TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
STRETCH RUN!
ULM HOSTS TELEKOM BASKETS BONN SUNDAY!
ratiopharm Ulm vs Telekom Baskets Bonn
Sunday March 22, 2009 5pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
Tipping off Sunday evening's home game against 17-7 Telekom Baskets Bonn, 16-8 ratiopharm Ulm hosts a proven playoff team fresh from a tremendous EuroChallenge campaign. The challenge for ratiopharm Ulm is clear. With 10 regular season Bundesliga games remaining on the schedule, Sunday's matchup between fifth place ratiopharm Ulm and fourth place Telekom Baskets Bonn will have possible post season implications. Winning 4 of their last 5 games, ratiopharm Ulm must find a way to bounce back from their early season November blowout loss to Telekom Baskets Bonn as the Bundesliga season stretch run heats up.
ratiopharm Ulm's Romeo Travis has been productive on both ends of the floor and stepped up to help Ulm capture an important road win last weekend in Giessen.
click here for regio-tv game preview!
Originally scheduled for Saturday night March 21st at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm, tipoff was moved to Sunday at 5pm in order to accomodate a Telekom Baskets Bonn request for an extra day after a mid-week home and home series in the EuroChallenge against Italian team Bologna. Playing Tuesday at home in Bonn and Thursday in Bologna, Bonn asked to switch the date at the beginning of last week when their EuroChallenge game dates were fixed. Despite the late request and having over 80% of tickets sold for Saturdays game, ratiopharm Ulm agreed to move the tipoff to Sunday evening at 5pm.
Over the last several seasons, Ulm and Bonn have split 4 games with each team winning twice at home. Both Ulm and Bonn enjoy rich basketball traditions and the two teams have played some entertaining and competitive games against each other over the last two years. Bonn has made the playoffs in both seasons highlighted by last years terrific post-season run. Head Coach Michael Koch and his team, well-known for their unique pink uniforms representing main sponsor Telekom, are always among the most talented and athletic in the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm floor general Dru Joyce muscles Bonn point guard EJ Rowland in action from the November meeting between the two teams. The point guard matchup will be a key to Sunday's rematch.
Bonn's 2008-2009 roster is loaded with excellent players. This season several have stood out and enjoyed outstanding seasons. Leading the talented lineup, point guard EJ Rowland has produced 14.5ppg 3.3reb 3.8ast while shooting 41% from three. After playing well in the backup role with Artland, Rowland has stepped up his game stepping into the Bonn starting lineup. Lightning quick scoring guard Winsome Frazier also has elevated his game from last season. The former Mississippi State guard is scoring 13.1ppg with 3.9reb while shooting 37% from three point land this season. Excellent scoring forward Brandon Bowman leads Bonn in scoring with an average of 14.6ppg 5.4reb and 33% from three. After recently suffering a strained foot, Bowman returned to the lineup to lead Bonn in scoring Thursday night in Italy. Also ready to return to the lineup is former Denver Nugget and University of Tennessee star Vincent Yarbrough who missed a majority of the season due to injury. In 14 games, Yarbrough has produced 7.3ppg 3.9reb while hitting 28% from three. His return to the lineup will boost Bonn this weekend in Ulm and down the stretch. Quite possible the most influential new player for Bonn is All Star big man Ken Johnson who has been a defensive force in the paint all season long. Leading the Bundesliga in shot blocking, Johnson scores 8.3ppg grabs 3.7 boards and blocks an outstanding 2.9 shots per game. Underrated and talented forwards Moussa Diagne (6.1ppg) and Patrick Flomo add quality, depth and athleticism to the Bonn frontcourt. Popular post player John Bowler recovered from injury and returned to the lineup a few games ago and has contributed 5.8ppg in his 5 games this season. Rookie big man Tim Clifford helped to offset the injured John Bowler earlier in the season. Hardworking German players also play key roles. JJ Strasser (4.4ppg 31%threes), Artur Kolodziejski (3.4ppg 38%threes) and Alex King (3.3ppg) bring alot to the Bonn team. Strasser is an excellent perimeter shooting point guard with experience. Kolodziejski, a former Ulm player, is the Bonn captain providing excellent defense and three point shooting. King, a young and talented forward, adds an athletic wing with versatility after joining Bonn following several seasons in Frankfurt. Overall, Telekom Baskets Bonn are one of the most talented and athletic teams in the Bundesliga and provide their fans with exciting basketball. Their 2008-2009 season has been an excellent run and with their high-level roster, Bonn fans are excited about another deep playoff run.
ratiopharm Ulm's Keith Triplett proudly poses with wife Michelle and daughter Kalaia after the family welcomed son Kai to the family Wednesday March 18 at the hospital in Ulm.
