TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM FACES POWERFUL BERLIN!
ratiopharm Ulm vs ALBA Berlin
Friday October 27, 2007 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm tips off against Bundesliga power ALBA Berlin Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. The 7 time Bundesliga champion and 4 time German Cup winner, ALBA Berlin is one of the top Bundesliga organizations on and off the floor. Consistent winners, ALBA has finished first atop the Bundesliga standings the last four regular seasons but come up empty in postseason. This season Berlin has made significant changes to their team with the aim to capture another title. Meanwhile, ratiopharm Ulm looks to challenge themselves against the Bundesliga's best and aim to capture another upset win.
Konrad Wysocki has been in top form for Ulm this season and continues to stretch the limits of his excellent potential!
ALBA Berlin enters Sportszentrum Kuhberg with a strong 4-1 start to the 2007-2008 Bundesliga season. After opening with a tough 78-72 road win at Artland Arena, in a game which helped them start the season positively where last years playoffs ended with disappointment. Next, the Berliners beat the Giessen 46ers 93-54 at home October 10th before topping Gottingen 102-85 on October 16th. However, in the Gottingen game, head coach Luka Pavicevic was given two technical fouls for arguing with officials and kicked out of the game. Fined from the league, the ALBA head coach also served a suspension the next week against Leverkusen. Unexpectedly, ALBA fell in Leverkusen 83-67 October 19th but bounced back with a big 78-59 win over Koln 99ers last weekend on October 21st.
Ulm's sniper EJ Gallup sank 6 threes last game v Giessen. Now, EJ and his teammates have their sights set on an upset.
Last season, ratiopharm Ulm dropped two decisions to ALBA Berlin, losing 88-67 Saturday October 7, 2006 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg and falling 73-64 at Max Schmellinghalle in Berlin Febuary 4th, 2007.
Click here for complete Ulm @ ALBA Flashback
Click here for complete Ulm vs ALBA Flashback
After completing last season with a 28-6 first place finish, Berlin was swept in the first round of the playoffs by last seasons cinderella Artland squad. ALBA won 7 straight Bundesliga Titles from 1997 through 2003 in the fantastic Wendell Alexis Era. Although the team has maintained their high level of success, their trophy cabinet remains the same but they do hope there is much room for more hardware this year.
Jeff Gibbs powers Ulm's inside game! Despite drawing double teams and extra-physical play, Jeff has started the season strong scoring 11.8ppg with 11.3reb and a terrific 88% from the foul line!
ALBA Berlin made major changes to their team from last season as Head Coach Henrik Rodl was replaced by new man Luka Pavicevic. Revamping the roster, ALBA kept scoring guard Julius Jenkins (19.4ppg 3.2reb) and young talent Joe Herbert, Philip Zwiener and Nicolai Simon. However, the remainder of the team was added new. Top American import players DiJon Thompson (15.8ppg 6.8reb 2.2ast) and point guard Bobby Brown (13.4ppg 2.8reb 5.8ast) have emerged as impact players. German National team center Patrick Femerling (12.2ppg 5.6reb) mans the middle and former NBA C Michael Bradley (Villanova), strengthen the inside game. Versatile Dragan Dojcin (8.5ppg 4.5reb 3ast) signs with Berlin from Panionios Athen in Greece and will certainly be a top player in the Bundesliga and skilled forward Goran Nikolic (7.6ppg 3.8reb) adds soft shooting touch with inside-out skills. Point guard Goran Jeterin, brought in as the main playmaker, suffered a knee injury and will miss the majority of the season. American Bobby Brown has taken the team leading duties and performed well in the early season. Vujadin Subotic, a former Braunschweig Phantom, adds depth and skill on the wing while big man Mladin Pantic brings energy and hustle to the frontcourt. This season, ALBA has been impressive on both ends of the floor using their size and physical ability to limit offenses. Meanwhile, at the other end, ALBA features high percentage shooters led by scoring guard Julius Jenkins (58% from floor 55% from three), DiJon Thompson (67% from floor and 56% from three), Patrick Femerling (79% from floor and 79% from foul line) and Goran Nikolic (64% from floor and 50% from three). Also playing in the ULEB Cup, ALBA Berlin is once again poised for another fantastic basketball season in 2007-2008.
