TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
VS 
CHRISTMAS GAME IN ULM!
ratiopharm Ulm vs Ewe Baskets Oldenburg
Saturday December 26th, 2009 7pm
Sportszentrum Kuhberg Ulm, Germany
Holidays and Basketball make the perfect combination. This season, ratiopharm Ulm plays host to defending Bundesliga champions Ewe Baskets Oldenburg Saturday night December 26th in a special 'Christmas Game' at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. A tradition from earlier Bundesliga times in Ulm, bringing back the 'Christmas Game' is the perfect gift for basketball fans during the holiday time following family celebration. Reviving the 'Christmas Game', Ulm's opponent is no present as the powerful Thunderbirds travel to Ulm on a two game win streak at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. With upset on their mind, ratiopharm Ulm is focused to make this Christmas Game special.
ratiopharm Ulm guard Rocky Trice leads the Bundesliga in steals per game with 2.5
click here for Sudwest Presse interview
Christmas Message from ratiopharm Ulm
This season the Beko Bundesliga teams voted in favor of playing Holiday games including traditional 'Christmas Games'. A commitment from the teams, playing through the holidays rather than enjoying a Christmas break means connecting with a 'basketball family' over holidays when time with ones family at home is not possible. Recognizing the importance of family time and holidays, ratiopharm Ulm was one of the few teams in the Bundesliga who voted for no games over Christmas. When the 2009-2010 schedule came out, Ulm was fortunate enough to receive a special Christmas Game for December 26th, 2009 against reigning league champion Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. While a game over Christmas is fantastic for the expected large home crowd, playing on the road can be difficult with the hassle of traveling during the holidays --- especially for a team who has traveled as much as Oldenburg has this season competing in the Euroleague. Part of the majority of Bundesliga teams who voted for a Christmas Game, Oldenburg brings a tremendously talented team to Sportszentrum Kuhberg for a special Holiday game.
ratiopharm Ulm 20 year old rookie forward Robin Benzing lead South All Star voting with averages of 11.8ppg 2.3reb 31% three point shooting and 88% from the foul line.
Oldenburg's 2009-2010 season has started where the Thunderbirds left off. Entering Saturday's Christmas Game in Ulm, Oldenburg is 11-4 ranking among the top teams in the Beko Bundesliga. The Thunderbirds opened up with two home wins over brose Baskets Bamberg 67-55 October 10th and edging Deustche Bank Skyliners 63-61 October 15th. On October 18th, ALBA Berlin topped Oldenburg 69-67 in a terrific early season matchup at O2 World in Berlin. Oldenburg returned home to beat Dusseldorf 83-62 October 23rd before beating Bremerhaven on the road 88-80 in an early season rivalry game October 25th. November 1st, EnBW Ludwigsburg went into Ludwigsburg and won 72-63 but Oldenburg bounced back with a three game home winning streak including victories over Braunschweig 80-74 November 8th, 74-55 over Paderborn November 19th and 81-48 over Trier November 22nd. At 9-2, Oldenburg traveled to Giessen where the 46ers upset them 78-73 November 28th. The Thunderbirds bounced back for back to back home wins over Artland December 6th 66-62 and 87-61 against Walter Tigers Tubingen December 13th. Last weekend, with wearly legs from the Euroleague road trips and without star Ricky Paulding, Oldenburg lost on the road in Weissenfels against MBC 74-65 Saturday December 19th. At 11-4, with a healthy Jason Gardner, Oldenburg is loading up for another post season run at the top of the Bundesliga.
ratiopharm Ulm's Christian Burns leads the attack with 15.2ppg 6.2reb.
