TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
RIVALRY REVIVAL
League Leader Ludwigsburg Visits Ulm!
ratiopharm Ulm vs EnBW Ludwigsburg
Saturday March 17, 2007 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm hosts league leading EnBW Ludwigsburg Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in a game that revisits a fantastic traditional rivalry between the two teams. Sold out for over two weeks, ratiopharm Ulm fans have anticipated Ludwigsburg's visit since earning the Aufstieg last spring. Now, on top of the classic rivalry, EnBW Ludwigsburg has enjoyed a special season rising to the top of the league with outstanding team play and pressure defense. As if the anticipation was not enough, Saturday's game marks the first end of an exciting home and home series between the two neighboring teams. For ratiopharm Ulm and EnBW Ludwigsburg, there is no better way to revive their rivalry!
Ulm guard Jonathan Levy
EnBW Ludwigsburg has been one of the most positive storylines of the 2006-2007 Bundesliga Basketball season. Head Coach Silvano Poropat has done tremendous work with his experienced team creating a roster of players who complement one another extremely well. Ludwigsburg is a fast break team which excels in transition and has the versatility to play uptempo emphasizing their speed and perimeter shooting ability. Based around Jerry Green's creative playmaking, Ludwigsburg can also execute well in the halfcourt situations. What separates Ludwigsburg is their teamwork and ability for players to be productive within their rolls, a clear tribute to the work of head coach Silvano Poropat.
The unquestioned leader is point guard Jerry Green who has emerged as the top point guard in the Bundesliga this season. Green, who developed his game gradually over 3 seasons in Ludwigsburg, currently averages 15.8ppg 4.4reb 5.7ast while shooting 34% from three and 83% from the foul line. Green has stepped up to take and make many big shots for his team. Just as important to the Ludwigsburg success, shooting guard Je'Kel Foster has established himself as a prime-time player in his rookie Bundesliga season. Foster, who played collegiately at Ohio State, has produced 14.8ppg with 3.3reb 2.2ast while shooting 37% from three and 82% from the foul line. While Green and Foster are the marquee players in the backcourt, post men Pavel Cukinas and Nate Harris handle the power in the paint. Cukinas has fit in nicely with the Ludwigsburg team scoring 10.5ppg with 4.8reb while Harris, a rookie from Utah State, has contributed a verastile 9.1ppg with 4.9reb. Both big men have soft shooting touch, run the floor well and can score inside. Rounding out the starting lineup, veteran three man Milan Goljovic has chipped in 10.3ppg on 30% three point accuracy. Goljovic is a big wing who can drill threes or post up. Underrated but not underappreciated, Ludwigsburg has boasted arguably the most productive bench in the Bundesliga. Sharpshooting wings Gordon Scott (7.7ppg 2reb 1ast 37% from three) and Jason Dourisseau (4.5ppg 2.2reb 35% from three) have stepped up at different times to help Ludwigsburg win. Back up big man Nils Mittmann, a former Ulm captain, is a terrific three point shooter (4.3ppg 2.7reb 37% from three) and brings many intangibles to the floor for his team. Strong Brazilian Center Michel Nascimento has powered his way to 8.5ppg with 4.5reb as he adds depth to the Ludwigsburg front court. Together, these talented players have bonded into a hardworking team which has resulted in Ludwigsburg's special season.
Ulm's Captain Emeka Erege
Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm has also enjoyed a memorable year. Entering Saturdays game against Ludwigsburg at 11-13 overall ratiopharm Ulm currently rides a 5 game home winning streak. Ulm also draws their strength from their team play and production from a variety of players. The two teams know each other well after three previous meetings already this season. Ludwigsburg topped ratiopharm Ulm in the annual Soflingen KUSS game early in the preseason before ratiopharm Ulm upset Ludwigsburg at Rundesporthalle in Ludwigsburg later in the preseason. Finally, when the two teams met for their regular season matchup in Ludwigsburg on Saturday night November 4th, the hosts held on to edge an upset minded Ulm squad 85-78. In the game, Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs produced a memorable 18 point 16rebound performance.
All star power forward Jeff Gibbs
This Saturday's matchup has several interesting aspects. First, head to head duels will be attractive to fans. In the backcourt, Ulm's Austen Rowland will go at the experienced Jerry Green and at the two Ulm's Jonathan Levy will step up to the challenge of Je'Kel Foster. In the post, Ulm's Bryan Lucas meets Pavel Cukinas and Ulm's Jeff Gibbs prepares to play Ludwigsburg's Nate Harris. At the three, Ulm captain Emeka Erege will face veteran Ludwigsburg wing Milan Goljovic. Just as intriguing, Ulm must find a way to neutralize the Ludwigsburg bench of Mittmann, Scott, Dourisseau and Nascimento, a tough task for Ulm subs Konrad Wysocki, Maksym Shtein, Florian Mobius, Christian Grosse, Ian Young and Jan Sprunken.
ratiopharm Ulm's point guard Austen Rowland
New to the ratiopharm Ulm roster, sharpshooting combo guard EJ Gallup arrived in the city on Thursday afternoon. A graduate of Coastal Carolina University, Gallup has been on the ratiopharm Ulm wish-list for several seasons before finally signing as a "Stand-by American" last month. With ratiopharm Ulm perimeter shooting percentages inconsistent at best, the decision was made to add Gallup following the Bamberg game.
