TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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STRONG SECOND HALF:
ratiopharm Ulm tops Trier with team effort!
ratiopharm Ulm put all five starters in double figures led by All Star Jeff Gibbs who powered his way to a team best 24 point 9 rebound 4 assist night in a 92-70 win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday night. Trailing the determined Trier team 41-37 at half, Ulm found their rhythm regaining the lead in the third before breaking the game open with a 31-13 fourth quarter. An all-around team effort, Ulm shot 53% from the floor and distributed 19 assists while outrebounding their guests 36-27 in the win. Now 4-4, ratiopharm Ulm received 16 points 9 rebounds from Konrad Wysocki, 15 points 6 assists from Kyle Bailey and 14 points apiece from EJ Gallup and Bryan Lucas.
ratiopharm Ulm salutes their fans following their 4th win!
Coming off consecutive road losses the last two games, ratiopharm Ulm took several positives from their 78-67 loss in Koln and 87-77 loss in Leverkusen as they prepared for Saturdays Bundesliga battle against a reloaded TBB Trier team. Ulm's two hardfought losses ensured attention to detail among the team and the home court advantage of Sportszentrum Kuhberg set the table for confidence prior to tip off. A big part of Ulm's 3-0 record entering the Trier game, Ulm fans brought tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the atmosphere, a clear holdover from the last home win over powerhouse ALBA Berlin.
Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs was excellent scoring 24 points with 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
But everyone associated with Ulm basketball understood how challenging the contest against Trier would be. While Ulm entered the game 3-4, Trier tipped off at 2-6 over their road-heavy schedule. Answering their slow start, Trier made several roster moves to strengthen their team and brought two powerful new post men with them. After pulling within one of the Koln 99ers in last weeks loss, the extra time together with the new players on the practice floor would only strengthen Head Coach Joe Whelton's team. But ratiopharm Ulm was focused for improvement from last weeks late loss in Leverkusen which saw the team play extremely well into the 4th quarter before an experienced Leverkusen team overtook them. With a focused week of practice, Ulm and Trier entered Saturday nights game ready to work for the important two points awarded for a win.
Konrad Wysocki energized Ulm for 16 points and 9 boards including several key baskets in his teams second half surge.
As the action began, Trier clearly came to play. Slowing the tempo and managing the game, the focused Trier team opened with sharp offense. Forward Caleb Green scored several baskets inside with nice post moves and point guard Jerome Coleman finished plays in the paint. Ulm started slowly lacking zip to their attack and casually executing their game plan. Turnovers stymied the Ulm attack and Trier capitalized for a 24-17 first quarter. While Jeff Gibbs established his inside game early scoring and getting to the foul line, Ulm's lack of aggressiveness played right into the hands of the well-prepared and determined Trier team.
Steady Bryan Lucas, finishing an Ulm possession with an exclamaiton point slam, continued his outstanding season with a strong 14 point 5 rebound night.
In the second quarter, Gibbs continued to carry the Ulm offense but received help from Bryan Lucas on the block. On the perimeter EJ Gallup and Kyle Bailey both buried two first half threes, one coming as a shot clock beating desperation shot from the left wing by KB. Green and Coleman combined for 25 of Trier's 41 first half points and Joe Wheltons team shot 52% from the floor while Ulm hit only 41% in the first half. Ulm outscored Trier in the second quarter 20-17, but it was the visitors who took the 41-37 lead into the halftime lockerroom.
Ulm's EJ Gallup drives past Trier's James Gillingham in Saturday nights game. EJ was in fine form scoring 14 points with 4 assists.
At the half, Ulm had done everything they wanted to do according to the pre-game game plan. However, in this case, the first half went like the old saying "it's not what you do, it's how you do it." Ulm executed properly, but played without passion. After a quality halftime discussion, Ulm returned to the floor aiming to change the game in the second half.
Ulm PG Kyle Bailey finishes a leaner at the rim Saturday night. KB produced 15 points 6 assists and buried 3 of 4 three pointers.
Early on the team responded. Individually players found a spring in their step and accelerated their tempo. Together, the Ulm attack began to click. Defensive teamwork led to stops which triggered transition. The improved tempo brought the crowd into the action and Ulm turned it up. With a strong effort to open the second half from the starting five, Ulm bench players began to make plays. Dru Joyce brought tremendous defensive intensity and ball pressure to the perimeter and made several nice finishes to penetrating plays in the paint on offense. Sean Finn strengthened the Ulm front line with excellent low post defense and helped change several Trier shots in Ulm's third quarter run. Finally, as Jeff Gibbs needed a breather, reliable Florian Mobius stepped into the game to play critical minutes effectively while Jeff took a rest toward the end of the third. Many of the "winning plays" the Ulm players made do not show up in the boxscore, but the team effort from Ulm's entire roster was outstanding in the second half. Working toward their fourth win, the strong teamwork led to a 24-16 third quarter and gave Ulm a 61-57 lead heading into the fourth.
Ulm's Dru Joyce sparked his team with intense defense and attacking offense in Saturdays game.
Early in the fourth, Ulm broke the game open and built their lead to 17 behind strong finishes in the lane and accurate outside shooting. Trier point guard Jerome Coleman limped off the floor after sustaining a minor injury during this time limiting Trier to play without both top point guards Marcus Taylor and Coleman. In emergency duty, captain James Gillingham took over the playmaking job. Trier collected themselves during a timeout and fought back into the game as ratiopharm Ulm went through a sloppy stretch which resulted in turnovers leading to 2 on 1 breaks. Finally, up 12 with just over 4 minutes to play, an Ulm timeout brought the team together. Refocused to finish the game, point guard Kyle Bailey managed Ulm's possessions perfectly using the clock before creating shots for teammates from his penetration. Bailey found EJ Gallup who buried a three and flung a cross court pass to Konrad Wysocki who buried a right corner three. Continuing their strong second half defensive effort, Ulm exploded on a 31-13 fourth quarter run. At the final buzzer, Ulm's 92-70 win was a much more difficult game than the 22 point victory margin would indicate.
Sebastian Betz scores from a basket cut Saturday against Trier.
ratiopharm Ulm put all five starters in double figures as Jeff Gibbs scored 24 points with 9 rebounds, Konrad Wysocki 16 points with 9 boards, Kyle Bailey 15 points 6 assists, Bryan Lucas 14 points 5 boards and EJ Gallup 14 points 4 assists. As a team Ulm hit 53% from the floor and nailed 21 of 28 from the foul line for 75%. Ulm outrebounded Trier 36-27 and dished out 19 assists to 12 turnovers in the win. Caleb Green was strong for Trier scoring 19 points with 5 boards followed by Jerome Coleman, Jonathan Moore and Mike Benton with 10 points apiece. Trier shot 45% for the game including 5 of 20 from three and also handed out 16 assists to 13 turnovers.
Coach Mike Taylor was pleased with Ulm's adjustments and teamwork throughout the game Saturday.
Evening their record at 4-4 for the season, ratiopharm Ulm returns to the practice floor Monday with their sights set on next weekends road trip north to the German sea town of Bremerhaven where they will meet Eisbaren Bremerhaven. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
