TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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KUHBERG CLASSIC!
ULM SOLVES SKYLINERS PUZZLE; IMPROVES TO 4-0!
Sparked by an intense defensive effort and unique lineup, ratiopharm Ulm staged an inspiring second half comeback to earn a tight 66-63 home win over the powerful Deutsche Bank Skyliners before a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd Sturday night in Ulm. Slowed by the unique triangle and two defense employed by Frankfurt in the first half, Ulm countered with a small lineup featuring two point guards in the third quarter. After being puzzled by the intense Frankfurt defense in the first half, Ulm players found the solution in the second half solving the Skyliners changing defenses leading to the Ulm comeback. Romeo Travis led the Ulm attack with a terrific 15 point 11 rebound double double with help from All Star power forward Jeff Gibb's 13 point 12 rebound double double. Keith Triplett's defensive intensity was also a key to victory as the lock-down defender exhausted himself on-court with his effort helping Ulm improve to 4-0.
Romeo Travis was outstanding in ratiopharm Ulm's 66-63 home win over Deutsche Bank Skyliners at a soldout Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturdy night in Ulm. Romeo produced a tough 15 point 11 rebound double double to lead the Ulm attack.
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ratiopharm Ulm All Star Power Forward Jeff Gibbs scores inside against Skyliner defenders with a strong power move as part of his excellent 13 point 12 rebound double double Saturday night.
Excitement filled the city prior to Saturdays tip off against the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. The sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd anxiously awaited the return of their former fan-favorite small forward Konrad Wysocki. After three seasons with Ulm, Konrad enjoyed a fantastic season last year with Ulm emerging as a top young talent in the Bundesliga and making a name for himself as an All Star. Konrad's excellent run continued into the summer with the German National team where he played his way onto the roster for the Bejing Olympics last August. Konrad signed with the Skyliners and Ulm fans lost a favorite. Saturday night, the energy in the stands was not just for the ratiopharm Ulm team, part was to welcome home a former teammate.
Ulm's Dru Joyce sinks a beautiful mid-lane finish over a challenging Derrick Allen in the second half of Saturday's game. After missing the first two games of the season and playing his way back into rhythm last week, Dru returned to excellent form with a quality 12 point 4 assist performance.
The sell out crowd packed into Sportszentrum Kuhberg and filled the gym with signs welcoming Konrad Wysocki home. Once starting lineups were announced, fans could see the Skyliners understood the significance of the evening too as they put Konrad in the starting five for his return game to Ulm. After a slow start to the season with his new team, maybe the Sportszentrum Kuhberg environment would be exactly what the talented forward would need.
Ulm's Sean Finn shoots his skillful left hook as former teammate Konrad Wysocki defends in the first half of Saturdays game.
At tip off, a focused Ulm team started fast. Behind an active Romeo Travis, Ulm raced to a 6-0 lead. The former Akron forward hit mid-range jumper from an inbound play and scored with a strong finish in the lane. Familiar to Ulm fans, Konrad Wysocki struck back with back to back three pointers. Travis answered again giving Ulm an 8-6 lead. Derrick Allen effectively scored inside against the Ulm defense and the two teams went nose to nose. Both teams worked to establish their imprint on the game. Ulm ran their quick-hitting sets while Frankfurt spread the floor for Pascal Roller ballscreens. Ulm led 16-14 and extended their advantage to 21-16 before strong Skyliner finish to the first quarter. Konrad hammered a slam before veteran point guard Pascal Roller buried a buzzerbeater pulling Frankfurt within one 21-20.
Ulm's Keith Triplett signs autographs for young fans after Saturdays win. Keith starred in the game 'defending until exhaustion'.
Quarter two saw the game change thanks to Skyliner head coach Murat Didin. Ulm's detailed offense faced a consistent triangle and two defense for the first time this season. Expecting the gimic defense after scouting it, Ulm immediately attacked using their game plan. Unfortunately, the open shots the team took simply rimmed out. As the Ulm shots missed, Skyliner energy level elevated. Big man Lorenzo Gordon's inside bucket gave Frankfurt their first lead of the game at 22-21. Ulm's Romeo Travis responded with mid-range J to give his team a 23-22 lead. Skyliners edged ahead bucket for bucket and held a slim 29-28 advantage. But the talented Frankfurt team was poised for a run. After an emphatic shotblock from Jeff Gibbs on a Konrad Wysocki attempt, Frankfurt ran down the loose ball and found skillful Ilian Evtimov for the open three point shot. Keith Simmons also made plays in the second quarter scoring from a Dominik Bahiense de Mello steal before setting up Evtimov with a pass of his own. Ulm's offense was puzzled by the Skyliner defense and simply missed open shots. Frankfurt extended their lead to 35-28 at the half. Derrick Allen's skills were showcased during the 6-0 run to finish the first half and the Skyliners went into the lockerroom feeling great about their chances.
Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey drives to the basket as Frankfurt's Keith Simmons defends Saturday night. Lee buried a clutch three in the fourth quarter helping his team earn the exciting win down the stretch.