Ulm's energizer Konrad Wysocki
Another ratiopharm Ulm player made headlines this week as well, but this one is not new. Forward Florian Mobius, who has been with the organization the entire 6 season progression from the ground up, had his contract extended by ratiopharm Ulm management earlier this week. Mobius, a solid, unselfish, team player, joins captain Emeka Erege, power forward Jeff Gibbs, center Bryan Lucas on next seasons roster. On a side note, the week was really spectacular for Flo who also celebrated his 28th Birthday Friday March 16th.
Ulm forward Florian Mobius discusses his contract extension with Head Coach Mike Taylor and General Manager Thomas Stoll.
Saturday nights game will feature the revival of a traditional rivalry between Ulm and Ludwigsburg --- on an evening like that, every basketball fan wins!
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
FLO'S BIRTHDAY PRESENT?
Earlier this week, forward Florian Mobius had his contract extended for one season with ratiopharm Ulm. Friday, Flo celebrated his 28th Birthday. What a fantastic week for Flo!
LUDWIGSBURG
ratiopharm Ulm has interesting ties to the Ludwigsburg team. Aside from tradition which sparked the intense rivalry from former times, several personal ties exist between Ulm and Ludwigsburg. First, ratiopharm Ulm assistant coach Rainer Bauer was born and raised in Ludwigsburg. Second, Maksym Shtein played in Ludwigsburg 5 seasons ago and was a member of the Ludwigsburg team which won the 2.Bundesliga South an moved into the Bundesliga!
MY MAN
Ulm G Jonathan Levy and Ludwigsburg PG Jerry Green have met before. Both are consistent players in the San Francisco Pro-AM and work with the same agent, Ben Pensack from the Bay Area. Levy and Green are both California guys at heart and are representing the Golden state well in Germany.
RIVALRY
ratipharm Ulm and EnBW Ludwigsburg are very familiar to one another. Both teams have competed at the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga levels over the years. Seperated by no more than 100 kilometers, both teams enjoy strong basketball tradition. Clearly, fans from both teams have been waiting for the renewal of this South German Basketball Rivalry!
FORMER CAPTAIN
Ludwigsburg F Nils Mittmann is known for his hardworking, team oriented style of play. But did you know he was the captain in Ulm under current Ulm assistant and former Head Coach Rainer Bauer during his 2.Bundesliga South days! Mittmann departed Ulm after 2002-2003, played in Wurzburg 2003-2004 and has been excellent in Ludwigsburg the last two seasons.
SILVANO KNOWS!
After initially arriving as an assistant to legend Bruno Soce, Ludwigsburg Head Coach Silvano Poropat has done a terrific job with the team over the last 3 seasons. Qualifying for back to back playoff appearances, Ludwigsburg has established a solid team and this year Silvano has done his best work merging veterans with several new players for their fantastic unbeaten start. Good work Silvano and Ludwigsburg!
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulms' captain!
Jonathan Levy: exciting matchup with Je'Kel Foster!
Jeff Gibbs:18pt 16reb in first meeting v Ludwigsburg
Austen Rowland: challenging head to head with Jerry Green!
Bryan Lucas: strong game in Bamberg 19pt 5reb
Konrad Wysocki: energy for Ulm off the bench/
Maksym Shtein:former Ludwigsburg C ready for revival of rivalry!
Christian Grosse: ready to help team with perimeter accuracy!
Florian Mobius: extended contract Thursday, celebrated Birthday Friday!
Jan Sprunken: veteran wing is outstanding team player
Ian Young: depth could be key on perimeter.
EJ Gallup: arrived Thursday to upgrade perimeter shooting!
Bryson McKenzie: stand by American player
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Ludwigsburg, Germany
Main Sponsor: EnBW
Home Court: Rundsporthalle
website: www.enbw-ludwigsburg.de
2005-2006: 16-14 6th place
(L 1st rd playoff 0-3 Cologne)
Offense: A playoff qualifier for the last two seasons, EnBW Ludwigsburg has been a tough Bundesliga team based around hardwork and teamwork. This season the backcourt of veteran PG Jerry Green and talented newcomer Je'Kel Foster should bring excitement and talent. Milan Goljovic stretches defenses with excellent marksmenship and newly added big men Pavel Cukinas and Nate Harris should solidify the Ludwigsburg lane. With C Justin Davis rehabbing a knee injury, Ludwigsburg signed Michel Nascimento a large body with large talent from Brazil who played last year in Nymburk. Ludwigsburg bench is bolstered by hardworking forward Nils Mittman and athletic wings Jason Dourisseau and Gordon Scott. Veteran G Radisa Zdravkovic also moves up from MTV Stuttgart to add depth.
Defense: Head Coach Silvano Poropat has led the Ludwigsburg charge to overachieve the last two seasons qualifying for the playoffs with impressive work. This seasons team could be as aggressive and as athletic as ever in Ludwigsburg. The team has size, athleticism and will likely be a favorite to make the post season three years in a row. Changing defenses and applying pressure could be keys to the Ludwigsburg efforts.
Manager: Rene Beck
Head Coach: Silvano Poropat
Players:
Jerry Green: top PG with crafty mid-lane finishes
Jason Dourisseau: athletic wing will add depth to bench
Je'Kel Foster: impact newcomer with smooth J
Milan Goljovic: big wing with soft touch
Pavel Cukinas: inside scoring threat will be go-to in post
Nate Harris: multi-skilled 4 man rookie from Utah St
Nils Mittman: hardworking team player adds fire to team
Justin Davis: C rehabbing knee injury
Gordon Scott: veteran athletic wing
Sascha Kesselring: backup big man
Michel Nascimento: talented and big/ signs from Nymburk
Achmadschah Zazai: PG from SG Braunschweig
