TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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BACK TO FULL STRENGTH!
Ulm returns to action with road trip to Paderborn!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Paderborn Baskets
Wednesday January 7th, 2009 8pm
Sportszentrum Maspernplatz Paderborn, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm returns to their exciting Bundesliga schedule with a road trip to Paderborn for an 8pm Wednesday night tip against the Paderborn Baskets at Sportszentrum Maspernplatz. Not only will the team return to action, Ulm center Sean Finn also returns to action completely recovered from an ankle injury which forced him to miss the teams last three games of 2008. Back to full strength, Ulm is excited about the challenges Wednesday night in Paderborn.
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce is focused for a great 2009!
Posting a 10-5 record at Christmas, ratiopharm Ulm overcame several injuries in the first half of the season. Opening the year without starting point guard Dru Joyce, rookie Per Gunther made an impressive Bundesliga debut pushing Ulm to two wins. Soon after, defensive ace Keith Triplett missed three games due to an arm infection. Not long after Keith's return, back up center Michael Schroeder went down with a groin injury which held him out of 2 games. Finally, in the Tubingen derby game, Sean Finn suffered an ankle injury which sidelined him for the final three games of 2008. A testament to the teams bench, depth and teamwork, several players have stepped up their game and responded at different times throughout Ulms season. Considering these bumps and bruises, Ulm's Christmas break practices were fantastic because the entire team took part. Building up excitement and energy for their return to action, Ulm's game in Paderborn will be one of the first games all season the entire roster will be ready to go. Certainly ratiopharm Ulm is excited to be back to full strength!
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett ranks among the Bundesliga's best defensive players!
With both ratiopharm Ulm and Paderborn Baskets enjoying their 2.Bundesliga championship seasons in 2005-2006, a natural rivalry exists as the two teams won their way into the Bundesliga the same season and have maintained their spots over the last two years. In fact, both Ulm and Paderborn finished 16-18 in 2006-2007. Last season, they both finished 16-18 once again! Certainly, both teams have established themselves well in their first two Bundesliga campaigns.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey extended his contract with his team before the Trier game! The former Florida Gator looks to take his game to the next level with Ulm!
After a slow start to the season, Paderborn has put together a nice three game winning streak improving their record to 6-8. Injury troubles slowed the Baskets early in the season as Nathan Peavy missed the first 10 games and Stefano Garris continued to recover from injuries which slowed him last season in Frankfurt. Three games into the season Paderborn added a key piece to their front court signing veteran post man Chris Ensminger. After battling through the first two months, Paderborn finally put together a healthy team and began to earn wins. The teams current winning streak comes as no surprise because Paderborn head coach Doug Spradley has finally had his players available. Winning their first game of the season 72-66 on the road in Tubingen Saturday night September 20th, Paderborn then dropped 4 straight falling first to Nordlingen 76-67 in overtime in their home opener September 25th before losing in Trier 85-67 October 4th, 84-77 at home to brose Baskets Bamberg October 11th and again in overtime 78-77 in Braunschweig at Volkswagonhalle. Paderborn returned home to beat Dusseldorf 91-74 October 22nd and up their record to 2-4. But they fell in their next two games 61-56 in Frankfurt October 25th and 82-69 at home to Oldenburg November 1st. On November 15th, the baskets earned an impressive 95-85 home win over Artland Dragons moving to 3-6. Back to back losses in Giessen 79-68 November 22nd and then at home to Bonn 75-67 on November 29th. But during the Bonn game, Paderborn welcomed back key forward Nathan Peavy. Since his return, the team has posted a 3-1 mark with Peavy's play being a key. During the teams recent three game win streak, Paderborn has beaten the Koln 99ers 99-93 December 7th at Rheinenergie Dome, topped struggling Eisbaren Bremerhaven 77-68 December 12th and won in their final game before Christmas break 77-73 at Ludwigsburg December 20th.
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis has been in top form for the last month!
Last season ratiopharm Ulm and Paderborn split a pair of meetings with Paderborn winning at Sportszentrum Kuhberg December 16th and Ulm claiming a German Cup Sweet 16 victory in early Febuary.
Click for Ulm v Paderborn German Cup Sweet 16 Game Summary!
But late last year, Paderborn took the rubber game beating ratiopharm Ulm 101-91 at Sportszentrum Maspernplaz.
Click for 4-18-08 Ulm @ Paderborn Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs will make his third straight All Star appearance later this month!
