TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
WE MEET AGAIN!
ratiopharm Ulm vs Science City Jena
Saturday December 1, 2007 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
Bundesliga "Aufsteiger", a first year team, a rookie and a newcomer. Last season it was ratiopharm Ulm. This year it is Jena. Both teams won their way into the Bundesliga with 2.Bundesliga South Championships in back to back seasons. While Ulm was establishing themselves in the Bundesliga last year, Jena was moving up. Now for the first time in the Bundesliga, at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, the former 2.Bundesliga South competitors, Ulm and Jena meet.
Ulm All Star Jeff Gibbs is a team oriented unselfish leader!
Since winning their way into the Bundesliga with a 2.Bundesliga South championship last season, Jena has worked hard to develop a competitive Bundesliga team. Following in Ulm's footsteps, Jena's first Bundesliga action occurred at BallSporthalle in Frankfurt and like Ulm, Jena battled 40 full minutes before falling 68-64 to the Skyliners Saturday October 7th. On October 11th, Bundesliga basketball debuted in Jena as Telekom Baskets Bonn topped Jena 80-62 live on BBL.TV. October 14th, Walter Tigers Tubingen edged Jena 76-69 in Tubingen and on October 18th it was NewYorker Phantoms Braunschweig who emerged victorious over Jena 62-56 in Jena. On October 21st, Jena dropped an 80-73 decision at Ludwigsburg after losing C Ajmal Basit for the game due to controversial technicals. Artland beat Jena 85-61 in Jena October 27th and then Jena lost the next weekend November 3 at Giessen 81-72. After opening 0-7, Jena notched their first Bundesliga victory in a hot-shooting 104-84 home win over BG74 Gottingen November 10th. A week later, Jena fell in Berlin 80-64 to ALBA Berlin at Max-Schmellinghalle. Last week, Koln 99ers topped Jena 78-67 in Jena. Entering Saturdays game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Science City Jena stands 1-9 through the first two months of action.
Ulm Post man Bryan Lucas has been outstanding this season and currently leads the team in scoring at 14.6ppg.
Jena took much the same approach as ratiopharm Ulm in entering their rookie Bundesliga campaign. After winning the 2.Bundesliga South, the team kept a chore of players from their championship team and attempted to complement this nucleus with key additions. However, the plan hit a speed bump early in the season when forward Adrian Moss and guard Al Elliot were released. With quality recruiting, Jena Head Coach Bjorn Harmsen added three point threat Brendan Plavich and former NBA forward Mark Davis to the team. Soon after, Jena recorded their first win of the new season. Captain Alexander Seggelke remains a focal point for the team averaging 12.3ppg 4.5reb while shooting 41% from three and 82% from the line. Seggelke enjoyed a 17 point 10 rebound game in Tubingen and topscored with 24 points in the Gottingen win. Experienced Bundesliga Big man Ajmal Basit has been a force in the middle this season averaging 11 points 8.2 rebounds for Jena. Basit scored 25 points with 13 rebounds in last weeks loss to Koln. While Basit powers the play inside, Gregor Linke spots up and burys perimeter shots from the four spot producing 8.7ppg 4.7reb with 47% three point shooting. Linke is also an outstanding 19 for 20 from the foul line for the season. Along with Linke, veteran Jena post man Lars Buss adds depth and physical play and a lefthanded big man to the front court with 4ppg 2.5reb in 15minpg. On the Jena wing, versatile Sean McCaw has made a nice transition to the Bundesliga contributing 7.4ppg 5.8reb 2ast to his team. Jena team player Mischa Zlotowski has struggled to find his shooting touch going 1-22 for the season from the floor to this point. At the point, Jena brought in long and lanky Blake Shelton who played previously with the Sheffield Sharks in the British Basketball League. A big point guard, Shelton is a strong defender with ability to pressure and play passing lanes. Offensively, he averages 7.4ppg 2.4reb and 2.8ast while shooting 38% from three. With this nucleus, the key additions of shooter Brendan Plavich and scoring forward Mark Davis have fit in well. Plavich is a terrific three point threat with deep range and has scored 10.3ppg on 35% accuracy from beyond the arc. Brendan enjoyed an excellent game in Ludwigsburg when he topscored with 22 points in the loss. A former Kansas Cagerz player, Plavich fits in well with the Jena attack. Finally, Mark Davis has added scoring punch to the team producing 17ppg 75.reb 4.3ast 2stls and 38% three point shooting. Davis is a versatile scorer who can play one on one, post up, hit perimeter shots and offensive rebound. Entering Saturdays game in Ulm, Davis ranks 7th in the Bundesliga in scoring. The former Minnesota Timberwolves players also spent time in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors, Charlotte Bobcats and Toronto Raptors. In overseas, the 34 year old former Texas Tech forward played with Reggio Calabria in Italy, Hapoel Galil Elyon in Israel and most recently Dongbu Promy in Korea. Clearly Davis is an experienced player with high level skill which can take pressure off the rest of the team. Head Coach Bjorn Harmsen, at age 25 is the youngest Head Coach in Bundesliga history. After enjoying a terrific rookie season in last years Championship campaign with Jena, Bjorn has worked extremely hard to guide Jena through their first challenges in the Bundesliga and has gained excellent experience in the process. Playing in the Bundesliga as an "Aufsteiger" is extremely demanding and Jena has met the challenges head on.
