TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
ULM HOSTS GIESSEN!
ratiopharm Ulm vs LTi Giessen 46ers
Saturday Febuary 12, 2011 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm returns home to Sportszentrum Kuhberg for a Saturday night matchup against the new-look LTi Giessen 46ers. Looking to bounce back from last weekend's hardfought road loss to Artland, ratiopharm Ulm faces a 46er team featuring a new head coach and several roster changes. With the calendar at Febuary and the 2010-2011 BEKO Basketball Bundesliga season at Game Day 22, Saturday's game has much meaning for both ratiopharm Ulm and Giessen.
ratiopharm Ulm center John Bryant and teammates are focused for Saturday nights rematch against the LTi Giessen 46ers.
This season, the 46ers team clicked early and raced to a 4-1 start including an 88-81 win over ratiopharm Ulm Sunday October 17th, 2010 at Sporthalle Ost in Giessen. After the strong start, the 46ers were 5-2 befoe the team ran into injury problems and with a shorthanded team dropped 13 consecutive games. During the losing streak, Head coach Vladi Bogojevic stepped back to his Sport Director role and the team brought in new head coach Steven Key. A former head coach for the Dusseldorf Magics in the 2.Bundesliga North, Key knows the Bundesliga well from playing experience (Tubingen and Braunschweig) and his coaching tenure in second division Germany. Along with the arrival of Key, the 46ers also added veteran point guard Michael Jordan who began the season with MiddleDeutscher Basketball Club. Giessen also brought back experienced scoring wing Maurice Jeffers who was playing in South America before rejoining the 46ers. Since the new additions, Giessen has snapped their losing streak with an important road win over BBC Bayreuth in the battle to stay in the Bundesliga. Last weekend, Giessen had Ewe Baskets Oldenburg beat at home until a miracle last second three point play from Thunderbird point guard Lou Campbell helped Oldenburg escape with a 70-69 road win. For Giessen, Saturday's game in Ulm is their next chance to gain ground in the 'abstiegskampf' and maintain their historic 43 season tenure in the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther and teammates are focused for the talented transition attack from 46er guard Anthony Smith and teammates.
The Giessen attack is extremely athletic and outstanding in transition. Key players include athletic wings Anthony Smith (11.1ppg 3.5reb) and Ryan Brooks (10.6ppg 2.9reb). Smith has made an excellent impact in his first Bundesliga season as a talented offensive wing while Brooks has been an excellent defender and athletic player for the 46ers. Both Smith and Brooks are athletic, physical wings who can create shots one on one. With Maurice Jeffers rejoining the team, Giessen's perimeter is deep and talented on the two and three spots. Skillful scoring guard Chase Griffin adds a three point shooting threat (9.8ppg 2.1ast 44%threes) and brings Bundesliga experience from last season in Hagen. In the post, Giessen features former Georgia Tech power forward Zachary Peacock and veteran center Elvir Ovcina. The two big men complement one another well and Peacock's power and athleticism have helped him to an outstanding season in his first Bundesliga campaign. Peacock has produced a team best 15.5ppg and 6.8reb. The veteran Ovcina ranks as one of the most experienced big men in the Bundesliga and provides stablity in the 46er post. Point guard Michael Jordan has made immediate impact since signing in Giessen after opening the 2010-2011 with MBC. An experienced playmaker and leader, Jordan has fit in extremely well with the 46er lineup. Giessen's bench features skilled big men Jannik Freese and Dirk Maedrich. Both Freese and Maedrich are solid defenders and have the ability to hit perimeter shots. On the wing, the 46ers rely on former Saar Pfalz Brave Tim Schwartz and as a backup point Matthias Perl.
ratiopharm Ulm forward Robin Benzing sank a perfect 10 for 10 from the foul line in last seasons home win over Giessen.
Ulm and Giessen have a history of competitive and hard-fought matchups. In fact, Ulm and Giessen have combined for 10 close games over the last five seasons and with this years 88-81 victory for Giessen included the teams have split an even 5-5. In the first meeting between the two teams this season, ratiopharm Ulm dropped a hardfought 88-81 road loss Sunday night October 17th, 2010 in Giessen against a hot-starting 46ers team. John Bryant's excellent 24 point 16 rebound double double powered the Ulm attack, but 19 turnovers gave Giessen 24 points and a late third quarter run helped the 46ers build their lead in the game.
clickhere for complete 10-17-10 Ulm @ Giessen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther drives strong against LTi Giessen 46ers center Elvir Ovcina in Sunday nights game.
click here for 10-17-10 Box score
Click here for photo gallery of Ulm @ Giessen
click here for video from post game press conference
Last season Ulm and Giessen split two games with each team winning on their home court. In the most recent meeting Saturday night April 17, 2010, ratiopharm Ulm exploded to a 20-4 mid-third-quarter run breaking away from the LTi Giessen 46ers in an 84-72 home win at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Showing appreciation to their fans, ratiopharm Ulm distributed special orange t-shirts saying 'DANKE' pre-game and the team followed up with an inspired second half effort to earn the win. Per Gunther energized Ulm's attack with an excellent effort while center Kevin Martin posted a 25 point 11 rebound double double and Robin Benzing added 20 points in the win.
click here for April 17, 2010 Ulm v Giessen Game Summary!
