TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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ULM-GIESSEN HEATS UP!
ratiopharm Ulm @ LTi Giessen 46ers
Saturday December 12, 2009 8pm
SporthalleOst Giessen, Germany
As ratiopharm Ulm and LTi Giessen 46ers prepare for Saturday's Beko Bundesliga game at Sporthalle Ost in Giessen, action has already heated up off the court.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Per Gunther.
click here for Regio TV report
ratiopharm Ulm's Robin Benzing
This season, ratiopharm Ulm has ridden the roller coaster of highs and lows not uncommon for young teams. In recent weeks, Ulm has posted three straight home wins while falling short on the road. Saturday night in Giessen, Ulm faces the challenge of winning on the road along with the challenges that come along with the intensity of head to head games against teams fighting to establish themselves safely in the Bundesliga. Ulm enters Saturday's game 5-9 while Giessen brings a 4-9 mark. Without question, the intensity and energy will be high as both teams understand the importance of this mid-season matchup.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns
Giessen's 2009-2010 season opened with seven straight losses before beating Paderborn 71-65 November 7th in Giessen. Since that first win of the year, the 46ers have gone 4-6 including winning their last three consecutive home games against Artland 85-76 November 21st and over Oldenburg 78-73 November 28th. In their last game, Giessen surprised NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig 96-93 in overtime Wednesday night December 9th at Volkswagonhalle in Braunschweig. Now at 4-9, Giessen has found their rhythm.
ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice returned to practice after missing the Trier game due to a hand injury.
One of the key reasons, Giessen picked up their play was the early season addition of former Ulm point guard Austen Rowland. Since leading the Bundesliga in assists while playing with Ulm in 2006-2007, Austen took his game to Trier in 2007-2008 and played in Furstenfeld Austria in 2008-2009. After a strong summer, Rowland signed in Giessen as an addition to their roster and played seven games with the 46ers helping them to a 3-4 record. Rowland signed a one month contract with Giessen which was extended in November. Part of Austen's contract allowed him an 'out'. Last weekend, Austen played his final game with the 46ers before opting out of his deal with the 46ers choosing to move to Ulm. Officially choosing not to match the Ulm offer on Monday, Giessen has refused to release Rowland. While Ulm and Giessen prepare to meet on the court, the two teams met off the court in court in a dispute over Rowland's player lisence which was blocked by the 46ers. Along with the intensity of the important mid-season game, the transfer of Austen Rowland from Giessen to Ulm turns up the heat for Saturdays game.
ratiopharm Ulm added Austen Rowland earlier in the week. After leading the Bundesliga in assists playing with Ulm in 2006-2007, Austen returns after playing for Saturday's opponent Giessen.
This season, Giessen has a lineup with plenty of scoring punch. Scoring guard David Teague has been a tremendous offensive force producing 22.4ppg 5reb 38% three point shooting and currently ranks atop the Bundesliga scoring charts. The Wake Forest product is a streaky scorer with a great feel for the game on the offensive end. Earlier this season, Teague exploded for 35 points in Giessen's tight loss to ALBA Berlin. Teaming up with Teague, veteran scoring wing Maurice Jeffers gives Giessen an excellent one-two offensive punch. Jeffers, a former second round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings, has averaged 15.3ppg 4.8reb 38% three point shooting. Power forward Kevin Johnson adds an athletic dimension to the frontcourt giving Giessen 9.8ppg 8.2reb. Talented young German wing Johannes Lischka recently returned from early season injury to bring a boost off the bench adding 9.4ppg 5.1reb to the 46ers attack. In the post, big man Martin Kohlmaier continues to adapt to the Bundesliga averaging 3.7ppg 2.1reb and young German post man Jannik Freese has stepped his game up this season to the tune of 6.5ppg 4.3reb. Both Kohlmaier and Freese have been in top form recently. Off the bench, wing Max Weber brings energy to the perimeter and physical Joe Werner adds strength and power to the paint. Crafty wing Stevan Tapuskovic has enjoyed some great performances this season including 13 points in the 46ers win over Oldenburg. Without question, the most interesting matchups in Saturday nights game will take place at the point. Giessen starter Lorenzo Williams has averaged 9.3ppg 1reb 3.3ast must carry greater responsibility after Austen Rowland moved back to Ulm midweek.
ratiopharm Ulm's John Bryant hammers home two!
Ulm and Giessen have a history of competitive and hard-fought matchups. In fact, Ulm and Giessen have combined for 7 close games over the last three seasons with Ulm holding a 4-3 advantage. Last season, Ulm swept two games over Giessen in two close games. In the latest meeting, 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 last season 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!
ratiopharm Ulm wing Sebastian Betz enjoyed a terrific game against Trier and looks forward to Saturday's matchup in Giessen!
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 captain Lee Humphrey has been in topform leading his team for the last two months!
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!
Ulm post man Coleman Collins is focused for Saturday's game against the 46ers!
Saturday nights game in Giessen is an important game on the floor for both teams, but playing in Giessen is meaningful to Ulm players Per Gunther and Robin Benzing. Per was born in Giessen when his father played for the 46ers during his professional career while Robin comes from a small town nearby Frankfurt which is very close to Giessen. Saturday's game will allow both to play in front of many friends and family.
Ulm's lineup will receive a boost as Rocky Trice is set to return from a hand injury that kept him sidelined in last weekends home win over Trier. While Rocky returns, Ulm hopes for a healthy Robin Benzing who missed two midweek practices due to illness. Finally, the welcomed addition of Austen Rowland is pending upon his 'player's lisence' which must be transfered from Giessen to Ulm. No matter how the 'players lisence' plays out, Austen will certainly be the center of attention Saturday night in Giessen.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action this season on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
Ulm Roster
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter has hit 25 of 38 threes
Rocky Trice: Ulm impact player dealing with hand injury
Christian Burns: leads Ulm O with 15.6ppg 6.5reb
Coleman Collins: 11.3pt 5reb
Robin Benzing: rookie F hit 4-6 threes for 23pt in 1st start v Trier
John Bryant: 4pt 10reb 4blocks last week v Trier
Kevin Kanaskie: rookie PG 2nd on team with 32ast
Sebastian Betz: strong 8pt 3reb 3ast last week v Trier
Per Gunther: focused for consistent point guard play
Christian Grosse: excellent week in practice
Austen Rowland: signed midweek in return to Ulm team!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
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
Offense: The 46ers feature excellent individual scorers led by David Teague and Maurice Jeffers. Talented young German wing Johannes Lischka and skilled but undersized four man Kevin Johnson also are extremely productive for the 46ers.
Defense: Giessen is a man to man team that will mix in a 2-3 zone.
Head Coach: Vladi Bogojevic
Players:
David Teague: excellent scoring wing avg 22.5ppg
Lorenzo Williams: lefty PG leading Giessen attack
Maurice Jeffers: talented veteran wing returns to 46ers
Kevin Johnson: skilled, undersized 4 playing well for 46ers
Johannes Lischka: talented young F/ excellent scorer
Max Weber: active German wing
Stevan Tapuskovic: crafty wing/13pt in win over Oldenburg
Martin Kohlmaier: big Austrian C
Jannik Freese: young German player for Giessen/Lich
Joe Werner: physical post man
