TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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New Game Against Nurnberg!
ratiopharm Ulm vs SellbyTel Nurnberg
Saturday March 3, 2006 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm and Nurnberg have enjoyed a competitive basketball rivalry over recent years. German basketball fans can remember the exciting 2004-2005 2.Bundesliga South race which saw Nurnberg earn promotion to the Bundesliga by beating Ulm. Now both in the Bundesliga, it was ratiopharm Ulm who topped Nurnberg 89-73 earlier this season in the initial head to head Bundesliga meeting. While ratiopharm Ulm has worked to establish themselves in the league as an "Aufsteiger", SellbyTel Baskets Nurnberg have worked to establish themselves as well as they have fought through several off court problems. Now, carrying consecutive wins into Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Nurnberg has also fought their way into a position to avoid relegation and the rest of the season their mission is to remain in the Bundesliga. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm wants to wipe away the bad taste from last weeks blowout road loss in Paderborn with a 4th straight home win. Despite a terrific rivalry and recent events, all of these points stay in the past. What both teams want from this game is the two points. For ratiopharm Ulm, Saturday night is a "NEW GAME" against Nurnberg!
Ulm extended the contract of C Bryan Lucas 2 years earlier this week!
After a slow start to the season, Nurnberg has put together a nice run over the last three weeks. A major factor in this step forward has been a healthy roster. Earlier in the season veteran big man Tim Nees struggled to stay in the lineup and missed lengthy amounts of the year. Also sidelined in the beginning of the season was former Bundesliga All Star forward Sotirius Gioulekas. Together, the two add an important part of the Nurnberg team and with these two important players Nurnberg is a different team than the one which Ulm faced back in October.
Ulm Captain Emeka Erege leads by example!
With Nees in the middle, Nurnberg has an experienced big man with size and skill. Tim, a former Ulm center, has averaged 7.2 points 3.2 rebounds and shot 71% from the foul line in his court time this season. Meanwhile, Gioulekas adds offensive punch from his wing position scoring 14.6 points with 4.8 rebounds while shooting 30% from three and 76% from the foul line. At the point, rookie playmaker Dwayne Lee has demonstrated steady progress this season. Currently, the former St Joe's Hawk, produces 10.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 28% from three. Excellent penetrating and good in ballscreens, Lee has gotten to the foul line an impressive 122 times thus far this season. At the shooting guard spot, skilled veteran Michael Lake has made his mark. An intelligent player who is an excellent team player, Lake is known as a bulls-eye outside shooter and has shown an ability to create shots and finish a midrange game this year. Always improving, Lake has averaged 10.9 points with 2.5 rebounds while shooting an impressive 42% from three this season. Also enjoying a terrific year, power forward Ryan DeMichael earned a spot on the South squad for the Bundesliga All Star game in Koln. A skilled, inside-out scorer, DeMichael has scored 11.4 points with 6.3 rebounds this season. Off the bench, Nurnberg has several options. First, athletic big man Corey Rouse (10.1ppg 8.5reb) runs the floor, rebounds and adds a shot blocking dimension to the front court. On the perimeter, Justin Griffin (6.6ppg 2.6reb 31% from three) and combo guard Sean Walker (4ppg 1.3reb 36% from three) contribute in important rolls for the team. Finally, hardworking forward Robert Duhring (3.2ppg 2.2reb) brings depth to the frontline. Together, the Nurnberg team has overcome their slow start, injuries and off floor adversity to earn a two game win streak.
Power forward Jeff Gibbs keyed Ulm's win in Nurnberg with a strong 23 point 15 rebound performance!
In the first meeting between the two teams back in October, ratiopharm Ulm completed a two win weekend with an 89-73 victory over SellbyTel Baskets Nurnberg Sunday October 22nd, 2006 at Nurnberg Arena. After an uptempo first half, Ulm established a lead and worked for the win. Post players keyed Ulm's success as power forward Jeff Gibbs produced a 23 point 15 rebound double-double and C Maksym Shtein hit 8 of 10 shots from the floor to finish with 18 points in the win. Ulm shot 57% from the floor in the victory. Dwayne Lee enjoyed an excellent game for Nurnberg scoring 24 points on 3 of 4 three point accuracy. Ryan DeMichael added 15 points 5 boards in the loss. Both teams played without key players as Ulm was without C Bryan Lucas and Nurnberg played missing Nees and Gioulekas.
Center Maksym Shtein was in excellent form scoring 18 points at Nurnberg earlier this season!
This game it could be ratiopharm Ulm who has injury concerns as several players have been banged up over the last several days. Point guard Austen Rowland had blood drained from his foot forcing him to miss Tuesdays practice. In Tuesdays practice Jonathan Levy injured his leg and has missed Wednesday and Thursday training. Konrad Wysocki continues to deal with a nagging arm injury. Amid all the news from the training room, ratiopharm Ulm had another positive announcement during the week. Wednesday, ratiopharm Ulm announced the extension of C Bryan Lucas' contract for two years with the team. Lucas has been a tremendous team player and ranks as one of the most efficient big men in the Bundesliga. This weekend, Bryan looks forward to the challenges against Nurnberg, a team who he has yet to play against after missing the first meeting with a calf strain.
