TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
@ 
ULM HOSTS NORDLIGEN ON FAMILY DAY!
Riding the energy of momentum from Friday's important road win over Chemnitz, ratiopharm Ulm wraps up their pre Christmas schedule Sunday December 12th when they return home to host TSV Nordlingen for "Family Day" at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Sunday's 4pm tip, completes a busy basketball weekend and fun filled day for Ulm fans.
Feeling great after a tremendous team performance featuring strong defense, crunch time execution and hot shooting, Ulm looks to sweep this important weekend heading into the Holidays. Returning from the long bus trip to Chemnitz approximately 4am Saturday morning, the Ulm team met for films, scouting report and a light shoot and stretch workout Saturday afternoon. The main theme emphasied refocusing on Nordlingen, a much improved opponent who has won 6 of their last 8 games.
Ulm center Maksym Shtein has stretched his game to a new level!
Nordlingen started the season slowly, dropping their first three games of the year before making roster changes. In search of a true playmaking point guard, Nordlingen head coach Zoltan Nagy signed Mark Brown and the team responded by winning 6 of their next 8 games. Brown, averaging 12.8ppg and more importantly 5 assists per night, is shooting 50% from three and providing needed leadership. Adding Brown helped American combo guard Caleb Gervin's production when Gervin shifted into the shooting guard role --- Gervin averages 24.3ppg and has had big games going for 26 versus Lich, 30 against Bayern Munich and dropping 36 against Breitengussbach. The team won all three of those games. But it is not all backcourt production that has helped Nordlingen improve from last season.
Three former Bundesliga players signed in Nordlingen last offseason and each has made significant contributions in his own way. First, Big Burkhardt Steinbach, a wide body center, takes up space and provides a big, physical presence inside that is difficult to match. Shteinbach played with Breitengussbach last season and is averaging 10.2ppg with 8.7rpg. Kelubia Ekoemeye, Burkhardt's former teammate with Wurzburg in the Bundesliga, adds defense and athleticism to the forward spot and is scoring 5.2ppg with 4.2rpg. Finally, forward Michael Buse, the most productive of the trio, has solidified Nordlingen's front line bringing size, skill and experience to the 4 spot. Buse has solid numbers at 14.9ppg and 7.8rpg.
Shooters Jurica Pulic (7.6ppg on 38% three point shooting) and Milan Ostojic (7.4ppg on 27% three point shooting), provide a long distance threat to stretch defenses that compliments the inside game. Hardworking young point man Lukas Varga competes extremely well when in action and veteran Nordlingen players Daniel Wanjama and Robert Apelt are team players that have helped raise Nordlingen from the regionaliga into the 2.Bundesliga.
Ulm received outstanding play from Kenny Price who continues to improve as the season goes on. Price caught fire in Chemnitz hitting 10 of 13 shots from the floor including a sizzling 7 of 9 three pointers, one shy of the league record (8). Inside scoring big man Maksym Shtein showed his game taking another step as he finished with 21 points using his traditional low post repetoire while adding a clutch 3 for 4 from three point range. Finally, after scoring just 5 points in the first half, Ulm's Emeka Erege emerges as a star down the stretch hitting big baskets and clutch free throws to tally 19 points including some of Ulm most crucial scores of the game. Returning home to Kuhberghalle where the team is unbeaten, Ulm hopes to contiue their game by game improvement with another strong performance against Nordlingen enabling them to head into the holiday break with positive feelings and a 10th league win.
The game is of special meaning to Ulm guard Peter Heizer who played along side Nordlingen center Burkhardt Steinbach and Kelubia Ekoemeye for Bundesliga team Wurzburg two seasons ago.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com !
GO ULM!
MIKE T
4 MICHAEL BREE point man directed excellent attack in Chemnitz
8 KENNY PRICE great play continues/ 7 for 9 from three
10 EMEKA EREGE clutch baskets and FT in Chemnitz
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS unsung hero for Ulm/ really helping team
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN center expanding his game/ great in C-town
5 NIKI ARINZE slowed by fouls friday/looks for fresh start Sunday
11 PETER HEIZER ready to meet former teammates Sunday
12MICHAEL NIEBLING big mike, meet Burgy Steibach
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE sat out in Chemnitz with knee twist
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR 3 first Quarter fouls hampered forward
6 DENNIS WOOLFOLK veteran guard looks to Nordlingen game
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworking Ulmer loves to play at home
12 MARK BROWN key playmaker sparked better play from team
14 CALEB GERVIN scoring 24ppg with big games in wins
4 MILAN OSTOJIC 3pt shooter avg 7.4ppg from 3 spot
7 MICHAEL BUSE skilled 4man has been great addition to team
5 BURKHARDT STEINBACH big widebody post man/ veteran
13 JURICA PULJIC 3pt threat/less J's this season/top scorer last yr
10 KELUBIA EKOEMEYE athletic 3 man/ driver and rebounder
11 LUKAS VARGA hardnosed young point guard
8 DANIEL WANJAMA athletic and versatile 3 man
9 ROBERT APELT hardworking 4 man that rebounds and runs floor
