TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
@ 
ULM VISITS KOLN!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Koln 99ers
Saturday March 28, 2009 6:30pm
Rheinenergie Dome Koln, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to Koln where they will complete their two game road trip with a 6:30pm tip off against the Koln 99ers Saturday at Rheinenergie Dome.
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis and teammates visit the Koln 99ers Saturday night at Rheinenergie Dome in the back end of their two game road trip.
Opening up their two game road trip with Wednesday nights loss to ALBA Berlin at O2 World Arena in Berlin, ratiopharm Ulm stayed in Berlin Thursday for a noontime practice at MaxSchmellinghalle before enjoying a free evening in the city. Friday morning, the team flew from Berlin to Koln and practiced at the Rheinenergie Dome in preparation for Saturdays game against the 99ers.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey at the foul line in early season action against the Koln 99ers at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
Earlier in the season, Ulm and Koln met in an exciting, uptempo matchup. In the game, ratiopharm Ulm and the Koln 99ers took turns. Both teams took control. Both teams made runs. Both teams rode the wave of momentum. But at the final buzzer of Saturday night November 15th's exciting up and down rollercoaster ride of a basketball game, it was ratiopharm Ulm who finished on top in the tight 90-88 homecourt victory at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Game Day 10 of the 2008-2009 Bundesliga season. Ulm's 17-0 second quarter surge reversed a 16 point deficit and gave the hosts a 53-43 halftime lead setting up the suspense-filled second half. Dru Joyce's clutch top of the key three with 20 second to play proved the difference helping ratiopharm Ulm to their 6th win. Lee Humphrey drilled 5 threes to lead all scorers with 19 points while Dan Fitzgerald and Sean Finn added 15 points apiece and Keith Triplett was a perfect 4 for 4 from the floor and 2 for 2 from the foul line to finish with 12 in the win. An exciting and entertaining game for fans, Saturday nights game was more than a rollercoaster ride for ratiopharm Ulm --- it was a whirl- win!
Click here for complete 11-15-08 Ulm v Koln Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm guard Keith Triplett was an impact player in Saturday November 15th's 90-88 win with outstanding defense and perfect shooting for 12 points.
Click here for 11-15-08 Ulm v Koln Box Score
Click here for 11-15-08 Ulm v Koln photo gallery!
ratiopharm Ulm center Sean Finn
Recently, Ulm and Koln have played exciting games. Over the last two seasons, ratiopharm Ulm and Koln have split four games with each team winning on their home court every time. In 2007-2008, ratiopharm Ulm put together an outstanding team performance on both ends of the floor in their 84-61 home win over Koln Saturday night March 15th, 2008 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Sean Finn powered his way to a team best 13 point 8 rebound night while Dru Joyce totaled 12 points and a Bundesliga season-best 13 assists in leading Ulm to the win.
Click here for March 15, 2008 Ulm vs Koln Game Summary!
In last seasons first meeting, Koln used a 12-2 fourth quarter run that opened a 56-55 game to take a 78-68 win at Rheinenergie Dome November 1st, 2007 in a game shown live on BBL.TV.
Click here for November 1, 2007 Game Summary
ratiopharm Ulm's Jeff Gibbs
In 2006-2007, Ulm split two games with the high powered Koln team nearly pulling off an upset in Koln before falling 84-75 October 15th (click here for October 15th, 2006 Game Summary) and then upsetting Koln 82-77 Feb 17th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm (Click here for Febuary 17th, 2007 Game Summary).
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce
Currently, Koln is in the heat of the battle to hold the Bundesliga known in Germany as the 'abstiegskampf'. A team with proud tradition, Koln won the German Cup in 2004, 2005 and 2007 along with claiming the Bundesliga championship in 2006. Koln played in the Euroleague in the 2005-2006 season, ratiopharm Ulm's first year returning to the Bundesliga. But last summer, successful head coach Sasa Obradovic moved to BC Kyiv in the Ukraine and long time advisor Drasko Prodanovic took the reigns at Rheinenergie Dome. Unfortunately, after Koln's tight loss to ALBA Berlin on the road at O2 World, Koln and Prodanovic parted ways after posting a 7-17 record. March 22nd, 2009, in his debut as Koln head coach, former assistant Zoran Kukic dropped an 84-73 decision at Stadthalle Bremerhaven bringing the Eisbaren back in the race to avoid relegation. This season Koln has gone 5-8 at home along with a 2-10 mark on the road. Throughout the year, the 99ers have lost several key players such as talented young German post man Yassin Idbihi and experienced post Guido Grunheid. Although the team remains in the intense struggle to stay in the league competing against LTi Giessen and Eisbaren Bremerhaven, Koln has pieced together a talented roster which is extremely dangerous for every opponent.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther
