotation becuase of various injuries), Langen hustled and scrapped and worked their way into the game. Meanwhile, Ulm simply relied on their offensive ability to maintain their lead.
ULM CENTER MAKSYM SHTEIN POWERS THROUGH GIRAFFE D FOR 2. Making some adjustments at the half, Ulm players responded as usual. A 21-8 third quarter broke the game open behind excellent team defense and hustle plays. The third quarter was not all perfect for Ulm --- shooting guard Kenny Price badly injured his ankle while defensive rebounding when he landed on a Giraffes foot under the board. Helped off the floor and unable to return, Price' status for weekend road games in Crailsheim and Breitengussbach remains unclear. Until his injury, Kenny was feeling it, hitting 7 of 11 shots and 5 of 7 threes for 21 points in 21 minutes. Although he did not play the majority of the second half, Price finished as Ulm's leading scorer on the evening (the 6th straight game he has paced Ulm points). Getting everyone minutes in the fourth, Ulm coasted to an easy 104-75 victory earning their 11th league win of the season. For the first game back following the break, the teams performance was mixed --- excellent on offense and without intensity on defense. The team will return to the practice court Tuesday focused on putting it all together.
ULM FORWARD FLORIAN MOBIUS HITS THIS FIRST HALF J! Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game, Michael Bree finished with a solid all around 13 point, 5 assist, 4 rebound 3 steal effort including 3 three point field goals. Christian Grosse added 10 points and 6 assists while Maksym Shtein and Peter Heizer contributed 15 points apiece. Florian Mobius posted 10 points and 5 boards. The ankle injury to Kenny Price, combined with the release of American power forward Niki Arinze, leaves Ulm facing the possibility of playing two road games next weekend without any American import players. The team travels to Crailsheim friday night before finishing the weekend double header with a road trip to Breitengussbach Sunday afternoon. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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