TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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POSITIVES PAST AND PRESENT!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Ewe Baskets Oldenburg
Saturday October 18, 2008 8pm
Ewe Arena Oldenburg, Germany
Thinking about Saturday's road game against Ewe Baskets Oldenburg at Ewe Arena, ratiopharm Ulm has alot to feel good about. Looking back to last season, the vision of Emeka Erege's miracle halfcourt game winning buzzer beater never gets old for ratiopharm Ulm. Looking ahead to Saturday night's rematch, Erege and teammates return to Ewe Arena for another exciting game against the Thunderbirds --- this time, Ulm travels to Oldenburg as the lone remaining unbeaten Bundesliga team at 4-0. Focused on positives from the past and present, ratiopharm Ulm looks to rise to the challenge in Oldenburg once again.
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis has been a key to Ulm success this season and is focused to help his team rise to the challenge this Saturday in Oldenburg!
Last season, Ulm and Oldenburg split two games with teams winning on the road. Basketball fans were witness to a truly amazing sports moment of pure athletic drama -- Emeka Erege's halfcourt game winning buzzer beater capped ratiopharm Ulm's tremendous comeback win over Ewe Baskets Oldenburg last season at Ewe Arena. Trailing by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, Ulm stormed back and stole the road win with the miracle finish thanks to Emeka's golden touch. Certainly both teams remember the amazing ending to last years matchup at Ewe Arena.
click here for Ulm @ Oldenburg December 9th, 2008 Game Summary!
Emeka Erege and Ulm celebrate the captains miracle halfcourt game winner in Oldenburg last season!
Emeka's Shot on Youtube
Emeka Erege's Buzzer Beater in Oldenburg December 9, 2007
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce leads his focused team into Oldenburg.
Last year, Head coach Predrag Krunic rallied his Ewe Baskets Oldenburg team after a slow start and the Thunderbirds developed into one of the Bundesliga's most improved and best teams. The Thunderbirds raced to a fantastic 10 game win streak midseason helping them rise up the standings. Finishing the season strong at 21-14 and in fourth place, Oldenburg advanced to the semi-finals of the Bundesliga playoffs before falling 3 games to 1 to eventual champion ALBA Berlin.
Ulm center Sean Finn posted a strong 17 point 12 rebound double double in his last game against Oldenburg.
Late last season, a determined Oldenburg team marched into Sportszentrum Kuhberg and earned a hardfought 90-82 victory April 12th, 2008. Ulm's Sean Finn enjoyed one of his best performances of the season posting a strong 17 point 12 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 17 points 9 boards in the tight loss. However, the star of the game went to Oldenburg's Rickey Paulding who went to work against the Ulm defense for 30 points in a terrific scoring display.
Click here for April 12, 2008 Ulm v Oldenburg Game Summary!
In the 2007-2008 season Ulm and Oldenburg split two meetings with both teams protecting their home court. ratiopharm Ulm earned their first Bundesliga win with a 91-77 victory at Sportszentrum Kuhberg over the slow starting Thunderbirds. After reinforcing their squad and getting healthy, veteran head coach Don Beck and his Oldenburg team made a playoff push late in the season and collected a 90-78 home win over Ulm January 20th at Ewe Arena. For game summaries from 2006-2007, click the links below:
October 11, 2006 ratiopharm Ulm 91 Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 77
January 20, 2007 Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 90 ratiopharm Ulm 78
Ewe Baskets Oldenburg and ratiopharm Ulm have split four games over the last two years and Saturday night at Ewe Arena both teams look to rise to the challenge in the next head to head matchup.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Lee Humphrey is excited for his first trip to Oldenburg! Lee buried 5 three point shots in Ulm's last road game.
