.
TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
@ 
2.BUNDESLIGA SOUTH SHOWDOWN :
Ulm travels to Nurnberg Friday night!
Friday night in Nurnberg, ratiopharm Ulm and RCE Falke Nurnberg put perfect 6-0 records on the line in an early season 2.Bundesliga South showdown tipping off at 8pm in the Halle at Berliner Platz. Ulm has history on their side after winning 7 of the last 7 regular season meetings. Last season ratiopharm Ulm swept RCE Falke Nurnberg winning in Ulm 96-70 on November 29th before earning an 89-72 St Patricks Day victory in Nurnberg in March. One week after emerging atop a battle between two 5-0 teams, ratiopharm Ulm's next challenge is even bigger ---winning on the road against 6-0 Nurnberg. Ulm will draw on their experience in big games over the last two seasons while Nurnberg hopes to maintain their momentum from their hot start this year.
This season, both teams have raced out to share the lead in 2.Bundesliga South play. Nurnberg has relied heavily on scoring guard Julius Jenkins, the leagues leading scorer at 30ppg. Teaming with Jenkins in the backcourt is experienced veteran Marcel Tenter, a skilled playmaker who changes speeds well and runs Nurnberg's offense to perfection. An excellent passer, Tenter makes his teammates better and can score when needed. New addition Sortirius Gioulekas, a big Greek wing, has upgraded the Nurnberg attack by adding a quality 3man to the mix --- Gioulekas is the teams second leading scorer at 17.2ppg and is a legitimate three point threat. Nurnberg's inside outside balance rivals Ulm and their post depth is impressive. Experienced center Karim Aw, leads the league is shot blocking while averaging 11.2 rebounds per game. 2nd American, Cory Jenkins (no relation to Julius), adds an athletic, rebounding presence (10.2rpg) but is capable of scoring (9.3ppg) and has dramatically improved the Nurnberg rotation. Veteran power forward Thomas Rissmann now comes off the bench and brings a different dimension to the team with his precise perimeter shooting from the 4 spot. Two other key subs contribute to the Falke --- sweet shooting point guard Angelos Plantzas is the teams zone buster with deep three point range (50% from three on the year) and Robert Duhring provides another active, hardworking rebounder to the front line in case of foul trouble.
Peter Heizer (11) and Maksym Shtein (15) are ready for their next big game!
Comparing the two teams, Friday's matchup looks to be exciting. According to official team stats on www.zweitebasketballbundesliga.de , ratiopharm Ulm and RCE Falke Nurnberg split several important statistical categories. For example, while Ulm shoots better from the floor (Ulm 52% to Nurnberg's 47% FG) and from the foul line (Ulm 73% Nurnberg 65% FT) , Nurnberg rebounds better (Nurnberg 239 Ulm 231). The teams are almost even in three point percentage, assists and points allowed per game. Ulm's offense has scored more averaging 96.5ppg compared to Nurnberg's 86.5ppg. By the numbers, the game looks even and fans expect a hardfought, competitive, key game.
Ulm enters the game with a healthy team aside from shooting guard and key defender Peter Heizer. Hobbled by 2 different leg injuries, Peter missed Monday and Tuesday practice with Ulm but is expected to be near full strength at tip time 8pm Friday. Heizer missed 2 days of training before last weekends win over Heidelberg and scored 18ppg with intense defense leading Ulm officials to believe Heizer will be a factor on Friday. In the 81-75 win over Heidelberg, ratiopharm Ulm survived a slow start giving them confidence they can come back against a strong opponent. This might be an advantage as Nurnberg has not played a 2.Bundelsiga South top team to this point in the season.
For Ulm the game is about separating themselves from the 2.Bundesliga South pack. Clearly a title favorite, winning on the road against a top contender puts tremendous pressure on the contender for the remainder of the season. Mike T and his men are focused on earning these challenging 2 points and becoming the Alpha Wolf in the 2.Bundesliga South race.
Supporting their team, 2 fan busses of Ulmer fans will make the 3 hour trip east to Nurnberg. Certainly an important game, ratiopharm Ulm hopes to earn their second straight big win in back to back big games!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
4 MICHAEL BREE historically plays well against Nurnberg/ working hard to find rhythm/ starred in Ulm's win over Nurnberg on St Patricks Day last season
11 PETER HEIZER hobbled by leg injury/ expected to draw key defensive assignment/ led Ulm with 19pts in Dec 29th win over Nurnberg last year
10 EMEKA EREGE key for Ulm on both ends of floor --- difficult matchup for Nurnberg to stop and will draw important defensive assignment for Ulm.
5 NIKI ARINZE must defend and rebound to neutralize Nurnberg's strength/ a key offensive weapon for Ulm
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN stepped up in 4th with huge performance in win over Heidelberg/ great matchup with Nurnberg's Karim Aw
BENCH
8 KENNY PRICE clutch shooter can be Ulm's Ace in the Hole/ playing well and sparks team with energizing 3 ball
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE Ulm's player of the Month for October played well in Nurnberg last March/ ready for important D assignment/ ready to spark team
12 MICHAEL NIEBLING 7' center important to Ulm because of matchups with Aw and Nurnberg front line/ Big Mike's shooting touch from perimeter could be a key
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS versatile forward knows Nurnberg well/ will see time against Rissmann, Cory Jenkins and Gioulekas
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR matches up well with Nurnberg forwards/ has been extremely productive off Ulm's bench/ ready for important action
6 DENNIS WOOLFOLK veteran guard passes on words of wisdom to team
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworking forward will be ready
14 MARCEL TENTER 37yr old skilled playmaker/ 12.8ppg 7.3ast/ great passer/ leader and floor general for Nurnberg/ 3 range/ quality in transition
11 JULIUS JENKINS 30ppg leads league/ lightning fast in transition/ 3 range/ great 1 on 1 off dribble/ leads league in steals/ 48% from three range
10 SORTIRIUS GIOULEKAS big Greek wing/ 17ppg 39% three shooter/ will post/ improved Nurnberg team as a three man
12 CORY JENKINS new American power forward/ 11.3ppg 9.3rpg/ physical/ 3range/ face up game in post/ runs floor/ athletic 4 man
13 KARIM AW 40yr oldcenter/ leagues leading shot blocker/ 11.2 rebounds per game/ poor free throw shooter 28%/ lanky build
BENCH
15 THOMAS RISSMANN good shooter from 4 spot/ 8.5ppg 4.2rpg/ loves to screen and spot/ will post/ works on boards/ smart player
7 ANGELOS PLANTZAS undersized deep three point shooter (50% from three)/ on season 14 of 24 shots from three range/ 4.3ppg in 16min pg off bench
4 ROBERT DUHRING active forward/ 3.3ppg in 11min pg/ rebounds hard/ uses shot fakes inside/ 3range/ capable of surprising numbers