This season, Bonn opened with back to back big wins beating Deutsche Bank Skyliners 81-66 Sunday September 21st before topping Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 65-62 Saturday September 27th in a first-class early season matchup. In the Bundesliga Finals rematch between ALBA Berlin and Telekom Baskets Bonn, ALBA edged Bonn 91-84 at O2 World October 5th. Tied at 73, a controversial intentional foul call against Bonn helped ALBA key the early season home win. Bonn went on to lose their next two games 77-71 at home to Artland Dragons October 11th and at the buzzer in Giessen 70-67 October 18th. Brandon Bowman's buzzer-beater helped Bonn beat Tubingen the next game, a 75-74 road win in Tubingen October 24th. Two days later on October 26th, Bonn returned home to beat Koln 90-72 and last weekend Bonn won their third straight game beating Eisbaren Bremerhaven 86-79 Sunday November 2nd in Bremerhaven. At 4-3, the Bonn team blasted ratiopharm Ulm 94-66 November 8th at Telekom Dome to pick up their 5th win. After a 70-65 road loss to MEG Gottingen at Lokhalle November 16th, Bonn won 6 straight games to rise to the top of the Bundesliga. Winning 76-67 over EnBW Ludwigsburg November 22nd, Bonn improved to 6-4 and sparked their winning streak. On November 29th, Bonn went into Paderborn and earned a 75-67 road win which they followed with a December 7th 61-54 home win over Nordlingen. December 14th, Bonn won 84-66 over TBB Trier at Trier Arena and picked up back to back home wins bookending their short Christmas break beating Rheine River rival Dusseldorf Giants 70-60 on December 21st at Telekom Dome before tipping off 2009 with an 81-76 home win over brose Baskets Bamberg January 3rd. At 12-4, Bonn asserted themselves as a team ready to challenge for a Bundesliga championship. January 11th, NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig surprised Bonn with a 74-68 Phantoms win at Volkswagonarena in Braunschweig. Bonn bounced back with an 84-75 home win over Deutsche Bank Skyliners January 25th and lost 91-73 January 31st to Tabellenfuhrer Ewe Baskets Oldenburg in a showdown at Ewe Arena. After the tough loss to the Thunderbirds, Bonn won three straight games including an impressive 80-66 home win over powerful ALBA Berlin Febuary 8th, a 72-64 road win over Artland Dragons at Artland Arena Febuary 14th in Quakenbruck and an 81-70 home win over LTi Giessen 46ers Febuary 21st. Bonn fell 87-74 March 8th at Koln but bounced back last weekend with a hardfought 69-66 home win over Eisbaren Bremerhaven March 14th. Entering Sportszentrum Kuhberg for Sundays game against ratiopharm Ulm, Telekom Bonn currently sit in 4th place in the Bundesliga standings holding a 17-7 mark. 11-1 at home and 6-6 on the road, Bonn also advanced to the finals of the German Cup before falling to ALBA Berlin at Colorline Arena in Hamburg. With an excellent season under their belt to this point, Bonn now sets their sight on another outstanding playoff run similar to last seasons march into the Bundesliga Finals.
ratiopharm Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther.
