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TAYLORHOOPS ULM UPDATE Wednesday September 1st, 2010
ratiopharm Ulm Tops Crailsheim! ratiopharm Ulm tipped off the preseason with a 77-72 exhibition road win over the Crailsheim Merlins Wednesday night at Sportarena in Crailsheim. The new ratiopharm Ulm frontcourt made its presence felt against the Pro A (second division) Merlins as Sean Sonderleiter went for 25 points 7 rebounds and John Bryant added a 16 point 12 rebound double double in the win.
ratiopharm Ulm post player Sean Sonderleiter powers up for two of his 25 point 7 rebound performance in Wednesday nights 77-72 exhibition opening win in Crailsheim. Playing with a short handed lineup, ratiopharm Ulm dressed eight active players for Wednesday nights preseason opener. Forward Robin Benzing and point guard Per Gunther remain in Turkey representing Germany with the National team at the World Championships while wing Sebastian Betz and post man Michael Wenzl continue to rehabilitate minor leg injuries leaving ratiopharm Ulm with a limited preseason lineup.
Excited for first steps together, ratiopharm Ulm huddles before player introductions in Crailsheim. Despite the short list, ratiopharm Ulm's eight active players were fired up for their first preseason action together. Traveling one hour north to the small town of Crailsheim, the trip brought back memories of 2.Bundesliga South times for veteran ratiopharm Ulm team members. Sportarena Crailsheim stands as a terrific venue with character and rowdy fans making every game in the central German town exciting.
Going over matchups and game plan just before tip off! ratiopharm Ulm opened with two new big men in the starting lineup as center John Bryant and power forward Sean Sonderleiter took the floor for the first time. Along with the two post players, first year point guard Travis Walton, third year shooting guard Lee Humphrey and first year wing Walt Baxley also got the starting nod.
Sean Sonderleiter at the charity stripe in Crailsheim. Playing their first preseason minutes, ratiopharm Ulm got off to a slow start trailing the Merlins 7-2 early in the game. Crailsheim had been together longer and was already into their fourth preseason game of the new year. But behind strong plays in the paint from Sonderleiter and excellent teamwork, Ulm quickly found their rhythm in the game. The Merlins held a 14-12 lead five minutes into play but a strong Ulm finish to the first quarter helped the Bundesliga visitors to a 25-24 lead after the first quarter.
Lee Humphrey burys a corner three in Crailsheim Sean Sonderleiter sank four of five shots for 10 points in the first ten minutes while Lee Humphrey and Coleman Collins sank threes sparking the Ulm offense. Christian Grosse also drilled a top of the key three through a foul earning a four point play for ratiopharm Ulm. 17 year old forward Andreas Wenzl came off the bench to provide ratiopharm Ulm with depth and solid minutes helping offset the shorthanded lineup. Guard Elton Coffield led the Merlins attack with 8 points in the first quarter.
Andreas Wenzl subs in for Walt Baxley in ratiopharm Ulm's preseason opener Wednesday night at Crailsheim Sportarena.
ratiopharm Ulm timeout at Crailsheim in the teams first exhibition game. Quarter two saw ratiopharm Ulm establish their attack. Led by Sean Sonderleiter's outstanding effort, Ulm built on their lead. At the mid point of the second, Ulm held a 33-28 advantage. But timely three point shooting from the hosts helped the Merlins finish the first half strong to take a 38-37 lead into the halftime lockerroom.
Travis Walton finishes a fast break with a strong move to the rim. For the first steps together, ratiopharm Ulm showed many positives but also showed many areas needing work. The post game established itself well. Ulm's defense was strong in several areas, yet needed to focus for more consistency. In the halftime talk, the team focused on several details from their play and returned to the floor ready to work.
A coaching point for Big John Bryant who was on his way to a 16 point 12 rebound double double in his preseason debut. A 16-0 run in the early second half put ratiopharm Ulm in command 51-38. Again, Sean Sonderleiter powered the offensive attack with strong post play and center John Bryant made his presence felt with crafty post moves and cleaning up on the offensive boards. Point guard Travis Walton controled the play well directing the Ulm attack. At the five minute mark of the third, Ulm led 53-40. Maintaining their solid play, Ulm took a 62-52 advantage into the fourth quarter.
John Bryant powers to the basket helping Ulm to a 38-16 advantage in points in the paint. Motivated to play against the Bundesliga neighbors from the region, Crailsheim started the fourth quarter with tremendous effort. Not unexpected for the first preseason game, the Merlins energy caught ratiopharm Ulm with a run. Crailsheim players sank momentum building shots and gradually cut into the Ulm lead. Facing game situations for the first time, Ulm worked through inconsistencies and mistakes well as played demonstrated strong focus and positive attitude. But with five minutes remaining in the game, Ulm's big lead had been reduced to three, 70-67.