Ulm PG Austen Rowland
With 12 games remaining in the Bundesliga regular season, 10-12 ratiopharm Ulm is in the middle of the "Log Jam" of five teams while 5-18 Nurnberg is even with Giessen in their race to avoid relegation. With two and a half months remaining in the season, both teams have much to play for. This weekend, ratiopharm Ulm looks to add to their current 4 game home winning streak at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. On the other side, Nurnberg aims to add to their back to back wins. Although there has been much rivalry between these two teams over the years, Saturday night, it's a new game against Nurnberg.
ratiopharm Ulm is on a 4 game home winning streak beating Trier, Artland, Frankfurt and Koln!
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
ROSTER DEADLINE MARCH 1
ratiopharm Ulm and other Bundesliga teams observed the "roster deadline" Wednesday night/Thursday morning March 1st. After this point, no players may be added to any roster throughout the remainder of the season. Some teams decided to sign "Standby Players" in order to have some security against injury or unexpected developments down the stretch.
REMEMBER WHEN
Not long ago ratiopharm Ulm-Nurnberg games headlined the 2.Bundesliga South as both organizations eyed promotion into the Bundesliga. Over 2 seasons, Ulm went 3-1 against Nurnberg. While Nurnberg set a 2.Bundesliga South record with 21 consecutive wins to start a season in 2004-2005, it was ratiopharm Ulm snapping the streak at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm 89-82 (click here for game recap).
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH!
After several injury issues earlier this season, which contributed to the teams slow start, SelbyTel Baskets Nurnberg finally have a full roster as veteran center Tim Nees and former Bundesliga All Star Sotirious Gioulekas have returned to the lineup. With the healthy roster, Nurnberg lost in triple overtime to Bonn before beating both Trier and Deutsche Bank Skyliners. The two game win streak has been an outstanding development for Nurnberg.
RELEGATION LINE!
Nurnberg has walked the tight rope all season with regards to a "relegation" place in the Bundesliga standings. Currently with 5 wins, Nurnberg is even with Giessen as both organizations work to stay in the league.
2 MORE IN ULM FOR LUCAS!
ratiopharm Ulm management extended the contract of Bryan Lucas for two more seasons in Ulm. Terms of the deal were not disclosed and an announcement was made Wednesday of this week.
Follow all the fastbreaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain was strong in Nurnberg 10pt 5reb
Jonathan Levy:rehabbing leg injury/game time decision
Jeff Gibbs: 23pt 15reb game in Nurnberg earlier this year
Austen Rowland: interesting head to head matchup v Lee
Bryan Lucas: extended his contract earlier this week!
Konrad Wysocki: energy for Ulm off the bench/key to team depth
Maksym Shtein: excellent game in Nurnberg earlier this year
Christian Grosse: good minutes for Ulm in loss at Paderborn
Ian Young: important combo G for Ulm
Florian Mobius: key post sub for Ulm/big minutes v Koeln
Jan Sprunken: first action since injury in Paderborn
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Nurnberg, Germany
Main Sponsor: SELLBYTEL
Home Court: NURNBERG Arena
website:
2005-2006: 9-21 15th place Bundesliga
Offense:. When the season tips off, Nurnberg will have already won. Working hard to overcome adversity and issues which almost forced the team to fold, Nurnberg management found a way to come up with money for their BBL Lisence. A revamped lineup will wear Falcon blue this season. After a surprisingly strong 2005-2006, shooter Sotiris Gioulekas returns as the teams top player. Veteran Michael Lake adds another sweet perimeter J. Vet Tim Knees must stay healthy and Nurnberg hopes for more from skilled F Ryan DeMichael. New additions Dwayne Lee (St Joe's), Justin Griffin (Hawaii-Hilo) and Cory Rouse (East Carolina) hope to provide athleticism and skill. Experienced backup G Angelo Plantzas and F Robert Duhring will be counted on off the bench.
Defense: While the new additions add athleticism defensively, Nurnberg must have a healthy Tim Knees in the middle to battle with Bundesliga size. Defensive ability from the bench coul dbe a major factor Nurnberg must address this season.
GM:
Head Coach: Stephan Harlander
Players:
Dwyane Lee: speedy PG/excellent penetrator/122 ft attempts! gets in lane
Justin Griffin: solid wing/ plays both ends/ 31% 3pt shooter/active cutter
Sotiris Gioulekas: former Bundesliga All Star /shooting 3 man
Tim Nees: veteran big man/has battled injury/finally healthy/big impact
Ryan DeMichael: skilled inside-out F /Bundesliga Allstar this year
Cory Rouse: rookie post/athletic/leading offensive rebounder for team
Michael Lake: veteran shooter/ 10.9pt / firey competitor
Sean Walker: combo g adds depth
Angelos Plantzas: undersized deep shooter
Robert Duhring: hardworking F spark off the bench
Mario Gohring:
Matthias Meinel