Along with their top play in Germany, Telekom Baskets Bonn have played a terrific season internationally as well advancing into the quarterfinals of the highly competitive EuroChallenge competition. Head Coach Michael Koch and his team have represented the Bundesliga well against excellent competition in Europe. Throughout the season, Bonn has competed against teams from Russia, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium and Cyprus. Opening their EuroChallenge campaign competing in Group B, Telekom Bonn beat Cyprus representative Kervanos Strovolou 78-55 at Telekom Dome November 26th, 2008. December 2nd, Bonn traveled to Russia to play Ural Great where they lost 82-54. December 10th, Bonn bounced back with a 71-61 home win over French team Hyeres-Toulon Var Basket. December 16th, Bonn traveled to Cyprus and dropped a 73-64 decision to Kervanos Strovolou, but took the critical head to head tie breaker of point differential. January 7th, Ural Great made their appearance at Telekom Dome and the powerful Russian team too a hardfought 70-64 road win over Bonn. And finally, January 13th, Bonn topped Hyeres-Toulon in France winning 86-72 to finish 3-3. With their solid play, Bonn advanced to the next stage of the international basketball competition, the Top 16 of the EuroChallenge. In the Top 16 round of the EuroChallenge, Bonn started slow. January 28th Bonn lost to French team Cholet 71-68 at Telekom Dome. On Febuary 3rd, Telekom Bonn dropped an 83-63 road decision at Dutch team Eiffel Towers Den Bosch. Febuary 11th Bonn picked up their first Top 16 win with a 79-64 home win over Belgium squad Liege at Telekom Dome in Bonn. Febuary 24th, Bonn fell to 1-3 in the Top 16 losing 71-54 in France to Cholet. But Bonn bounced back strong taking an important 84-77 home win over Eiffel Towers Den Bosch on March 4th and following that victory with a big 67-59 road win over Liege in Belgium to even at 3-3. Advancing to a quarterfinals series with Italian team La Fortezza, Telekom Bonn battled the talented Italian team well this past week but eventually came up short in their opening two games. La Fortezza beat Bonn 106-91 Thursday March 19th in Italy and tipped off their quarterfinals series with an 86-76 victory over Bonn at Telekom Dome Tuesday night March 17th. Eliminated from their best of three quarterfinals series because of the back to back losses, Bonn can now reflect on a successful EuroChallenge run and refocus for the stretch run of the Bundesliga season.
Earlier this season at Telekom Dome in Bonn, ratiopharm Ulm was snuffed out by the suffocating athletic defensive of Telekom Baskets Bonn in the convincing 94-66 Ulm loss.
Earlier this season, Telekom Baskets Bonn beat ratiopharm Ulm convincingly at the Telekom Dome on Saturday night November 8, 2008. ratiopharm Ulm fell behind early for the first time this season and Telekom Baskets Bonn intense team defense and fast-breaking team offense did the rest in their November 8th 94-66 Bonn win before an energized Telekom Dome. While Ulm struggled through a sub-par performance, the story of the game was Bonn's suffocating team defense which blocked 9 Ulm shots and limited Ulm to 38% floor shooting. Jeff Gibbs posted a 15 point 11 rebound double double for Ulm in the loss.
Click here for 9-8-08 Ulm @ Bonn Game Summary!
Last season, ratiopharm Ulm and Telekom Baskets Bonn split two meetings with each team protecting their home court. May 10th, 2008, Ulm celebrated the final game of the 2007-2008 Bundesliga season by earning an exciting 93-83 home win over Telekom Baskets Bonn before a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg.
click here for complete Ulm vs Bonn May 10th, 2008 Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Dan Fitzgerald pulls up for a three at Telekom Dome in the November loss to Bonn.
Earlier last year, ratiopharm Ulm dropped a tight 82-77 decision January 26th 2008 at Hardtberghalle in Bonn. Playing for the first time since returning from the Bundesliga All Star break, Ulm played without PG Kyle Bailey who was rehabilitating a broken thumb. When Dru Joyce received his second unsportsmanlike foul of the game in a second half scuffle with Bonn's Ronnie Burrell, Ulm struggled down the stretch playing without a true point guard as the hot Bonn team extended their winning streak with the victory. Ulm's strong effort fell short keeping them 0-2 at Bonn's Hardtberghalle since returning to the Bundesliga last season.
click here for link for photos from Christian Schumacher at www.american-sports.info
January 26, 2008 Ulm @ Bonn Game Summary
In the 2006-2007 season, Telekom Bonn won the initial meeting between the two teams 87-75 at Hardtberghalle November 17th. In the second meeting, March 31st at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm topped Bonn 80-68 in a hotly contested game. Click the links below for Game Summaries from recent Ulm v Bonn games:
2006-2007 March 31st Game Summary
2006-2007 November 17th Game Summary
ratiopharm Ulm guard Lee Humphrey feeds the post against Bonn defender Winsome Frazier in action between Ulm and Bonn from earlier this season.
For ratiopharm Ulm, Sundays home game against Telekom Bonn shapes up as a challenge at the right time. Winning 4 of their last 5 games and 7 of their last 10, ratiopharm Ulm has their sights set on their first playoff spot since returning to the Bundesliga in 2006-2007. Respecting Telekom Bonn as a proven playoff team with experienced battle-tested players, ratiopharm Ulm will rely on the strength of Sportszentrum Kuhberg's home-court advantage along with the outstanding fan support as they aim for their 10th home win of the season. Looking back to the November matchup between Ulm and Bonn, winning Sunday's game is no small task. But the challenge to face top teams in the Bundesliga is coming at the perfect time for Ulm.