At the half, the Skyliners triangle and two defense clearly disrupted the Ulm flow. Ulm made only 10 of 35 (29%) shots in the half and only 2 of 13 (15%) from three. Ulm's excellent work on the boards had them outrebounding the Skyliners 21-12 after 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Skyliners sank 15 of 27 shots (56%) and 3 of 6 threes. Derrick Allen led the Frankfurt attack with 12 points followed by Konrad Wysocki with 8. The halftime challenge for ratiopharm Ulm became solving the puzzle of the Skyliners defense.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther finishes at the rim in the second half of Saturdays win over the Deutsche Bank Skyliners. Per provided a terrific spark for his team playing side by side with fellow point guard Dru Joyce against the Skyliner triangle and two defense.
As the second half started, Ulm's worked hard to trim the deficit. Romeo Travis powered home a two hand slam then followed up with a second basket from an offensive rebound. Ulm's 4-0 lead ignited the crowd as they cut the game to 35-32 one minute into play. Dru Joyce found Sean Finn for a lob slam dunk bringing the crowd even more into the action. Frankfurt responded with baskets from Derrick Allen on a reverse layup. Ulm's Dru Joyce and Frankfurt's Konrad Wysocki exchanged three pointers and action continued. Lee Humphrey tied the score at 41 with a big three pointer. With both teams finding their rhythm, Frankfurt went to their changing defenses using both triangle and two as well as a basic 2-3 zone. ratiopharm Ulm responded with a small lineup playing both point guards Dru Joyce and Per Gunther side by side. Using their dribble skills to attack the gaps of the Frankfurt triangle and two or 2-3 zone defense, the two point guards made several important plays for their team. Per beat full court pressure against the best Skyliner defenders and finished a slicing drive from the left wing before finishing a skillfull floater over rotating defenders on the right side. While the two point guards impacted the action, Ulm wing Keith Triplett also began to make his mark. Triplett and Evtimov traded three pointers as the third quarter came to a close and a runout layup from Per Gunther was ruled after the buzzer sending the two teams into the fourth quarter with Frankfurt holding the lead in a 55-52 game.
Basketball fans were treated to the exciting head to head matchup between two of the best power forwards in the Bundesliga in Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and Frankfurt's Derrick Allen. The two talented All Stars always provide fans a highlight when they meet.
In the second half, Ulm's crowd became a factor in the game and the sixth man of Sportzentrum Kuhberg appeared. With loud, enthusiastic support raising the intensity on the floor, ratiopharm Ulm turned it up. No player reached a higher intensity level than defensive-ace Keith Triplett. Hounding the Skyliners fullcourt, pressuring the basketball, playing passing lanes, beating screens, snuffing driving space, Triplett was everywhere. His three key steals led to Ulm fast break chances and brought energy from the crowd. Ulm took the lead with a critical 8-1 run. Behind Keith's inspiration, Ulm team defense forced two 24 shot clock violations in the fourth quarter. Tiplett defended with such effort and intensity he literally exhausted himself half way through the fourth quarter and subbed himself out of the game for a brief time. Dru Joyce sank a big three and Jeff Gibbs powered his way for an important basket in the paint off a nice dish from Per Gunther. Ulm led 60-56. Frankfurt's Keith Simmons slammed home two points off an inbound play and breakdown in Ulm defense. But Lee Humphrey drilled a deep three from the left wing and ratiopharm Ulm led 66-61 and Frankfurt called timeout with exactly one minute to play. In the final possessions, Lorenzo Gordon scored pulling the Skyliners to 66-63. After a defensive stop gave Frankfurt one more chance to tie, Ulm defense rose to the occassion forcing a tough Pascal Roller right wing three that missed at the buzzer. Hearing the final horn, the sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd celebrated the hardfought 66-63 win.
Familiar face but unfamiliar uniform --- Ulm's sell out Sportszentrum Kuhberg welcomed Konrad Wysocki and the former Ulm All Star responded with his best performance of the season with Frankfurt.
Romeo Travis starred for ratiopharm Ulm posting a strong 15 point 11 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs also recorded another double double with 13 points 12 boards. Dru Joyce was also in excellent form scoring 12 points with 4 assists without a turnover in the win. Keith Triplett's 7 points were great but his relentless defense, 3 steals and 3 rebounds were critical for Ulm. Derrick Allen paced the Skyliners with 16 points, Konrad Wysocki added 14 points and Ilian Evtimov 12. In the win, Ulm shot 42% from the floor, 7 of 25 from three (28%) and 9 of 16 (56%) from the foul line while outrebounding the Skyliners 36-25. Frankfurt hit 45% from the field, 7 of 19 from three (37%) and 6 of 13 from the foul line (46%). Losing to the Skyliners twice last season, the hardfought home win was extra special for Ulm and fans considering the return of Konrad Wysocki. It was also nice for Ulm basketball fans to see Konrad play his best game of the season for Frankfurt Saturday night.
ratiopharm Ulm mascots Wyle E Coyote (Ernst) and Buggs Bunny (Spass) attempt to distract an officials huddle during a timeout Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
Ulm's rowdy Sportszentrum Kuhberg crowd distracts Konrad Wysocki into two misses in the fourth quarter of Saturdays game.
Sportszentrum Kuhberg errupts at the final buzzer of ratiopharm Ulm's exciting 66-63 win Saturday night!
Former teammates Romeo Travis and Konrad Wysocki embrace after a hardfought game Saturday night.
ratiopharm Ulm salutes their enthusiastic fans thanking them for the push in the second half of Saturdays win!
Now 4-0, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to a terrific challenge against an excellent Ewe Baskets Oldenburg team Saturday night October 18th at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
