TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM ROSTER SHRINKS AGAIN!
At 22-5 and locked into second place, playing out the string of three remaining games might bring to mind mindless matchups with little interest as the 2004-2005 season comes to a close. Unfortunately for ratiopharm Ulm, in what has been an all too common occurance this year, injuries continue to reduce their roster and even ending the season prematurely for one of Ulm's hottest players.
Ulm's Christian Grosse will miss the remainder of the season with s shoulder injury
After making major strides this season, Ulm combo guard Christian Grosse will miss the remainder of the season with a seperated shoulder suffered Tuesday evening in regular Ulm practice drills. Bumped hard by a teammate on a screen during team defensive work, Grosse immediately stopped practice for the evening, underwent an MRI Wednesday and discovered results from Doctor's examinations Thursday morning. For the season, Grosse averaged 8.4 points and shot a team best 47% from three point land in 25 games --- excellent young guard missed two games earlier in the season with a minor knee injury as well. Grosse's clutch shooting sparked Ulm to their big road win at Heidelberg and last weeks win at Nordlingen. His season high of 22 came against MTV Kronberg Febuary 12th.
The latest injury to Grosse reduces Ulm's active roster to 9 players and increases responsibility while opening doors. Veteran backcourt players Shaheen Holloway, Peter Heizer, Emeka Erege and Kenny Price must accept the responsibility for Ulm's guard play while hardworking bench player Tobi Waitzinger and youth prospect Benni Gulde will be called into action in the final 3 games of the season.
While Grosse was forced out of team practice due to injury, center Maksym Shtein gradually worked his way back into action after being slowed by a nagging foot injury last week. After playing through pain for effective minutes last weekend in Nordlingen, Max returned to practice Wednesday night and is expected to be at full strength against Crailsheim Saturday.
Unbeaten in 13 games at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, ratiopharm Ulm looks to circle the wagons and work together to overcome the loss of Grosse, an important part of the teams rotation. Clearly, Crailsheim --- winners of 6 of their last 10 games since signing Canadian Power Forward Nicholas Maglisceau --- looks to take advantage of Ulm's injury problems to pull off an upset. At 10-17, the Merlins are mid-table and safe in the second league.
Pre-season 2004-2005 Crailsheim Merlins from their website
Led by the sharpshooting point guard Sova Taletovic, Crailsheim features a balanced attack with veteran experience on the floor. Taletovic, a premiere shooter in the 2.League, is capable of big games from behind the arc. This season, Crailsheim Coach Arne Alig recruited a familiar shooting guard to pair with Taletovic --- Willie Young, who played for Alig in Lich, has averaged 14ppg and adds a creative 1 on 1 dimension to the Merlin attack. Another familiar face for Alig, center Lucian Kieser also player for the Merlin coach at Lich last season. Keiser has posted 11 double doubles this season and averages 17 points and 9 rebounds a night. Alig added Canadien power forward Maglisceau to reinforce the Crailsheim inside game and the team has seen positive results since. Maglisceau has contibuted 11.5ppg and 8.1reb mostly through his strentgth and power game. Backing up the post, big man Fabian Spindler brings size and strength to the paint and is relentless on the boards. Veteran shooting guard Michael Heck, an experienced player capable of hot shooting from three point range, also adds another weapon for the Merlins. Physical wing Philipp Wildermuth runs the floor, rebounds hard and can hit three point shots as well.
In the first meeting between the teams this season, Shaheen Holloway made his Ulm debut shooting ratiopharm Ulm to a hardfought 100-78 road win over the Merlins. Holloway hit 4 of 4 three pointers including three straight in a game breaking 4th quarter run to seal the result for Ulm. Ulm put 7 players in double figures and received quality efforts from Maksym Shtein (16pt 14reb), Florian Mobius (16pt 7reb), Antoine Sinclair (15pt 7reb) and Peter Heizer (15pt) as well. Willie Young led the Merlins with 22 points while Lucian Kieser added 13.
For Ulm to earn another win this weekend, another excellent team effort will be required. Losing Christian Grosse streamlines Ulm's bench and offers opportunity for several team members. Yet more adversity for Ulm to overcome, standing at 22-5 and in second place becomes quite an accomplishment when all things are considered throughout the entire season. Despite the recent injury issues, ratiopharm Ulm remains focued on finishing the season strong.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com !
GO ULM!
MIKE T
6 SHAHEEN HOLLOWAY critical floor leadership will guide new players
8 KENNY PRICE playing last game of season vs Crailsheim
10 EMEKA EREGE versatility critical to Ulm success through injuries
14 FLORIAN MOBIUS must avoid early foul trouble of last 2 games
15 MAKSYM SHTEIN healthy and ready to finish season strong
5 FANNAR OLAFSSON will be important against Merlins inside players
11 PETER HEIZER excellent play has sparked Ulm last weeks
7 CHRISTIAN GROSSE shoulder injury will keep him remainder of season
13 TOBI WAITZINGER hardworker ready to contribute in last 3 games
18 BENNI GULDE will see minutes in upcoming games
9 ANTOINE SINCLAIR successful rehab... 'toine on long road back
12 MICHAEL NIEBLING loaned to Ehingen, C playing well
5 SOVA TALETOVIC skilled point/ 20.5ppg 40% 3pt excellent shooter
4 WILLIE YOUNG scoring guard/1 on 1/ 14ppg 3reb 37%3pt
11 MICHAEL HECK lanky lefty shooter/10.4ppg 32%3pt/ experienced
15 LUCIAN KIESER skilled center/ 17.4ppg 9.1reb/ good inside presence
NICK MAGLISCEAU midseason Canadien signee/ strong/rebounder
10 PHILIPP WILDERMUTH aggressive wing/3pt shooter/driver 6.8ppg
13 FABIAN SPINDLER big/banger/4.6ppg 5.3rpg/6 'O' boards last week
THOMAS SIMON active wing played well at Ansbach last season
8 ALEXANDER RUECK backup wing also plays for Merlin second team
ADNAN ARNAUTALIC Merlins sub
