TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM PAYS THE PRICE --- LOOKS TO LICH.
After last Saturday's unacceptable loss against 3-12 local rival Ehingen, ratiopharm Ulm players knew they were in for it. Monday nights practice session was not how a typical professional practice is handled --- but the team did not handle Saturdays disappointing performance in a typical professional manner. Ulm earned every bit of their intense, exhausting, grueling three hour Monday night marathon. The team did not demonstrate the willingness to pay the price for a championship on Saturday night in Ehingen so they paid the price as a team Monday on Sportszentrum Kuhbergs practice floor.
Mike T's vengence came from a poor performance which saw Ulm get outworked and outplayed in their 85-77 loss to the organizations former farm team. Clearly the hungrier team, Ehingen earned their first win ever over heavily favored Ulm.
Focused primarily on the teams strange knack for competing harder against one than against opponents, Ulm concentrated on defense, intensity level and physical play for most of the killer workout. For some players, it was the most intense pro workout they had ever had. A painful loss leads to a painful week.
The team did not say a word. They knew they deserved it.
A painful loss meant a painful week for Ulm players
A costly loss, the "Wonder from Ehingen" (as local newspapers called the upset), put ratiopharm Ulm -- the preseason league favorite three games behind unbeaten RCE Falke Nurnberg with 14 games remaining in 2.Bundesliga South play. With such a large hole to dig out of, Ulm will need much help to get back into the race. On the positive side, a lot can happen in 14 weeks.
Against Ehingen, Ulm post men shot a combined 3-18 in the lane against an undersized Steeple post defense. To make matters worse, the halfheated Ulm defense allowed Mark Bigelow and Jeff Gibbs to dominate them. A subpar intensity level, work rate and alertness cost Ulm dearly. The lone bright spot for the Ulm team was recently signed point guard Shaheen Holloway, who paced Ulm points with 23 on 7-12 shooting. Holloway made clutch plays and sparked his new team to an 11 point lead in the 3rd quarter. Unfortunately, Ehingen reclaimed momentum and outplayed Ulm in the fourth to earn the win.
At the same time, TV Lich pounded struggling MTV Kronberg last weekend as their surprising season continues. New Head Coach Dejan Kostic has directed his Lichers to strong wins over Freiburg, Chemnitz and Jena this year. Lich, one of the worst teams in the league last season, has made tremendous progress on their roster and have gained impressive results. 6'10 post man Ryan DeMichael has emerged as one of the best offensive threats in the 2.Liga. In his best Dirk Nowitzki impersonation, the talented American 4 man gave Ulm 40 points earlier this season in Lich. DeMichael currently averages 22ppg and 10rpg but has recently returned from a broken wrist suffered earlier this season. American small forward Nigel Moore has also had a strong season averaging 21ppg and shot 42% fron three point range. Hardplaying Rolf Scholz mans the point with aggressive defense while big body Milan Azanjac adds size and strength inside. Shooting guard Viktor Klassen adds perimeter shooting touch and forward Daniel Dorr addds depth. Recently signed big man Tomislav Topic joins Lich from Freiburg and should add more depth to the teams post. All in all, Lich has played excellent team basketball this season demonstrating improved talent level and teamwork. Much improved, they go as far as their American one-two puch will take them. Earlier this season, Lich showed Ulm that they can compete by pushing Ulm for the majority of the game before a late, fourth quarter Ulm run gave Mike T and his men a 96-81 road win on Saturday night October 9th. Expect more intense competition this Saturday at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Action from Ulm's 96-81 win in Lich October 9th, 2004
As for Ulm, the team has been challenged after the intense week of work. Certainly, it will be interesting to see how the team responds. The main issue which must be resolved revolves around teamwork --- Ulm players practice harder against their teammates than they play against their opponents almost as if the team perceives the enemy to be within. Unfortunately, Ulm seems to have lost focus on what really counts. At this point, despite having the leagues highest scoring offense, best field goal percentage, highest three point shooting percentage, most assists and second rated defense, the issues plaguing Ulm have plunged them three games behind. At this point in the season, the only statistic that really matters is W or L. Hopefully, the team can regain their focus after a week of hard work.
Not only working hard on the practice court, Ulm is also working hard to keep point guard Shaheen Holloway for the remainder of the season, but the high level talent has already attracted interest from two Bundesliga teams. Negotiations continue as Shaheen has two games remaining during the duration of his current contract with ratiopharm Ulm. Saturday night against Lich is the only home game during the extent of Shaheen's contract with Ulm. Holloway has made a tremendous impact on the floor and off it and Ulm management hopes to workout a deal that will keep the New York City product as part of the team roster for the remainder of the season.
After the intense week of training, expect a much improved and more inspired performance from ratiopharm Ulm.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com !
GO ULM!
MIKE T
6 SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY best player in Ulms loss last week/23pt
8 KENNY PRICE a game day decision as injured ankle improves
10 EMEKA EREGE excellent 19pt 10reb effort in Ehingen
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS distracted during 1st half, but strong 2nd half
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN uncharacteristic 2-11 in paint v Ehingen
4 MICHAEL BREE 1 shot in 20 minutes/ poor performance in loss
11 PETER HEIZER excellent effort on D/ lack of consistent shooting
12 MICHAEL NIEBLING 0-3 in lane v Ehingen/ responded in practice
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE ready to break out with more minutes
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR good effort through foul trouble in loss
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworker helping team daily
18 BENNI GULDE youth prospect had great week of practice
4 ROLF SCHOLZ hardnosed point 6.5ppg 3rpg 2.6ast/ tough D
5 VIKTOR KLASSEN 3pt specialist 37% 65 of 122 shots from 3
10 NIGEL MOORE skilled 1on1 scorer/21ppg 6rpg/42% threept
15 MILAN AZANJAC big/wide/physical post/ 15ppg 7rpg
12 RYAN DEMICHAEL versatile post scorer/22ppg 10rpg/ 40 v Ulm
14 DANIEL DORR post sub/less role this season/ good touch
TOMISLAV TOPIC new post after release from Freiburg/ physical
7 LUTZ MANDLER veteran guard/ 29 of 31 shots are threes
9 JAN-PETER PRASUHN young perimeter sub/ 7.7ppg 2.7rpg