Kyle Bailey is determined to stretch the limits with Ulm! KB has produced a high quality 14ppg 3.3reb and 3.3ast while making the jump from 2.Bundesliga to Bundesliga and shifting from shooting guard to point guard --- IMPRESSIVE!
For ratiopharm Ulm, a terrific team win last weekend over Giessen set the tone for a positive week in practice. Aiming for another strong performance, the team specifically spent time focusing on their defensive work after allowing 34 points to the 46ers in the first quarter. The team made the adjustment to hold Giessen to 27 total points in the second half, but to beat an opponent like ALBA Berlin, a team must play high level basketball on both ends for the full 40 minutes. Making things difficult for Ulm, captain Emeka Erege is back on the injured list after tweaking his lef muscle in the late stages of the Giessen home win last Friday. Erege had been sidelined up until the Giessen game with an ankle injury, and Friday's muscle problem is the next adversity the Ulm captain and team must handle. Although Ulm hopes Emeka is healthy as soon as possible, the play of Konrad Wysocki has been a fantastic element of Ulm's early season performances. Filling in for Erege, veteran Jan Sprunken and young talent Sebastian Betz have been fantastic at the big guard position. Betz continue to impress as a rookie in the Bundesliga and the experienced Sprunken is the consumate team player. Wysocki, Betz, Sprunken and backup guard Dru Joyce are likely to take responsibility with Emeka out of the lineup. Along with the wings, Ulm post men have been in quality form early this season. Ulm's All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs is the teams central figure and keystone. Post man Bryan Lucas has been fantastic in the seasons first 4 games and backup big men Sean Finn and Florian Mobius have both significantly helped the Ulm attack from the bench. New PG Kyle Bailey continues to demonstrate his high skill level and quietly added 15 points 6 assists to the team win over Giessen. Bailey has shown floor general skills and with Alaskan Ice Water in his blood giving him the ability to make clutch shots.
Ulm's Sean Finn hammers home this dunk against Giessen. Finn currently ranks 8th in the Bundesliga in blocked shots per game!
ratiopharm Ulm has not beaten ALBA Berlin in a regular season game since the Albatross rise to power in the early 1990's. Certainly Saturday's David v Goliath matchup will draw much interest in the city and surrounding Ulm area and a Soldout Sportszentrum Kuhberg is expected.
Ulm rookie Sebastian Betz is shooting 54% from three and 53% from the floor in his first 4 Bundesliga games as a 22 year old!
Nicknamed "Fresh", Dru Joyce plays with cool composure. The rookie from Akron is averaging 6 points and 1.5 assist with excellent defense for Ulm.
ratiopharm Ulm has made a habit of upsetting top teams at home since their return to the Bundesliga last season. As an "Aufsteiger" Ulm edged Koln, Ludwigsburg and Bonn at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in 2006-2007. However, history shows Berlin has dominated Ulm with Ulm winning only 6 times and none since ALBA's emergance as a Bundesliga power.
ratiopharm Ulm Head Coach Mike Taylor loves the Sportszentrum Kuhberg fans who power the team as they challenge themselves against the Bundesliga's best!
Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, power will be on display. Upset-minded Ulm aims to win one for the underdogs but ALBA Berlin's shadow of success looms as large and as imposing as Brandenburg Tor. Ulm will be put to the test this weekend on their home floor. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
ANOTHER INJURY FOR EMEKA!
ratiopharm Ulm captain Emeka Erege suffered a slight muscle injury late in last Friday's home win over Giessen. After Ulm medical staff of Andi Lacher and Dr Buch examined Erege, it was determined he will be sidelined while rehabilitating this next injury. After twisting his ankle in the Czech Republic, Erege rehabbed to be ready for his first Bundesliga action of the season last week but suffered this next set back. Erege is expected to return within a 10 day to 2 week span.
BUNDESLIGA BEST!
ratiopharm Ulm meets one of the elite teams in the Bundesliga Saturday as ALBA Berlin visits Sportszentrum Kuhberg. ALBA won the German Championship 7 straight seasons from 1997 through 2003, captured the German Cup 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003 and even won the Korac Cup in 1995.
