TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
FRITZ & MACZIOL CUP Tournament Preview!
ULM Hosts Champions in Fritz & Macziol Cup!!
This weekend at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm hosts their annual Fritz & Macziol Cup, an annual high-level basketball tournament which has featured top teams from different countries over the past several seasons. This year, the Fritz & Macziol Cup could be its most competitive field ever as champions from two neighboring countries will take the floor in Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Czech Republic champ BBC Nymburk, who will play in the ULEB Cup this season, bring their outstanding team to Ulm along with three time defending Austrian Champion Gmunden Swans. Add ratiopharm Ulm's rival Walter Tigers Tubingen into the mix and basketball fans have a fantastic weekend of exciting preseason action while teams can test themselves against top competition in preparation for the challenges ahead.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday September 14th, 2007
6pm Walter Tigers Tubingen v Nymburk
8pm ratiopharm Ulm v Gmunden Swans
Saturday September 15th, 2007
5pm Nymburk vs Gmunden Swans
7pm ratiopharm Ulm vs Walter Tigers Tubingen
Sunday September 16th, 2007
3pm ratiopharm Ulm vs Nymburk
5pm Walter Tigers Tubingen vs Gmunden Swans
DAY 1 GAME NOTES
Tubingen takes on Nymburk in the tournament opener and Tiger fans are excited to see the combination of Merriex and Moye in action against a ULEB Cup team. Meanwhile, Ulm meets Gmunden in the night cap with former Austrian league big men Bryan Lucas and Sean Finn wearing Ulm uniforms against the Swans. Lucas played with both Furstenfeld and Worthesee while Finn was with Oberwart before moving to Ulm. As always, the game will provide fans a chance to see Austrian league star Deteri Mayes in action.
DAY 2 GAME NOTES
Action opens with a clash of the Champions Saturday night when Czech Champ Nymburk takes on Austrian Champ Gmunden. Basketball fans will appreciate the unique opportunity for these two teams to matchup. Of particular interest will be the styles of play from both teams and coaches. Game two features another classic matchup as heated rivals Ulm and Tubingen square off in the preseason. For basketball fans in Ulm starving for the game over the summer, these two preseason matchups are full of action that will get everyone ready for the excitement ahead.
DAY 3 GAME NOTES
Ulm opens Sundays double header against ULEB Cup team Nymburk while Tubingen takes on Gmunden. Last season Ulm went 0-4 against Bundesliga ULEB Cup participants ALBA Berlin and Brose Baskets Bamberg. In preseason 2005, Ulm topped ULEB Cup teams ALBA Berlin and Euphony Bree. Win or lose, all teams involved will benefit from the outstanding competition in these exhibition games and the tradition of excellence in the Fritz & Macziol Cup will continue.
TEAMS AT A GLANCE
GMUNDEN SWANS
Head Coach: Bob Gonnen
Last Season: Austrian Champs (swept Oberwart 3-0)
1st place finish in regular season
Last Season v Ulm: split two exhibition games
Fritz & Macziol Cup: first appearance
Team Website: www.basketswans.at
2007-2008 Outlook: Gmunden has developed into a power in central Austria behind the coaching of experienced Bob Gonnen and playmaking of veteran Deteri Mayes. Winners of three consecutive Austrian Bundesliga Titles and 4 in 5 seasons overall, the Swans once again are a heavy favorite to add to their trophy collection this season. The addition of rebounder Luke Lloyd strengthens the teams front line and the return of scorers Mayes and Ian Boylan bodes well for this basketball season in Gmunden. Veteran Austrian players Helmigk, Mayer and Hutter
Players to watch:
Deteri Mayes: top player in Austria for seasons/outstanding G
Luke Lloyd: excellent rebounder with experience/great team player
Ian Boylan: ahtletic wing/ excels at Pullup J/crafty offensively
Andreas Helmigk: physical post/adds inside presence
Matthias Mayer: excellent shooting big man
Peter Hutter:veteran PG/big and uses size well/winner
Kevin Johnson: rookie wing from Humboldt State
BBC NYMBURK
Head Coach: Muli Katzurin
Last Season: Czech Champions (swept Prostejov 3-0)
Last Season v Ulm: did not meet
Fritz & Macziol Cup: first appearance
Team website: www.basket-nymburk.cz
2007-2008 Outlook: A dominating team in the Czech Mattoni Basketball League, Nymburk has established themselves as a European competitor as well. Winning 4 consecutive Czech Championships, Nymburk has been a solid FIBA EuroCup team over the last 4 seasons as well. This year, the team will move up into ULEB Cup action which is an excellent step for their organization. With their winning tradition, Nymburk is once again expected to be a frontrunner for the Czech title this season.
