TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
vs 
LAST DOSE!
ratiopharm Ulm hosts Bayer Leverkusen Monday in final PHARMACEUTICAL CHALLENGE!
ratiopharm Ulm vs Bayer Leverkusen
Monday March 24, 2007 3pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm and Bayer Leverkusen have met throughout the history of Bundesliga basketball. With both teams sponsored by pharmaceutical companies in the north and south respectively, a unique rivalry developed. Monday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Ulm and Leverkusen will meet in the pharmaceutical challenge for the final time. For years, Leverkusen had the prescription for winning. A traditional Bundesliga power and 14 time league champion, Bayer Leverkusen will move to Dusseldorf next season as Bayer steps back as main sponsor to focus completely on their Bundesliga soccer team. In classic tribute to the end of an era, this season has been a fantastic success for Leverkusen on the floor. In fact, when Bayer Leverkusen takes the floor at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm Monday, Head Coach Achim Kuczmann and his men will be atop the Bundesliga. Like the last teaspoon of medicine, Monday's matchup between ratiopharm Ulm and Bayer Leverkusen not only celebrates the Easter Holiday, the game is the last dose of a classic Bundesliga contest.
Ulm and Leverkusen will go head to head for the last time Monday afternoon at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Click here for Ulm @ Leverkusen photo gallery from 11-11-07
ratiopharm Ulm tips off the special 3pm Easter Holiday game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg against Bayer Leverkusen coming off a fantastic team effort in their heartbreaking double overtime German Cup Elite Eight loss to ALBA Berlin Wednesday. Despite being eliminated from the Cup, Ulm rides the strong team performance and a two game win streak in the Bundesliga into the challenging matchup against Bundesliga leading Bayer Leverkusen. A national holiday in Germany, Monday's game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg will be live online on www.sportsdigital.tv from BBL.TV
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs rips down a rebound in the November meeting between the two teams at historic Wilhelm Dopatka halle in Leverkusen. Monday afternoon, Jeff will battle the tough Leverkusen front line on the block.
Earlier this season ratiopharm Ulm went into Leverkusen and built a 14 point lead in the third quarter before Leverkusen's veteran shooter Tyron McCoy helped spark a comeback. With a strong fourth quarter, Leverkusen topped Ulm 87-77 in a fast-paced exciting game.
Click here for 11-11-07 Ulm @ Leverkusen Game Summary
Ulm's energizer Konrad Wysocki is ready for an exciting matchup against the Leverkusen forwards.
Last season both teams protected their home floors in splitting the two head to head matchups. First, ratiopharm Ulm staged a tremendous comeback which was capped by Jonathan Levy's corner three pointer in the teams exciting 95-92 win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday November 25th. Click here for Game Summary. Later on in the season, Leverkusen used a fantastic three point shooting display from Brandon Woudstra in topping Ulm 89-84 Wednesday April 4th at Wilhelm Dopatka Halle. Click here for Game Summary After suffering through several significant injuries in the early season last year, Leverkusen got it together and marched right into the playoffs finishing the regular season in 7th place. During the playoffs, Ludwigsburg beat Leverkusen 3 games to 1. But last years Leverkusen team featured several key faces who no longer wear the Bayer logo and team colors. Significant losses from last season include athletic wing and Bundesliga Slam dunk king Jared Newson, 3pt sharpshooter Brandon Woudstra who moved onto EnBW Ludwigsburg, All star power forward Derrick Allen who now produces double double for Frankfurt and crafty point guard John Goldsberry who runs the show for the Artland Dragons. Despite these losses, Bayer Leverkusen has risen to the top of the Bundesliga in their final season in Leverkusen. A tribute to the hardwork of Head Coach Achim Kuczmann and his team, beneath the championship banners, the hallowed halls of Wilhelm Dopatka Halle are filled with fantastic basketball. When the echoes of screaming fans and screeching shoes end, as the team moves to a new home in Dusseldorf, the legend of Leverkusen basketball will be on of success and class.