The matchup between Ulm and Paderborn has provided exciting basketball for Bundesliga fans for two consecutive seasons. Before the German Cup Sweet 16 game, Paderborn clearly had the better of the meetings. Click the links below for recent game recaps of Ulm v Paderborn:
Sunday December 16, 2007 Game Summary
Febuary 25th, 2007 Game Summary
October 20th, 2006 Game Summary
Paderborn revamped their team from last season as star guard Tim Black signed with Antwerpen in Belgium for this year. The teams other star returned as Steve Esterkamp continues to provide a perimeter scoring threat in Paderborn. Ulm fans will remember Esterkamp going off in last seasons April Paderborn win over Ulm as he scorched the Ulm defense for 19 points in the first quarter and 34 in the game. This season the veteran Esterkamp has produced 14.5ppg 3.6reb 2/4ast while shooting 27% from three and 86% from the foul line. Also returning to Paderborn to provide continuity, hardworking forward Marius Nolte (8.6ppg 3.6reb 71% FT) adds energy and physical defensive work in the paint. Both Esterkamp and Nolte were key parts of Paderborn's 'Aufsteig' team in 2005-2006 and remain in important roles with their team today. With the departure of Black and several other pieces of last seasons roster, Paderborn brought in two Bundesliga veteran point guards. Lavelle Felton (10.9ppg 3reb 2.1ast 30% three) runs the show after joining Science City Jena last season. Felton is a solid PG who brings good size and versatility to the floor. Wright backs him up and adds 6.4ppg 2.5ast and 31% from three. Homegrown talent Stefano Garris was brought in after several good seasons in Berlin and most recently Frankfurt and the former German National team wing has contributed alot defensively as he continues to recover from lingering injuries. After playing the 2006-2007 season in Paderborn, talented forward Reggie Gibson also returns to the baskets this year. A scoring forward, Gibson has produced 9pt 4.5reb and adds versatility to the attack. While Garris and Gibson make their return in Paderborn, scoring guard Bryant McAllister plays his first season with the team. The skillful guard has started recent games and has shot 40% from three scoring 6.1ppg. Paderborn's frontcourt revolves around the physical veteran post man Chris Ensminger (10.8ppg 10.3reb) and versatile scoring forward Nathan Peavy. Ensminger provides Paderborn with a physical post defender and scoring option on the block while Peavy has exploded for a team best 20.5ppg 6reb while hitting four of his ten threes in four games. Rookie center Matt Terwilliger comes off the bench to spell Ensminger and the former Ohio State Buckeye big man gives the team a perimeter shooting presence. Young Germans Thomas Gajda and Robert Ohle round out the Paderborn roster. Overall, the hardworking Paderborn team has found their rhythm as they have regained their health.
Ulm C Sean Finn returns to action in Paderborn after recovering from an ankle injury that kept him from playing in the teams last three games.
ratiopharm Ulm boards their double-decker team bus and heads to Paderborn Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night, the team will workout at Sportszentrum Maspernplatz and enjoy their team dinner and night-before-game program. Ulm's two previous road trips resulted in convincing Paderborn wins and the Ulm team understands the challenges at hand. After a perfect Christmas break and excellent return to practice, ratiopharm Ulm is up for the next chance and the next challenges in Paderborn. Just as important, ratiopharm Ulm is very happy to be back to full strength.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
final Bundesliga All Star fan voting
ratiopharm Ulm players were well represented in Bundesliga All Star Fan voting which concluded earlier this week. All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs earned his third straight trip to the Bundesliga All Star game by taking the most fan votes of any Bundesliga player beating out ALBA Berlin's Julius Jenkins for the top spot. While Jeff takes his place as a starter in the South lineup, Ulm was well represented at the other four positions as point guard Dru Joyce, shooting guard Lee Humphrey, small forward Romeo Travis and center Sean Finn all finished a popular third. Final fan voting below:
NORTH
Point Guard: 1. Jason Gardner (EWE Baskets Oldenburg, 26,54 %), 2. Steffen Hamann (ALBA Berlin, 19,43 %), 3. Kyle Bailey (BG 74 Göttingen, 9,90 %)
Shooting Guard: 1. Julius Jenkins (ALBA Berlin, 27,98 %), 2. Casey Jacobsen (ALBA Berlin, 9,59 %), 3. Immanuel McElroy (ALBA Berlin, 9,33 %)
Small Forward: 1. Rickey Paulding (EWE Baskets Oldenburg, 26,98 %), 2. Adam Hess (Artland Dragons, 21,41 %), 3. Steven Esterkamp (Paderborn Baskets, 12,22 %)
Power Forward: 1. Ansu Sesay (ALBA Berlin, 27,99 %), 2. Aleksandar Nadjfeji (ALBA Berlin, 13,34 %), 3. Chad Prewitt (Artland Dragons, 7,85 %)
Center: 1. Darius Hall (Artland Dragons, 16,10 %), 2. Darren Fenn (Artland Dragons, 14,92 %), 3. Adam Chubb (ALBA Berlin, 13,03 %)
SOUTH
Point Guard: 1. Pascal Roller (Deutsche Bank SKYLINERS, 17,79 %), 2. Heiko Schaffartzik (LTi Giessen 46ers, 11,31 %), 3. Dru Joyce (ratiopharm Ulm, 9,95 %)
Shooting Guard: 1. Brandon Woudstra (EnBW Ludwigsburg, 17,45%), 2. Demond Greene (Brose Baskets, 17,19 %), 3. Lee Humphrey (ratiopharm Ulm, 11,16 %)
Small Forward: 1. Konrad Wysocki (Deutsche Bank SKYLINERS, 21,43 %), 2. Winsome Frazier (Telekom Baskets Bonn, 14,97 %), 3. Romeo Travis (ratiopharm Ulm, 11,49 %)
Power Forward: 1. Jeff Gibbs (ratiopharm Ulm, 30,00 %), 2. Derrick Allen (Deutsche Bank SKYLINERS, 11,55 %), 3. Brandon Bowman (Telekom Baskets Bonn, 9,50 %)
Center: 1. Tim Ohlbrecht (Brose Baskets, 14,75 %), 2. Ken Johnson (Telekom Baskets Bonn, 13,31 %), 3. Sean Finn (ratiopharm Ulm, 12,78 %)
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain showing good leadership
Romeo Travis: excellent games in Ulm's December stretch!
Jeff Gibbs: focused for strong performance in Paderborn
Keith Triplett : ulm defensive stopper in top form
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter extended contract before Christmas
Dru Joyce: Ulm floor general ready for challenge in Paderborn
Per Gunther: rookie star establishing himself in Bundesliga!
Dan Fitzgerald: key wing has been very productive as a rookie!
Sean Finn: back in the lineup and healthy for game!
Sebastian Betz: hardworking wing gives Ulm excellent depth
Michael Schroeder:enjoyed best game of last season in Paderborn
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Paderborn, Germany
Main Sponsor:
Home Court: Sportzentrum Maspernplatz
website: www.paderborn-baskets.de
2006-2007: 16-18 9th place Bundesliga
Offense: After featuring a terrific three guard attack for the last two seasons centered around Bundesliga leading scorer Tim Black, Paderborn has changed their look slightly to fit their new lineup. Perimeter shooting remains from Esterkamp and this seasons team features several talented wings in Bryant McAllister, Stefano Garris and Reggie Golson. Bundesliga veteran guards Lavelle Felton and Stephen Wright play major roles in the offense. In the post, physical veteran Chris Ensminger and talented Nathan Peavy provide a nice combination of inside and outside skills. Relying on fundamental sets and and a variety of screen-the-screener, flash cuts, staggered doubles and zipper cuts, Paderborn has a solid attack.
Defense: A physical defensive team is the calling card of Paderborn and this seasons team has picked up their defensive work as they have gotten healthy. Guards apply ballpressure and post men Ensminger and Nolte are extremely physical. A hardnosed man to man team, Paderborn traditionally will play some 2-3 zone on endline and sideline inbound situations.
GM:
Head Coach: Doug Spradley
Players:
Steve Esterkamp: multiskilled wing is key for Paderborn
Nathan Peavy: talented scoring F from Miami Ohio
Marius Nolte: hardworking physical 4 man/ key part of team
Chris Ensminger: physical C a vital part of Paderborn success
Lavelle Felton: starting PG after starting last season in Jena
Stephen Wright: scoring PG joins Paderborn from Braunschweig
Reggie Golson: scoring wing returns to Paderborn
Bryant McAllister: talented rookie G shooting 40% from three
Stefano Garris: former German National team player adds great D
Matt Terwilliger: former Ohio St Buckeye big man adds post depth
Thomas Gajda
Robert Oehle