Koln's 2008-2009 team has been a work-in-progress. After recent successful seasons saw Koln win the Bundesliga Championship, the German Cup and compete in the Euroleague and ULEB Cup, the 99ers organization worked through a challenging financial time last season. This year, the revamped roster got off to a slow start and has been working to recover ever since. In Febuary, former Koln point guard Michael Jordan returned to the team after starting the season with Bamberg. Jordan has been a key addition to the team leading the 99ers with his experience and athletic play from the lead guard spot. The Bundesliga veteran produces 8.5ppg 2reb with an excellent 5.8ast since joining Koln 8 games ago. Talented scoring guard Jeremy Hunt has proven to be an outstanding guard in the Bundesliga scoring 13.9ppg with 4.3reb 2ast and 46% three point shooting. Athletic former Harlem Globetrotter, Robert 'Hollywood' Turner plays above the rim with an exciting high-rising game. Turner has give his team 10.5ppg 4.2reb and plenty of high-light slam dunks this season. Versatile four man Julian Terrell plays the power forward spot and has averaged 8.9ppg 5.3reb. In the post, Koln lost focal point Yassin Idbihi early in the season after the hardworking German forward transfered to French Pro B team Limoges. While, the departure of Idbihi and Grunheid hurt the 99ers, Koln turned to two young German big men to fill the paint. Long and talented Tibor Pleiss is a future star and has averaged 4ppg and 2.7reb in the early season. Pleiss' talent is unmistakable and has attracted attention of NBA GM's. Back up Bjorn Schoo has produced 4.3ppg 2.4reb in his first opportunity to play in the Bundesliga. Along with the young talents, Koln added talented post man Edin Bavcic (11.9ppg 4.8reb 46% threes) and Stevan Milosevic (9.6ppg 4.6reb) to bolster the block. A member of the Philadelphia 76ers summer league team in Las Vegas, Bavcic is a talented post man who can stretch defenses while Milosevic is a skilled inside scorer with ability to finish well using both hands. Last season, skilled shooting guard Philipp Schwethelm (4.2ppg 1.9reb 35%threes) stepped up his game when given the chance. Key role players for the 99ers include skilled shooting wing Jasmin Catovic (6.3ppg 2reb 6 for 10 threes), backup point guard Stefan Nikolic (2.8ppg 2.1reb) and versatile athletic wing Raed Moustaffa. Despite injuries and roster changes, Koln's team has positioned themselves to survive the season with a strong finish to 2008-2009.
For ratiopharm Ulm, Saturday nights game against the Koln 99ers completes the exciting two game road trip that took them to the beautiful German cities of Berlin and Koln. The next challenging game in ratiopharm Ulm's exciting 2008-2009 Bundesliga regular season schedule, Saturday nights matchup against the 99ers gives Ulm the chance to get right back to work! Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
TENNESSEE TRAVELERS
ratiopharm Ulm guard Lee Humphrey and Koln 99ers forward Julian Terrell are familiar with one another. Both played against each other in college as Lee played for the Florida Gators and Julian with Vanderbilt University in the powerful Southeastern Conference. But the two were actually teammates in AAU basketball with the Tennessee Travelers AAU team.
HARLEM'S FINEST
First year Koln 99er forward Robert 'Hollywood' Turner knows how to put on a show. Known for his ridiculous vertical leap , the former Harlem Globetrotter has made a spectacular impression in his first season in the Bundesliga with several highlight slams over his first 8 games of the 2008-2009 season.
U20 TEAMMATES
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther and Koln 99er talented big man Tibor Pleiss played together this past summer on the U20 German National team. Both were key parts in Germany winning their age group tournament in Romania. Pleiss has attracted attention from the NBA and current Toronto Raptors GM Brian Colangelo spent time in Koln watching Pleiss earlier this season.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain providing excellent leadership for team.
Romeo Travis: athletic F enjoying tremendous season for Ulm
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm All Star posted 15pt 11reb double double in Berlin
Keith Triplett : ready for assignments against good 99er guards
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter ready for challenge against 99ers
Dru Joyce: floor general leading Bundesliga in assists
Per Gunther: energizing rookie PG playing in front of family and friends
Dan Fitzgerald: rookie F has been a key producer for Ulm all season
Sean Finn: ready for matchup against new 99er big men
Sebastian Betz: excellent game in Berlin
Michael Schroeder: backup big man solid in Berlin
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Cologne Germany
Main Sponsor: Rhein Energie
Home Court: Koln Energie Dome
website: www.rheinenergie-koeln.de
2007-2008: 16-18 11th place
Playoffs: none
Offense: A system oriented team, the perimeter players will continue to be key producers for Koln. With the departure of Yassin Idbihi to Pro B Limoges in France, the 99ers will rely on two young German post players Tibor Pleiss and Bjorn Schoo for production. The scoring punch will come from the perimeter and the addition of Jamon Gordon adds another well-rounded player to the team. New Head Coach Drasko Prodanovic, provided guidance and support for Sasa Obradovic over the last few seasons and will maintain a similar style of play.
Defense: Koln is a mostly man to man team but will play some basic 2-3 zone. While the 99ers are athletic on the perimeter, they lack the inside shot-blocking presence in the paint. Young post men Pleiss and Schoo must mature physically and gain strength. Both guards Jeremy Hunt and Jamon Gordon will be key defensive players for the team.
GM: Stephan Baeck
Head Coach: Zoran Kukic
Players:
Jeremy Hunt: athletic scoring guard has been a top player for 99ers
Michael Jordan: experienced, athletic pg making big difference for Koln
Robert Turner: former Harlem Globetrotter knows how to put on a show
Zarryon Fereti: streaky scoring guard has talent to take over game
Julian Terrell: solid and versatile forward will be key
Edin Bavcic: talented in-out post man upgrades 99er frontline
Stevan Milosevic: hardworking post skilled inside
Jasmin Catovic: smart active cutter, 3pt shooting threat from bench
Stefan Nikolic: lefty back up PG, hardworking G
Philipp Schuethelm: young German forward/ excellent shooter
Bjorn Schoo: young big man scores inside
Tibor Pleiss: young 7footer with potential
Raed Mostafa: athletic young German wing