A talented all around basketball player and intelligent guy, Ulm PG Kyle Bailey has his sights set on high achievement!
To this point in the season, Jena has shown several positive signs and been extremely competitive in their games. Currently, the first year team ranks atop the Bundesliga in rebounding at 35.1rebounds per game. Unseating Ulm for top spot in rebounding, Jena has brought aggressive play and desire to the floor every game and results have been more than positive in categories such as rebounding. In fact, in the teams win over Gottingen, Jena shot a sizzling 67% (31 for 46) from the floor and 69% (16 for 23) from three in the 104-84 home win. Clearly, Jena is working and making good things happen as a first year team in the Bundesliga and are dangerous opponents for every team in the league.
Ulm's Konrad Wysocki has been a marked man by opponents this season!
A familiar position, if anyone understands the mentality and approach an "Aufsteiger" brings to the floor, it should be ratiopharm Ulm who experienced the same Bundesliga challenges and fought the same fight last season. Ulm made excellent strides during the season and established themselves as a solid Bundesliga team in their rookie year. This year, the team has continued on their upward trend recording several quality home wins and earning their first road victory of the new season over playoff semi-finalist Eisbaren Bremerhaven last Sunday. Studying Ulm and the team, one immediately notices the balanced team play with all five starters averaging over double figures between 12 to 14 points per game and improved perimeter shooting percentages while maintaining their high rebound effort. Emphasizing team basketball, Ulm's All Star power forward Jeff Gibbs (13.9ppg 9.4reb) has continued his outstanding play for his team including a terrific 17 point 10 rebound 5 blocked shot performance last Sunday in Bremerhaven. No player in the Bundesliga has made more strides than Ulm's Konrad Wysocki (13.4ppg 10.6reb) who topscored against Bremerhaven with 20 points 10 rebounds on a perfect 6 for 6 from the floor. And PG Kyle Bailey (14.3ppg 3.8reb 3.8ast) continues to grow into a skillful floor general as he went for 18 points 11 boards 5 assists against the Eisbaren. EJ Gallup (12.5ppg 35%three) and Bryan Lucas 14.6ppg 5reb have been tremendous for Ulm this year and the teams bench has given them a boost throughout the season. PG Dru Joyce (5.6ppg 1.9ast) has adapted extremely well as a rookie to the European game and rookie 22 year old wing Sebastian Betz (3.2ppg 50% three) has also established himself as a Bundesliga player. Captain Emeka Erege returned to the team in Bremerhaven and made immediate impact with his defensive effort. Valuable contributions from Sean Finn (68%fg 2nd on team in blocks), Florian Mobius and Jan Sprunken have also strengthened ratiopharm Ulm in the post and on the perimeter. At 5-4, Ulm aims to build on their position with a strong push toward Christmas.
Ulm sharpshooter EJ Gallup is focused!
The recent history between the two organizations of Ulm and Jena has provided basketball fans with many memorable moments. Immediately in mind, the duel for a 2.Bundesliga South title in 2005-2006 saw Ulm sweep Jena in two regular season games but Jena exacted a bit of revenge knocking Ulm out of the German Cup in November 2005. Before in 2004-2005, the two teams split with each protecting home court. Dating all the way back to 2003-2004, Ulm swept Jena with two 2.Bundesliga South wins that season. For game summaries of recent Ulm v Jena games, click on the links below:
2005-2006 Ulm @ Jena April 22, 2006
2005-2006 Ulm v Jena December 16, 2005
German Cup 2005 November 9, 2005
ratiopharm Ulm 88 TuS Jena 82 March 19, 2005
TuS Jena 92 ratiopharm Ulm 89 November 27, 2004
Ulm rookie PG Dru Joyce has adapted extremely well to the Euro game!
With several exciting games in their recent history, Ulm and Jena will meet for the first time in the Bundesliga --- a moment both teams should take time to appreciate. Both organizations enjoyed success and have emerged to take their teams to another level. Certainly, Sportszentrum Kuhberg will proudly script the next chapter in the Ulm-Jena matchup.