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FROM NURNBERG TO BERLIN!
Ulm's opponent ALBA Berlin features one of the top guards in the Bundesliga in Julius Jenkins. Ulm fans will remember Jenkins from his time excelling with Nurnberg in the 2.Bundesliga South. After joining the team midway through the 2003-2004 season, Jenkins was the MVP of the 2.Bundesliga South in 2004-2005 leading Nurnberg to the title and Aufsteig. Moving on to Bree in Belgium, Julius joined ALBA Berlin last season in 2006-2007 and is now one of the most electrifying scorers in the Bundesliga.
HOMECOURT KUHBERG!!
Homecourt has been a terrific advantage for ratiopharm Ulm over the last several seasons. Winning their first two home games of the year beating Ludwigsburg 89-88 in OT before topping Giessen 104-82 last weekend, Ulm went 12-4 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in 2006-2007 after rolling through the 2005-2006 and 2004-2005 2.Bundesliga South home schedules 15-0 at home. In total, since tipping off the 2004 season, Ulm has amassed a 44-4 mark at Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
FORMER TEAMMATES!
Ulm's Jeff Gibbs and Giessen's Nicolai Simon played together for 2.Bundesliga South squad Ehingen.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain back on IR with slight muscle pull
Kyle Bailey: Ulm PG a terrific addition avg 14pt 3+reb and 3+ast
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's All Star a force in the lane with 11pt 11reb per game
Bryan Lucas: excellent start to season for underrated big man!
Konrad Wysocki: has been fantastic with 10pt 11reb per game!
Dru Joyce: steady presence from Ulm bench helps team on both ends
Florian Mobius: reliable post sub confident in 2nd season in Bundesliga!
EJ Gallup: sizzling 6 three pointers v Giessen sparked Ulm offense!
Sean Finn: ranked 8th in Bundesliga in shot blocking/ presence in paint!
Sebastian Betz: young wing impressive in first Bundesliga action!
Jan Sprunken: dependable wing stabalizes Ulm bench
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Berlin, Germany
Main Sponsor: ALBA
Home Court: Max Schmelling Arena
website: www.albaberlin.de
2006-2007: 28-6 1st place
Playoffs: lost to Artland 3-0 in 1st Round
ULEB Cup: 4th place (4-6) in Group C, lost to Real Madrid (ESP) in the 1/8 Finals
Offense: In the mold of legendary head coach Svetislav Pesic, ALBA management handpicked Luka Pavicevic to replace Henrik Rodl this offseason. Certainly Pesic will bring a new style to ALBA who finished first last regular season but exited from the playoffs early. A roster change followed and only a few players return from last seasons rotation. Jullius Jenkins will be a go to scoring guard and Joe Herbert took the next step this summer with the German national team. German National team C Patrick Femerling also returns to the Bundesliga in the ALBA frontcourt. Top American big men Michael Bradley (former 76ers C) and DiJon Thompson will be counted on as impact players. Unfortunately, top PG Goran Jeterin injured his knee in the preseason ending his year early.
Defense: One of the best defensive teams year in and year out, ALBA features excellent size this season with 7 foot big men Michael Bradley and Patrick Femerling. Expect ALBA to continue with their tradition of outstanding team defense and remain a title contender this season.
GM: Robert Mayer / Henning Harnisch / Carsten Rühl
Head Coach: Luka Pavicevic
Players:
Goran Jeterin: injured knee in preseason
Julius Jenkins: scoring combo G back with ALBA
Joe Herbert: young talent G from WVU/National team
DiJon Thompson: super skilled forward new to ALBA
Michael Bradley: former NBA C will be impact player
Dragan Dojcin: talented 4 man from Panionios Athen
Bobby Brown: former Cal St Fullerton PG new to ALBA
Goran Nikolic: another excellent 4 from Madrid
Patrick Femerling: German National team C
Vujadin Subotic: joins ALBA from Braunschweig
Oskar Fasler: young player injured in preseason
Nicolai Simon: young PG joins ALBA from Ehingen
Yannick Evans: returns to ALBA after stint away