Ulm's Bryan Lucas has been in top form the last two weeks for his team topscoring with 19 points against ALBA Berlin in Wednesday nights German Cup loss.
Leverkusen has gelled into a terrific team as the season has progressed. With a blend of veteran players and talented newcomers, Leverkusen has been one of the top success stories of the 2007-2008 Bundesliga season.
Brendan Winters (13.5ppg 4.3reb) has enjoyed a fantastic season with his three point shooting ability and intelligent play. Rookie PG Zack Whiting (7.5ppg 3.3reb 4.2ast) is a tremendous competitor and excells in transition and penetration. Underrated wing Beckham Wyrick (5.5ppg 3.1reb) does the dirty work for the team on both ends of the floor. Veteran post man Eric Taylor (10.6ppg 4.8reb) and athletic Canadian National team big man Rans Brempong (6ppg 4.9reb) team up for a strong post presence on both ends. Veterans Tyron McCoy (10.3ppg 3.9reb) and Gordon Geib (5.5ppg) provide quality from the bench and give the team extra three point scoring threats in the backcourt. Active Brant Bailey (10.5ppg 2.5reb) scores in a variety of ways and has become even more important to the teams rotation after the loss of All Star forward Nate Fox (14.4ppg 7reb) who was suspended recently. One of the most impressive aspects of the Leverkusen attack is the teams ability to shoot threes. Bailey hits 48% from beyond the arc, Winters 39%, McCoy 38%, Taylor 36% with Wyrick at 30% and Geib at 29%. As a team Leverkusen hits 37% from three good for 4th best in the Bundesliga entering Game 25. Leverkusen leads in team assists per game at 15.1 and steals at 8.6pg. Ulm is number one in rebounding at 35.9rebpg while Leverkusen is #2 at 35.2 .
Ulm's Dru Joyce has guided the team to success in the absence of injured Kyle Bailey.
This season Leverkusen opened with a 74-72 win over digbu Baskets Paderborn October 6th before dropping two straight road games against BG74 Gottingen (91-85 October 9th) and brose Baskets Bamberg (83-59 October 14th). After the 1-2 start, Leverkusen won three straight beating ALBA Berlin 83-67 at home October 19th, winning in Frankfurt 91-73 October 21st and topping Koln 86-79 October 28th. Telekom Bonn snapped the streak with an 81-68 win in Bonn November 4th before Leverkusen beat ratiopharm Ulm 87-77 at Wilhelm Dopatka Halle November 11th. The comeback win over Ulm sparked a 4 game win streak as Leverkusen won 79-77 in Tubingen November 17th, beat Trier 84-74 at home November 21st and won 75-70 December 1st in Braunschweig. Eisbaren Bremerhaven edged Leverkusen 84-80 December 9th and Leverkusen held an 8-4 record. Over the holidays, Leverkusen won three straight beating EnBW Ludwigsburg in Ludwigsburg 93-87 December 15th, winning in Jena 85-64 December 20th and beating LTi Giessen 46ers 87-71 January 5th. At 11-4, Artland beat Leverkusen 87-68 January 12th. From that point, Leverkusen has not lost winning 7 straight games. After the team returned from the All Star break, Leverkusen beat Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 91-69 January 27th, edged digibu Baskets Paderborn 76-74 Febuary 1st, topped BG74 Gottingen 90-85 Febuary 10th, beat brose Baskets Bamberg 70-68 Febuary 17th at home, won Febuary 23rd with an impressive 93-90 comeback victory over ALBA Berlin, beat Deutsche Bank Skyliners 86-79 March 2nd in Leverkusen and won in Koln 88-76 March 6th. In Leverkusen's last game, the team won without All Star forward Nate Fox beating Telekom Baskets Bonn in impressive fashion 95-74 March 14th. With Artlands home loss to Paderborn Saturday night, Leverkusen is atop the Bundesliga with a 19-5 record.
Ulm's EJ Gallup was outstanding in the November meeting between the two teams hitting 5 of 8 threes for 17 points.