Earlier last season, ratiopharm Ulm picked up a new point guard prior to Saturday December 18ths game against Giessen when Austen Rowland transferred from LTi Giessen 46ers back home to Ulm where he played in 2006-2007 and led the Bundesliga in assists. But Giessen blocked Rowland's release leading to week-long pre-game exchanges between the two organizations that led to Bundesliga involvement. While Ulm picked up a point, saturday night, the 46ers picked up a 1 point 73-72 win over ratiopharm Ulm. In the hardfought game, Ulm held a late 72-70 lead with one minute to play, but Giessen's David Teague finished a tough runner and made one of two free throws to lift the 46ers to the win. Ulm played without sharpshooting captian Lee Humphrey who was suffering from the flu. Ulm outshot the 46ers 50% to 42% but Giessen's 19 offensive rebounds and 39-30 advantage on the backboards were key for the 46ers.
click here for 12-18-09 Ulm @ Giessen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm's Coleman Collins drives strong against 46er defenders in 2009-2010 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
In the 2008-2009, ratiopharm Ulm trailed the Giessen 46ers 76-68 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter Saturday night at Sporthalle Giessen East and the stage was set for the 'take over'. Outscoring the 46ers 15-4 down the stretch, ratiopharm Ulm's team defense stepped up and forward Romeo Travis took over. In the games most important possessions, Romeo made the most important baskets burying three straight three pointers taking the game over with game-winning baskets much in the way life-long friend LeBron James finishes for the Cleveland Cavs. The competitive heart displayed by Travis and teammates lifted ratiopharm Ulm to an exciting 81-78 road win and kept them on playoff course by raising their record to 16-8.
click here for March 14, 2009 Ulm @ Giessen Game Summary!
Earlier in 2008-2009, ratiopharm Ulm beat LTi Giessen 88-83 Saturday night October 31st, 2008 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. ratiopharm Ulm shot 61% from the floor and put all five starters in double figures as their team effort tipped off an exciting two game weekend with an 88-83 win over LTi Giessen 46ers Friday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Romeo Travis led the balanced Ulm attack with 18 points while Jeff Gibbs added 15 points 9 boards and Sean Finn totaled 13 points 8 rebounds in the win.
click here for 10-31-08 Ulm v Giessen Game Summary!
In 2007-2008, ratiopharm Ulm and Giessen split two games with each team protecting their homecourt with wins. Sunday night Febuary 24th, 2008 at Sporthalle East in Giessen Germany, ratiopharm Ulm faced a 46er team with their backs against the wall. Hungry for a win to lift them out of the relegation zone, the team with a 41 year Bundesliga tradition came out firing. More exactly, the 46ers came out hitting. The hosts shot 59% from the floor and held off an Ulm fourth quarter rally as LTi Giessen 46ers topped ratiopharm Ulm 93-87. Ulm's Jeff Gibbs powered his way to a 19 point 14 rebound night in a fantastic performance for his team.
Click here for 2-24-08 Ulm @ Giessen Game Summary!
Earlier in 2007-2008, ratiopharm Ulm beat Giessen, Friday night October 19th, 2007 was a shootout at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. ratiopharm Ulm and the Giessen 46ers engaged in a spectacular, end to end offensive display filling the first half of Friday nights Bundesliga game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm with plenty of points and highlight plays. Exciting, uptempo, action packed offensive basketball was fantastic for the fans, but it was second half team defense and teamwork that allowed ratiopharm Ulm to race past Giessen for a wild 104-82 home win. EJ Gallup sparked Ulm's offensive attack with a game best 22 points including 6 three pointers, Konrad Wysocki continued his outstanding season with a 20 point 8 rebound night, Kyle Bailey contributed 15 points 6 assists and Jeff Gibbs added another strong 11 point 12 rebound double double. Along with these notable performances, ratiopharm Ulm also benefited from excellent bench production from Sean Finn and Sebastian Betz.