Oldenburg's team features an All Star backcourt with outstanding point guard Jason Gardner running the show. A top point guard in the Bundesliga for the last two seasons, the former Arizona Wildcat averages 11.5ppg 2.8reb 4.8ast 87%FT through 4 games. Former Missouri Tiger and Detroit Pistons 2nd round NBA draft pick Rickey Paudling also returns as a star for the Thunderbirds. Paulding produces 12.8ppg 4reb and has hit 5 for 8 threes through 4 games this year. Completing the outstanding Oldenburg backcourt, former Ludwigsburg star, Je'kel Foster joins the Thunderbirds and currently leads the team in scoring at 17.3ppg 2.8reb 3.5ast and 48% from three (11-23). Together, Gardner, Foster and Paulding rank among the top backcourts in the Bundesliga this year. Active cutting and perimeter shooting threat Miladin Pekovic gives Oldenburg depth and a reliable outside shooter from the bench. Balancing the Oldenburg attack, Head Coach Predrag Krunic has assembled an experienced frontcourt with size, depth and skill. Former Portland Trailblazer and Georgetown Hoya Ruben Boumtje Boumtje anchors down the middle for Oldenburg. Boumtje Boumtje averages 6.3ppg 5.8reb and is shooting 92%FT on the early season. Big man Milan Majstorovic (7.3ppg 5reb) is in top condition and has been an underrated player on the Oldenburg team. From the bench, last seasons inside-out scoring threat Jasmin Perkovic (5.7ppg 5.3reb) provides firepower and new forward Marko Scekic (7.3ppg 4reb) provides energy. Finally, three point threats guard Marco Buljevic and forward Daniel Strauch give Oldenburg accuracy from beyond the three point arc from the bench. Overall, the talented perimeter combined with the size, depth and experience in the paint, make Oldenburg a team with tremendous potential.
This season, Oldenburg opened with a big win blasting Giessen 91-64 at Ewe Arena Saturday night September 20th. Miladin Pekovic scored 22 points to lead Thunderbird scoring. Oldenburg lost a tight 65-62 road game against powerful Telekom Baskets Bonn at Telekom Dome Saturday October 27th evening their record at 1-1. Je'kel Foster topped the Oldenburg scorers with 16 points. A last second layup from Koln guard Zarryon Fereti helped the 99ers steal a 75-73 win over Oldenburg at Ewe Arena October 4th. Oldenburg evened their record at 2-2 with an 89-75 derby win over Eisbaren Bremerhaven Sunday October 12th in Bremen. Je'kel Foster starred again with a terrific 23 point performance. Continuing their run, Oldenburg opened their Europe Cup campaign with a convincing 86-60 road win over Romanian team
Mobitelco Cluj Tuesday night October 14th. The backcourt of Rickey Paulding (20 points), Je'kel Foster (18 points) and Jason Gardner (15 points) keyed the win. Returning to Oldenburg Wednesday, the Thunderbirds faced a short week of preparation for Saturday's home game against ratiopharm Ulm.
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs averages 17pt 13reb in leading his team to a strong 4-0 start!
For ratiopharm Ulm, Saturday's road game at Oldenburg brings back the memory of last seasons miracle finish and thrilling last second road win. This time, after ALBA Berlins road loss to Ludwigsburg in Stuttgart at Porsche Arena Wednesday night, ratiopharm Ulm tavels to Oldenburg as the last remaining unbeaten Bundesliga team and currently sits atop the standings as 'Tabellenfuhrer' or first place. Only four weeks into the rigorous Bundesliga schedule, Ulm takes positive feedback from their strong start but remains focused on the weekly challenge from top opponents such as the Thunderbirds.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie Per Gunther has been the top new German player in the Bundesliga through the first 4 games! The talented 20 year old plays with poise and feel for the game beyond his years.
ratiopharm Ulm's early season success can be attributed to the squad's teamwork, improved defensive play and focused effort. While the team has played well defensively and on the boards, Ulm players and staff believe their is much untapped potential in the teams offensive play at the moment. Current leaders include All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs who has produced a dominant 17 points 13 rebounds per game. Shooting guard Lee Humphrey averages 10ppg on 34% three point shooting through tfour games and small forward Romeo Travis has been effective on both ends of the floor averaging 9ppg 7.3reb for Ulm. Keith Tripletts unbelievable defensive efforts have sparked the teams improved defensive play and rookie point guard Per Gunther has been the Bundesliga's best new German player through the first month of action. Overall, Ulm's team defense and rebounding have sparked their early season success but the team is focused for improvement together and better play individually.
ratiopharm Ulm coaches are excited for the challenge of top opponents like Oldenburg.
Starting strong this season, ratiopharm Ulm new players such as Keith Triplett (8), Per Gunther (6) and Dan Fitzgerald (25) have unselfishly boosted returning players like All Star Jeff Gibbs (34)!