With a clear destination for Dusseldorf after the season, Leverkusen has made their last run count with terrific team play. Their current 7 game win streak and rise to the top spot in the standings speaks for the roll. As Ulm aims to fight back into the playoff race, Mondays game against the hot-league leading Leverkusen team provides basketball fans with an entertaining matchup. The fact that the the Easter Holiday game also will be the last of the classic "Pharmaceutical Challenge Games"
Ulm's defense must meet the challenge of top Leverkusen scoring wings Brendan Winters (left) and Tyron McCoy (right).
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
A2 TEAMMATES!
Ulm wing Sebastian Betz and Leverkusen point guard Gordon Geib will be opponents Sunday, but this summer the two were teammates playing for their country with the German Junior National team at the World Championships in the Phillipines.
WILDCAT ALUMNI!
Ulm's Captain Emeka Erege takes pride in his Davidson College career. Sudnay, he can speak with another Davidson Alumnus in Leverkusen shooting guard Brendan Winters. Although the two never played together for the outstanding Head Coach Bob McKillop, both have been a big part of the programs success. Unfortunately, Erege will not play as he recovers from his knee injury.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain out with knee injury
Kyle Bailey: out with thumb injury
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's All Star faces tough Leverkusen frontcourt
Bryan Lucas: hardworking post in top form last two weeks!
Konrad Wysocki: excited about challenge v Leverkusen forwards!
Dru Joyce: leading Ulm attack with heart and skill
Florian Mobius: reliable team player adds depth in frontcourt
EJ Gallup: sharpshooter played terrific game in Leverkusen!
Sean Finn: big man ready for matchup with Eric Taylor
Sebastian Betz: excellent minutes off bench in Leverkusen
Jan Sprunken: veteran shooter adds depth to perimeter
Romeo Travis: has sparked Ulm attack and provided tough D.
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Leverkusen, Germany
Main Sponsor: Bayer
Home Court: Wilhelm-Dopatka-Halle
website: www.bayer-giants-leverkusen.de
2006-2007: 19-15 7th place
Playoffs: 1st Round lost to Ludwigsburg 3-1
Offense: Overcoming a slow start, last seasons Ludwigsburg team put together an impressive second half of the season as they charged into the playoffs as a 7 seed. Unfortunately for German basketball, the Bayer company, long time sponsor of Leverkusen through a record 14 German titles, has announced this season will be their last. With reduced budget, Leverkusen has maximized their money and put together an experienced team which emphasizes excellent perimeter shooting. Veterans Nate Fox and Eric Taylor man the middle and athletic Rans Brempong is a terrific new addition inside. On the perimeter PG Gordon Geib returns to lead the team and will be joined by sharpshooter Brendan Winters, combo guard Zack Whiting and hardworking Brant Bailey and Beckham Wyrick who both contrinuted alot to last seasons squad. One can never underestimate the Leverkusen experience and shooting ability. When all goes well for the Giants, a playoff position can be achieved.
Defense: The impressive aspect of the Leverkusen team is their competitive attitude. Experienced big men never take a play off and their teams ability to shoot always keeps them in a game. Brempong's shot blocking ability is an excellent pick up and the gritty forwards Bailey and Wyrick add toughness on the defensive end. With such a strong tradition and quality experienced players, Leverkusen fans can expect another enjoyable season in their final year with Bayer as a sponsor.
GM: Otto Reintjes
Head Coach: Armin Kuczmann
Players:
Gordon Geib: hardnosed PG/can score/playmaker
Zack Whiting: hardworking combo G new to team
Brendan Winters: sweet shooting wing/ Davidson College
Beckham Wyrick: hardworking F / underrated on court
Tyron McCoy: BBL veteran adds offensive power to team
Rans Brempong: athletic post playing great last two weeks
Nate Fox: vet big man/ physical and skilled/SUSPENDED
Eric Taylor: powerful post/experienced big man/solid 5-4
Brant Bailey: versatile F key without Fox
Lukas Welling: young prospect
Tom Spoeler: young prospect
Ben Spoeler: young prospect