Click here for 10-19-07 Ulm v Giessen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm and LTi Giessen met three times in 2006-2007 with Giessen sweeping both Bundesliga regular season games and Ulm capturing an important German Cup Sweet 16 win. Like the scary stories from Friday the 13th, ratiopharm Ulm's turnovers and mistakes came back to haunt them late in a Friday night April 13th, 2007 game at Giessen. Inspired by halftime news of Nurnberg's loss and powered by a 17-4 third quarter run, the Giessen 46ers cemented their stay in the Bundesliga for a 41st season with Friday nights 75-69 victory over ratiopharm Ulm. Even though the game was decided late, iced by a clutch Brian Snider last-minute left wing three and two James Head free throws, ratiopharm Ulm's missed opportunities from earlier in the game eventually left the team empty handed at the end --- fitting storyline for a Friday the 13th.
click here for 4-13-07 Ulm @ Giessen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm found a way to win Wednesday evening Febuary 14th, 2007 as they topped the host Giessen 46ers 79-74 in the Sweet Sixteen matchup of the German Cup. With Ulm up one 75-74 and 24 seconds remaining on the fourth quarter game clock, Austen Rowland cooly sank two clutch free throws giving Ulm a 77-74 lead. In the games final possession, Ulm PF Jeff Gibbs poked loose a steal from Giessen G Marco Buljevic, pounced on the loose ball and promptly sealed the win with a breakaway slam. The fantastic finish came after an extremely competitive game filled with runs from both teams.
click for Ulm @ Giessen German Cup Sweet 16 Game Summary!
Sunday December 10th, 2006, ratiopharm Ulm's fourth quarter comeback fell just short as the Giessen 46ers presented new head coach Ken Scalibroni with an 82-76 victory, the teams second win of the season on Scalibroni's second official day on the job. Inconsistent Ulm defensive intensity saw the teams trade baskets throughout much of the game and allowed the 46ers to play from the lead for most of the second half. Second quarter and late 3rd/early 4th quarter runs put Ulm in position to extend their winning streak, but it was Giessen who executed and converted on clutch possessions to earn the win.
click here for 12-10-06 Ulm v Giessen Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice was in top form last weekend against Artland producing 18 points 10 rebounds 5 assists.
ratiopharm Ulm returns home to Sportszentrum Kuhberg looking to bounce back from their hardfought 91-87 road loss last weekend in Artland. Durnig the week, the Ulm team has dealt with the adversity of minor injuries that routinely occur throughout the season. First, talented guard Rocky Trice, who played a fantastic game in Artland with an 18 point 10 rebound 5 assist performance, jammed a finger during Tuesday nights practice. The next night in Wednesday's workout, Ulm captain Lee Humphrey tweaked an ankle when he came down on a teammates foot while shooting his patented three point shot. Both Rocky and Lee have been listed as day to day and are expected to be ready on Saturday against the 46ers.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action this season on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Roster
Lee Humphrey: focused for matchup against Smith on wing
Sean Sonderleiter: hardworking post focused for 46er frontcourt
Coleman Collins: has enjoyed strong games v Giessen in career
Robin Benzing: focused for matchup v Brooks, Jeffers on wing
John Bryant: excellent matchup vs Elvir Ovcina
Rocky Trice: talented scoring G had 18pt 10reb in Artland
Travis Walton: defensive effort and pg play can be big boost to Ulm
Sebastian Betz: focused for matchup with Giessen scoring wings
Per Gunther: Ulm pg ready for matchup vs veteran Jordan.
Michael Wenzl: young post ready for opportunities
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Tunde Adekola
Location: Giessen, Germany
Main Sponsor: LTi
Home Court: Sporthalle Giessen East
website: www.giessen46ers.de
2006-2007: 11-23 16th place
2007-2008: 9-25 16th place
2008-2009: 8-26 17th place
2009-2010: 10-24 14th place
Offense: The 46ers have clicked early in the season with the addition of several new players. Athletic scoring wings Anthony Smith and Ryan Brooks can create one on one, hit threes and are both strong active cutters. Veteran scoring wing Maurice Jeffers returns to the 46ers midseason. In the post, PF Zachary Peacock and C Elvir Ovcina play well together and establish inside offense well. PG Michael Jordan runs the team and provides leadership while guard Chase Griffin will also be a key offensive player when healthy. Depth comes from post men Freese and Maedrich.
Defense: Giessen is a man to man team that will mix in a 2-3 zone.
Head Coach: Steven Key
Players:
Elvir Ovcina: veteran C enjoying strong season for 46ers
Jannik Freese: young German post provides depth for Giessen
Ryan Brooks: talented and athletic scoring wing
Anthony Smith: talented and athletic scoring wing
Michael Jordan: veteran pg joins Giessen from MBC
Maurice Jeffers: talented scoring wing returns to 46ers
Zachary Peacock: athletic rookie PF from Georgia Tech
Mathias Perl: backup pg for 46ers
Dirk Maedrich: skilled scoring post provides depth to frontcourt
Tim Schwartz: joins Giessen after success with Saar Pfalz Braves
Chase Griffin: skilled 2G played with Hagen last season