Sebastian Betz is shooting 50% from three and contributing well with ratiopharm Ulm!
After last Sunday's road win in Bremerhaven, ratiopharm Ulm returns home to Sportszentrum Kuhberg with renewed self-confidence as a team and a refocused approach. The fact Captain Emeka Erege has returned and re-integrated into the rotation has been a big boost over the last two weeks. Erege and teammates Jeff Gibbs, Konrad Wysocki, Florian Mobius and Jan Sprunken remember the decisive Ulm-Jena games from two seasons ago. Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg, for basketball fans from Ulm and Jena, more memories will be made.
Finally something Bugs Bunny and Wile E Coyote can agree on --- they are both big ratiopharm Ulm basketball fans!
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
BBL.TV!
Three ratiopharm Ulm games can be seen live on BBL.TV in upcoming weeks. Ulm will visit Oldenburg Sunday December 8th, meet BG 74 Gottingen Thursday night December 13th for an 815pm tip and host digibu Baskets Paderborn Sunday December 16th at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
KANSAS CAGERZ IN GERMANY!
When Ulm and Jena play Saturday, former Kansas Cagerz teammates Bryan Lucas and Brendan Plavich will meet for the first time. Both played in the USBL during the summer of 2006. The Cagerz won the USBL tournament last summer in 2007.
GERMAN CUP DRAW!
ratiopharm Ulm will meet TBB Trier in the upcoming round scheduled to be played at Trier Arena tentatively January 10th.
FAN CLUB CHRISTMAS PARTY!
Sunday December 2, the ratiopharm Ulm team and fan club will celebrate the season with their annual Christmas party. A nice event to socialize and enjoy a good dinner, the highlights usually include a nice raffle and visit from Santa Claus. The Ulm team would like to thank the fan club for making this event possible.
Ulm Roster
Emeka Erege: Ulm captain was excellent on defense in Bremerhaven!
Kyle Bailey: terrific PG play and good production guided Ulm to win!
Jeff Gibbs: Ulm's All Star remembers big wins against Jena!
Bryan Lucas: hardworking big man leading team in scoring!
Konrad Wysocki: excellent season for Wysocki starts with his desire!
Dru Joyce: defensive effort and PG skills are important for Ulm
Florian Mobius: has seen the most Ulm-Jena games of any current player
EJ Gallup: 3J likes zone teams
Sean Finn: excellent post D with strong lefty finish off glass Sunday!
Sebastian Betz: 50% from three for the season!!
Jan Sprunken: was important player in last Ulm-Jena game at Kuhberg!
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Jena, Germany
Main Sponsor:
Home Court: TBA
website: www.paderborn-baskets.de
2006-2007: 2.Bundesliga South Champions
Offense: After winning the 2.Bundesliga South last season with strong teamwork, Jena, like ratiopharm Ulm the season before, kept the majority of their roster together in their rise into the Bundesliga. Adding athletic F Adrian Moss, veteran C Ajmal Basit and long G Blake Shelton, Jena prepares for the challenges ahead. Jena will feature Ali Seggelke as a perimeter shooting threat and Moss and Basit inside. As the only eastern German team in the Bundesliga, Jena fans can expect excitement in their first Bundesliga season but must remain realistic with results. Head Coach Bjorn Harmsen will set a record this season becomming the youngest Head Coach in the Bundesliga at 25. The step to the Bundesliga is big and through teamwork is Jena's best approach.
Defense: While scoring may have come easy in the 2.Bundesliga, it will be more difficult for Jena to find baskets in the Bundesliga which will put pressure on their defense. The stronger the teams defense, the better they will do as "Rookies". The Jena roster features physical post players in Buss and Basit and Moss can develop into a shot blocker. Point guard is a major question as the season opens for Jena. No matter the results, the simple fact Jena earned the right to play in the Bundesliga last season is fantastic. Now the challenge is to stay in the league and build as a team.
GM:
Head Coach: Bjorn Harmsen
Players:
Brendan Plavich: excellent three point shooting guard
Ali Seggelke: primary player in Jena offense/3pt threat
Sean McCaw: experienced 4/3 does little things for Jena
Mark Davis: former NBA forward adds scoring punch!
Ajmal Basit: experienced C brings physical play to lane
Lars Buss: physical lefty post man/experienced
Gregor Linke: 3pt shooting big man/former Koln F
Mischa Zlotowski: dependable bench player for Jena
Blake Shelton: 6'6 PG from Sheffield Sharks
Friedrich Lennantz: young player
Ermin Reyes-Napoles young player