With memories of Emeka Erege's buzzer beater on their mind from the past and confidence from their strong start of the present, ratiopharm Ulm has alot to feel good about in preparing for Saturdays game. Excited about the challenge to win in Oldenburg, ratiopharm Ulm is focused for another terrific matchup against the talented Thunderbirds. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
Emeka's Shot on Youtube
Emeka Erege's Buzzer Beater in Oldenburg December 9, 2007
SPLITS
ratiopharm Ulm and Ewe Baskets Oldenburg have split four games over the last two seasons. In 2006-2007 both teams protected their home court with wins while last year both Ulm and Oldenburg earned hardfought road wins against each other.
10 Game Win Streak!
Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 10 game win streak helped them rise up the Bundesliga standings last season. Head coach Predrag Krunic and his Thunderbirds enjoyed the longest winning streak in the Bundesliga last year.
PERKOVIC AND PEKOVIC
Oldenburg players Jasmin Perkovic (#12) and Miladin Pekovic (#33) are two key players in the Thunderbird rotation with similar last names. Perkovic and Pekovic makes calling an Oldenburg game a challenge. For instance, 'Perkovic picked Pekovic in the pick and roll'. Try saying that five times fast!
COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS
Basketball fans who follow NCAA basketball will certainly recognize several names for both teams Saturday night. While Ulm features several recognizeable names, Oldenburg has point guard Jason Gardner (Arizona), shooting guard Je'kel Foster (Ohio State), small forward Rickey Paulding (Missouri) and center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (Georgetown) on their team.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain made miracle shot last season
Romeo Travis: key to Ulm early season success at small forward!
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's All Star in top form averaging 17pt 13reb!
Keith Triplett : outstanding defensive effort a key to Ulm 4-0 start!
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter drilled 5 threes last road game
Dru Joyce: excellent floor general healthy after preseason injury!
Per Gunther: top new young german player in Bundesliga
Dan Fitzgerald: sharpshooting forward giving Ulm strong minutes!
Sean Finn: 17pt 12reb in last game v Oldenburg
Sebastian Betz: hardworking young wing has started season strong
Michael Schroeder: physical post player excited for matchup v Oldenburg
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Oldenburg, Germany
Main Sponsor: Ewe
Home Court: EWE Arena
website: www.ewe-baskets.de
2007-2008: 21-13 4th place
Offense: With an all star filled backcourt, the strength of the Oldenburg attack revolves around PG Jason Gardner, new shooting guard Je'kel Foster and former Detroit Pistons 2nd round NBA Draft Pick Rickey Paulding. Combined the three stars make the Thunderbirds tough to stop. The team excells in transition and with Gardner quarterbacking the offense, plays quality basketball in the halfcourt as well. Inside, big men Ruben Boumtje Boumtje and Milan Majstorovic provide a scoring presence while Jasmin Perkovic is a terrific inside-out scoring threat. Last season, Oldenburg enjoyed a ten game win streak as the team really came together. This year, the team has potential to be better with the addition of Foster and a season experience playing together.
Defense: A fundamental and solid defensive team, an athletic perimeter is supported by terrific size in the paint with shot blocking big man Boumtje Boumtje defending the rim. Paudling and Foster have tremendous ability to create steals, cause turnovers and spark transition by playing passing lanes. A physical inside presence and depth in the front court have this seasons edition of Oldenburg focused for another deep playoff run.
GM:
Head Coach: Predrag Krunic
Players:
Jason Gardner: outstanding PG runs things for Oldenburg
Je'kel Foster: excellent shooting guard/former Ludwigsburg star
Rickey Paulding: former Missouri Tiger gave Ulm 30 last season
Milan Majstorovic: 6'10 Serbian C in top shape this year
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: C is experienced and excellent shot blocker
Jasmin Perkovic: powerful Croatian 4man/skilled in-out scorer
Mladin Pekovic: Serbian swing man/terrific 3pt shooter
Marko Scekic: newly added active big man/energy player/
Daniel Hain: young German wing from Hertener Lowen
Marco Buljevic: 3pt shooting wing/young german talent
Daniel Strauch: pick n pop 3pt spot shooting/rebounding German post
