TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
SOFLINGEN KUSS GAME
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Rivalry Renewed!
Ludwigsburg Outlasts Ulm in Soflingen KUSS game!
ratiopharm Ulm renewed their traditional rivalry with EnBW Ludwigsburg Saturday at the annual Soflingen KUSS game held in ratiopharmhalle at TSG Soflingen. Although simply a tune-up game, the emotion and energy from the floor resembled the regular season and re-established the historic rivalry between these two Baden-Wurtemburg based Bundesliga basketball teams.
Ulm's Jonathan Levy provided some highlights at the Soflingen KUSS game. Jono led Ulm scoring with 18 points including 14 in the strong second half comeback.
Opening the game with tremendous defensive pressure, Ludwigsburg demonstrated exactly why their team has qualified for the Bundesliga playoffs the past two seasons. Suffocating Ulm ballhandlers and snuffing out Ulm passing lanes, Ludwigsburg overwhelmed Ulm jumping out to a 10-1 lead. Taking a while to adjust to the pressure and tempo, Ulm players finally found a foothold and began to execute better against the pressure midway through the first quarter. Chipping away at the deficit and working back into the game, Ulm's Auten Rowland and Jonathan Levy hit perimeter jump shots and big men Bryan Lucas and Maksym Shtein drew fouls inside. A look at the scoreboard found Ulm down one trailing 17-16. Newly signed Je'Kel Foster drilled two three pointers late in the first quarter and Ludwigsburg re-established themselves taking a 26-17 advantage at the first break.
Captain Emeka Erege provided excellent effort for Ulm in the Soflingen KUSS game. Erege rips down a defensive rebound here and made a fantastic layup-saving block on Nils Mittmann in the second half.
Starting the second quarter strong, a 6-0 Ulm run shortened the deficit to 26-23 two minutes in. But the experienced Ludwigsburg team finished the quarter with a 16-6 run earning a 42-26 lead at the half. Ludwigsburg defense should be credited with outstanding work in the first half pressuring Ulm effectively. In the halftime lockerroom, Ulm discussed several offensive adjustments and looked at their game plan for the second half. Down 13, the key to success was the teams execution and shot selection against pressure.
Bryan Lucas hits a leaner over Ludwigsburg big men Pavel Cukinas and Nate Harris (4). Lucas scored 11 points in the paint and continues to gain comfort with his new team!
Grinding out the game with effort and teamwork defensively, ratiopharm Ulm clawed their way back. Defensive stops and open court baskets loosened up the action and within minutes, Ulm had sliced the margin to four at 45-41. Ludwigsburg decided to re-group with a timeout. Ulm players made several exciting plays in their comeback. Jonathan Levy was fouled attempting to hammer home a dunk. Emeka Erege showed his unique heart sprinting back to thwart a breakaway layup by blocking Ludwigsburg forward Nils Mittmann. Following in the captain's example, Ulm forward Florian Mobius duplicated the defensive gem with a second block on Mittmann, a former Ulm captain. The Mobius block not only sent the ball away from the basket, but it also sent Ludwigsburg head coach Silvano Poropat into a fury. While officiating had been inconsistent both ways all day, Poropat was furious over the no-foul call and picked up two technicals within minutes. Ulm capitalized on the foul line as Christian Grosse sank all 4 free throws. Needing a big basket, Ludwigsburg guard Jason Dourisseau came through. With the Ulm defense making a stand and rallying behind their momentum, the ball was deflected out of bounds with 3 seconds remaining on the shot clock. Dourisseau took the sideline inbound pass, pivoted to face the hoop and hoisted a buzzer beating NBA three from the left wing --- straight to china! The tough shot gave Ludwigsburg a 55-48 lead and helped to stem the tide of Ulm's initial run.
Ulm PG Austen Rowland slices to the hoop for a crafty reverse layup. Rowland has established himself as a playmaker this preseason.
Rotating the team well, Ulm players were fresh for the stretch run. Maksym Shtein and Emeka Erege returned after breif minutes on the bench to spark a major Ulm run. Shtein drilled a left wing three and finished a power move inside while Erege scored on a stickback in the paint. Pulling to within one possession, the Ulm team clearly took steps forward within this preseason game. Defensive stops allowed Ulm opportunity to tie the game....and then take the lead. Baskets from Jonathan Levy and Austen Rowland finally evened the action at 60-60. The Soflingen KUSS crowd was alive with the exciting action. Moments later, another Ulm defensive stop triggered a runout layup situation. Rowland fired a ballahead pass to Levy along the left sideline streaking toward the wing. Unfortunately, officials whistled Jono for a traveling violation eliminating Ulm's chance to take the lead. On the other end, after a loose ball scramble, experienced Jerry Green recovered the rock on the right block and hit a pretty mid-range finish to set the score at 62-60 for the guests. In these final two minutes, it was the experienced Ludwigsburg team who made the winning plays staying within their system while Ulm fell off pace. Clutch shots from Green, Goljovic and Foster sealed the 75-66 win for Ludwigsburg.
Although Ulm dropped the decision, the team can take pride in their progress this preseason. The second half comeback and ability to make adjustments were two very positive aspects of the teams performance in the KUSS game. Jonathan Levy's 18 point game led the way while Maksym Shtein (12 points) and Bryan Lucas (11 points) worked well inside. Ohio State product Je'Kel Foster paced Ludwigsburg with 20 points while Pavel Cukinas added 13 before fouling out.
Soflingen KUSS box score
Ulm: Lucas (11 Points), Levy (18), Grosse (4), Sprünken (3), Erege (5), Wysocki (6), Möbius, Shtein (12), Rowland (7).
Ludwigsburg: Dartez (4), Harris (12), Green (7), Goljovic (9), Zazai (1), Mittmann (6), Cukinas (13), Dourisseau (3), Foster (20).
Konrad Wysocki drives baseline against Ludwigsburg in the Soflingen KUSS game. Wysocki sparked Ulm with energy and active play.
After an off day Sunday, ratiopharm Ulm travels to Austria for a two game preseason road trip against the two best teams in the country taking on traditional power Superfund Kapfenburg Bulls Tuesday and Austrian champion Allianz Gmunden Swans Wednesday. Aside from the excellent competition, Ulm also is excited about the return of power forward Jeff Gibbs and point guard Martin Thuesen. Recovering from a knee injury suffered in the Fritz & Macziol Cup, Gibbs returns to action with Ulm on this Austian trip while Thuesen re-joins ratiopharm Ulm after his successful stint with the Danish National team.
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GO ULM!
MIKE T