Talking with Sean Sonderleiter and Travis Walton during the third quarter. As Merlins momentum grew, the Ulm team faced adversity together for the first time. Crailsheim took advantage of several home court calls with timely shooting to trim the Ulm lead to two, 72-70 with just under two minutes to play. Digging in defensively, ratiopharm Ulm earned a tough defensive stop to regain possession. Working to execute in a game-winning possession, point guard Travis Walton delivered a pass to Coleman Collins popping from a ballscreen. Collins took the pass and manuevered his way down the lane for an athletic finger roll giving Ulm a 74-70 lead. Moments later, Collins made a big play again. On a decisive possession, Lee Humphrey sliced into the paint and skipped a pass across court to the right corner where an open Coleman Collins was spotting up. After sinking a big finger roll to stretch Ulm's lead to four, Collins stepped up and drilled a dagger three giving Ulm a 77-72 lead. Crailsheim head coach Ingo Enskat used his final timeout with 28 seconds to play. Ulm prepared for one strong game-deciding defensive possession. Out of the timeout, Ulm defense rose to the occassion refusing to allow the Merlins any space to make a play. Shutting down several driving lanes and eliminating several shots, the Merlins played pass and catch as the game clock ticked down. Forcing a desperation shot, Ulm controlled the rebound and walked off the floor with a solid 77-72 preseason opening road win.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Travis Walton moves the basketball in a ballscreen. Sean Sonderleiter's preseason debut was outstanding as he led Ulm with 25 points 7 rebounds. Also strong in his first game, John Bryant added a 16 point 12 rebound double double. Coleman Collins chipped in 16 points 5 boards including the five clutch points to seal the win. Point guard Travis Walton finished with 6 points 5 assists while Walt Baxley contributed 5 points 6 boards, Lee Humphrey had 5 points and Christian Grosse 4 points for Ulm in the win. As a team, Ulm shot 53% from the floor making 4 of 10 threes and 11 of 15 free throws while outrebounding the Merlins 38-28. Ulm defense limited the Merlins to 38% from the floor.
Talking game plan during a fourth quarter timeout. Ulm outscored the Merlins 26-8 points in the paint in the final three quarters of the game on their way to a 38-16 advantage for the game. Sonderleiter, Bryant and Coleman Collins keyed the ratiopharm Ulm attack using their size and athleticism against the Merlins frontcourt.
ratiopharm Ulm players Sean Sonderleiter and Coleman Collins close out defensively on the games final defensive possession helping Ulm close out their 77-72 preseason opening road win in Crailsheim. Ulm faced a motivated opponent, in a rowdy road atmosphere, against the wave of momentum for the first time in their first preseason game. For the 2010-2011 edition of ratiopharm Ulm, the first preseason game in Crailsheim provided excellent experiences to build. Returning to the practice court Thursday and Friday with alot of work to do, ratiopharm Ulm looks ahead to the Kirchheim Tournament Saturday September 4th and Sunday September 5th for their next preseason action. BENZING AND GUNTHER AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! ratiopharm Ulm players Robin Benzing and Per Gunther finished their tour with the German National team at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey with a victory over Jordan to finish 2-3 in Group A for the tournament.
Per Gunther and Robin Benzing helped Germany to a tournament ending victory over Jordan Thursday September 2nd in Turkey. click here for regio-tv feature of Robin and Per in Turkey!
ratiopharm Ulm players Robin Benzing and Per Gunther (6) have celebrated a solid start for the German National team at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey! ratiopharm Ulm ratiopharm Ulm preseason schedule 2010 Wednesday September 1st Ulm 77 Crailsheim 72 Saturday September 4th Ulm @ Kirchheim Tournament 4pm tip Sunday September 5th Ulm @ Kirchheim Tournament 6:30pm tip Friday September 10th Ulm v Decin in Fritz & Macziol Cup 7:30pm tip Saturday September 11th Ulm v Tubingen in Fritz & Macziol Cup 730pm Sunday September 12th Ulm v Gmunden in Fritz & Macziol Cup 3pm tip Thursday September 16th Ulm @ Strasbourg France 8pm tip Saturday September 18th Ulm v Pepinster Belgium in Luxembourg 8pm tip Sunday September 19th Ulm @ Saar Pfalz Braves 6pm tip ratiopharm ulm preseason roster 2010 6 PER GUNTHER (*with German National team) 7 SEBASTIAN BETZ 8 PHILIP VOJKOVIC (**studying in USA through end of September) 9 NEMANJA KEKIC 11 TRAVIS WALTON 12 NIKOLA STEVANOVIC 15 SEAN SONDERLEITER 16 MICHAEL WENZL 17 ANDREAS WENZL 21 ROBIN BENZING (*with German National team) 22 LEE HUMPHREY 25 CHRISTIAN GROSSE 42 WALT BAXLEY 45 COLEMAN COLLINS 54 JOHN BRYANT Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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