Ulm center Sean Finn currently ranks 4th in field goal percentage making 102 of 151 shots for 67.6%
With an exciting game against Bonn on the weekend, ratiopharm Ulm received some exciting news within the team during the week. Guard Keith Triplett and wife Michelle welcomed a beautiful new baby boy to the world Wednesday March 18th as Michelle gave birth to Kai. A reason to celebrate, the entire Ulm organization and community wish the Triplett family well with thoughts, prayers and wishes. In a unique set of circumstances, daughter Kalaia attended practice with daddy Keith Thursday afternoon as Michelle recovered healthy in the hospital with Kai. In a memorable scene, as players subbed out for a breather, they played with three year old Kalaia on the sideline. Or maybe Kalaia was playing with the ratiopharm Ulm players?
Sunday evening at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm hosts Telekom Baskets Bonn in an exciting Bundesliga matchup. With 10 important games remaining on their regular season schedule, ratiopharm Ulm aims to continue their push for the playoffs with strong performances down the stretch. For Ulm, the exciting stretch run starts Sunday against a top opponent in Telekom Bonn. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
ULM CONNECTIONS
As Ulm and Bonn tip off, several friendly faces will be on opposing sides Saturday. First, Artur Kolodziejski played for current Ulm assistant coach Rainer Bauer in the 2001-2002 2.Bundesliga South season. In addition, Ulm power forward Jeff Gibbs and Bonn big man Patrick Flomo hail from the same hometown of Columbus Ohio and often cross paths in summer leagues while at home.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Bonn forward Vincent Yarbrough and center Ken Johnson bring NBA experience to their team after Yarbrough spent time with the Denver Nuggets and Johnson played with the Miami Heat.
TENNESSEE TO GERMANY!
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey has enjoyed a family visit for the last week. Father Tony in particular enjoyed seeing his son play for the first time live in person since Lee's outstanding college basketball career and back to back national championships with the Florida Gators!
Click here for regio-tv interview with Mr Humphrey from earlier in the week
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain a great leader
Romeo Travis: versatile forward took over crunch time in Giessen!
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm go-to Guy ready for challenge in Bonn!
Keith Triplett : defensive stopper welcomed baby boy Kai this week!
Lee Humphrey: three point sharpshooter happy family is visiting!
Dru Joyce: floor general ready for challenge against top Bonn guards
Per Gunther: talented young PG looks forward to challenge v Bonn
Dan Fitzgerald: solid rookie season for forward from Marquette
Sean Finn: 13pt 7reb in Giessen last week!
Sebastian Betz: enjoying strong second half of the season
Michael Schroeder: physical inside presence ready to bang on the block!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Bonn, Germany
Main Sponsor: Telekom
Home Court: Telekom Dome
website: www.telekom-baskets-bonn.de
2007-2008: 21-13 7th place
PLAYOFFS: lost ALBA Berlin 3-1 in Bundesliga Finals; beat Frankfurt 3-2 in Bundesliga Semifinals; Beat Artland 3-1 in Bundesliga quarterfinals.
Offense: Bonn is a fantastic transition team with excellent one on one scoring ability and many offensive weapons. Bowman and Frazier will be their primary scoring threats but Rowland is an underrated scorer and experienced players such as Yarbrough can be factors. After their fantastic post season run last playoffs, this Bonn team has potentially more offensive firepower despite losing key big man John Bowler.
Defense: A aggressive team defense with long and athletic players, Bonn plays mostly man to man defense but mixes in halfcourt trapping and different zones. This season Bonn has shown more aggressive full court presses looking to capitalize on their athleticism. With size and shot-blocking at several positions, Bonn is an exciting defensive team which can create opportunities for their offense with steals and blocks.
GM:
Head Coach: Michael Koch
Players:
EJ Rowland : enjoying outstanding season leading Bonn attack!
Winsome Frazier: lightning quick one on one scoring wing
Brandon Bowman : talented scorer is a go-to guy in Bonn
Vincent Yarbrough : veteran wing is experienced and skilled
Artur Kolodziejski: captain/team player/excellent on D
John Bowler: recently returned from injury to boost lineup
Ken Johnson: outstanding shot blocking C making impact on offense!
Johannes Strasser: backup PG/hardnosed and skilled
Patrick Flomo: ultra athletic F/ shotblocker and rebounder
Moussa Diagne: athletic 6'8 F from Senegal
Tim Clifford: skilled post from Holy Cross
Alex King: athletic, versatile wing, adds depth in Bonn