Players to watch:
Monty Mack
Ladisolav Sokolovsky
Terrell Everett
Blake Schilb
Mike Bernard
Rancik
Pavel Slezak
Radke Necas
Petr Benda
Pavel Benes
Czech Rep. League Regular Season Champion -04, 05, 06, 07
Czech Rep. League Champion -04, 05, 06, 07
Czech Rep. Cup Winner -05, 07
2003-2004: FIBA Europe League: took 5th place (6-8) in Group D
2004-2005: FIBA Europe League: took 4th place (7-5) in Group A, lost 0-2 to Dynamo St.Petersburg (RUS) in 1/8 finals
2005-2006: FIBA EuroCup: took 2nd place (4-2) in Group D, then took 4th place (2-4) in Group I
2006-2007: FIBA EuroCup: took 3rd place (3-3) in Group F
2007-2008 ULEB CUP
Did You Know? Both former Nymburk players Michel Nascimento (Ludwigsburg) and Adam Hess (Artland) played in the Bundesliga last season.
WALTER TIGERS TUBINGEN
Head Coach: Aaron McCarthy
Last Season: 17-17 in Bundesliga
Last Season v Ulm: Split with Ulm in Bundesliga
Fritz & Macziol Cup: back to back champions
Team Website:
2007-2008 Outlook: After a 17-17 season, Tubingen brought back top player from 2005-2006 Bingo Merriex and added versatile forward Ryan DeMichael to the roster while keeping key players AJ Moye, Rasko Katic and Igor Perovic. Also returning will be PG Waitari Marsh and athletic wing Ray Nixon. Overall, excitement and expecations are high in Tubingen as the team opens preseason practice. With such excellent signings as Merriex and DeMichael and the nucleus in tact, the Tigers are poised to make a playoff push this season. Of course, the rivalry between Ulm and Tubingen is alive and well and will continue to grow this year and Saturday night at the Fritz & Macziol Cup provides the first collision.
Players to watch:
Bingo Merriex: double-double machine returns to Tigers from Mons
AJ Moye: talented F/ all star for Tigers last season
Rasko Katic: C/ coming off outstanding season last year
Ryan DeMichael: joins Tigers from Nurnberg/versatile and skilled F
Ray Nixon: recently rejoined team/athletic wing/excels in transition
Douglass Gorauskas: physical backup post man/new to Tubingen
Waitari Marsh: PG finished last season strong/excited about year
Igor Perovic: veteran shooter/ also great passer
Jay Thomas: hardworking German wing/excellent defender
RATIOPHARM ULM
Entering the Fritz & Macziol Cup after three solid weeks of preseason practice, ratiopharm Ulm looks to make the next step in preseason preparation. With three good wins over Pro A teams in Nordlingen, against Bayreuth and over Heidelberg in the Soflingen KUSS, Ulm has layed a strong foundation for their systems and gained conditioning with hardwork together. The three games in the Fritz & Macziol Cup against Gmunden, Tubingen and Nymburk will provide plenty of opportunity for Ulm to analyze their strengths and areas which need attention while allowing players the chance to get into game shape. A challenging tournament field is exactly what ratiopharm Ulm is excited about heading into this fantastic weekend of basketball action at the Fritz & Macziol Cup!
Players:
Kyle Bailey - new PG/picks up system well/complete player at PG
EJ Gallup - explosive scorer and excellent playmaker
Konrad Wysocki - enjoying outstanding preseason at 3spot
Jeff Gibbs - Ulm's focal point on offense/team leader
Bryan Lucas - excited about post matchups/ blue collar and skilled
Sean Finn - 7 foot C gives Ulm new dimension on both ends
Dru Joyce - rookie PG has been terrific/nice compliment with KB
Emeka Erege - Ulm Captain getting healthy and finding rhythm
Sebastian Betz - hardworking young wing/ quality min. in 3 games.
Jan Sprunken - veteran wing in excellent shape after injury last yr
Florian Mobius - adding new aspects to his game/reliable team guy
TOURNAMENT HISTORY
2003-2004
Sept 13-14, 2003 Ratiosys Cup
Day 1: Ulm 103 Istra Pula 76 /Wurzburg 101 BK Decin 90
Ulm 90 Decin 77 /Wurzburg 88 Istra Pula (croatia) 53
Day 2: Wurzburg 113 Ulm 103 OT
2004-2005
Day 1: Reggio Emillia 93 Kapfenburg Bulls 69/ Ulm 83 ALBA 80
Day 2: Kapfenburg 80 Bremen 72/ Tubingen 90 Ulm 79/
Reggio Emillia 112 Bremen 64/ ALBA 85 Tubingen 83
Day 3: Reggio Emillia 85 Tubingen 82/ ALBA 98 Kapfenburg 81
Ulm 109 Bremen 78
link to Tournament Summary
2005-2006
Sept 16-18, 2005 Fritz & Macziol Cup in Ulm
Day 1: Tubingen 90 ALBA Berlin 69/ Ulm 91 Bree 75
Day 2: Bree 87 Tubingen 78 (OT)/ Ulm 100 ALBA 74
Day 3: ALBA 89 Bree 79/ Tubingen 75 Ulm 72
link to Tournament Summary
2006-2007
Sept 8-10, 2006 Fritz & Macziol Cup in Ulm
Day 1: Ulm 65 Tubingen 59 / Bree 77 Chemnitz 71
Day 2: Bree 95 Ulm 91 OT / Tubingen 75 Chemnitz 69
Day 3: Chemnitz 85 Ulm 79/ Tubingen 101 Bree 81
click "Day" for link to game summaries
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