After winning the Bundesliga Championship beating Bonn in an exciting 5 game series last spring, Head coach Predrag Krunic has retained most of his team while making a few key additions. Earlier this season, Bundesliga MVP Jason Gardner went down with an injury missing most of the first few months of action. Returning in last weeks game at MBC, Gardner has appeared in four games this season averaging 8.3ppg 3reb 1.8ast while shooting 25% from the floor. The former Arizona Wildcat will work his way back into form over the remainder of the season and surely be a major factor for the Thunderbirds as they work to defend their Bundesliga title. While Gardner has been out, talented scoring guard Je'Kel Foster has been in top form producing 12.7ppg 3.7reb 3.9ast with 32% three point shooting. The former Ohio State guard, Foster has enjoyed strong games against Ulm over the last two seasons with both Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg. But no player has been better against Ulm than Oldenburg's Ricky Paulding. In the former Missouri Tigers last two trips to Sportszentrum Kuhberg, Paulding has exploded for 30 points in 2007 and 34 points last season. This year, Ricky is averaging 12.1ppg 2.6reb 2.4ast on 27% three point shooting. The tremendous combination of Gardner, Foster and Paulding make Oldenburg one of the most dangerous backcourts in the Bundesliga. This season, the Thunderbirds added talented wing Josh Carter from Texas A & M. As a rookie in the Bundesliga, Carter has given his team a solid 8.9ppg 2.3reb and 41% three point accuracy. Until recently, Bundesliga veteran Bryan Bailey had stepped into the Oldenburg lineup contributing 9.3ppg 36% three point shooting as an injury replacement. Bailey's contract was not renewed as of December 20th and the talented combo guard was released before Christmas. One of the unsung hero's for Oldenburg's early season, hardworking German guard Daniel Hain stepped into the rotation and gave his team solid minutes as he helped to offset the major loss of Gardner for the extended time of his injury. While the backcourt ranks as one of the top units in the Bundesliga, Oldenburg's frontcourt also provides a strength for the team. Veteran center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje mans the middle and brings 7.5ppg 5.2reb. The former Portland Trailblazer and Georgetown big man is one of the top shotblocking post defenders in the Bundesliga. At the four spot, skillful Jasmin Perkovic is healthy after missing most of last season due to injury. Back in the starting lineup, Perkovic has produced 11.2ppg 6.1reb 30% three point shooting for the Thunderbirds. Also making major contributions off the bench, big men Milan Majstorovic and Marko Scekic add a physical, hardworking presence to the paint. Majstorovic has averaged 4.5ppg 3.1reb while playing both post spots and Scekic brings tremendous energy to the floor along with 7.2ppg 4.9reb. Rounding out the roster, skilled shooting big man Daniel Strauch and three point marksman Marco Buljevic add depth and quality to the bench.
ratiopharm Ulm post man Coleman Collins has produced 10.8ppg with 4.8reb on 52% shooting.
This season, Oldenburg competes in the Euroleague, the highest level of basketball in Europe and among the best leagues in the world. After opening with an exciting 87-81 road win over Asseco Prokom in Poland, the Thunderbirds have dropped seven straight games to this point losing 79-70 to Armani Jeans Milan, 77-72 in BC Khimki at Moscow, falling 104-61 to Spanish power Real Madrid, losing 96-63 in Greece against Panathinaikos, falling 82-80 at home to Asseco Prokom before losing 79-51 in Milan against Armani Jeans and most recently coming up short 62-49 home v BC Khimki. Oldenburg travels to Real Madrid January 6th and hosts Panathinaikos January 13th to close out their Euroleague campaign.
ratiopharm Ulm's Sebastian Betz flies in for a tip-dunk in action from last seasons home game against Ewe Baskets Oldenburg Febuary 21st, 2009 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm.
In 2008-2009, Oldenburg beat ratiopharm Ulm three times, once in the German Cup and twice in the Bundesliga game schedule. The last meeting at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm, Rickey Paulding scored 34 points including 25 in a fantastic first half performance from Ewe Baskets Oldenburg as the Thunderbirds beat ratiopharm Ulm 83-75 Saturday night Febuary 21, 2009 in Ulm. Taking control early with excellent defense and efficient offense, Oldenburg opened a 10 point lead at half before breaking the game open with an 18-4 early third quarter run. ratiopharm Ulm competed with great heart battling back with a furious second half comeback rallying to cut the deficit to three twice in the final minutes. Jasmin Perkovic's top of the key three was the daggar pushing Oldenburg back atop the Bundesliga as 'Tabellenfuhrer'.
Click here for Febuary 21, 2009 Ulm v Oldenburg game summary!
Starting slowly on Wednesday night November 19th in a German Cup game against the Thunderbirds, ratiopharm Ulm spent most of the game digging out of their first quarter hole only to fall short in the end as Ewe Baskets Oldenburg eliminated Ulm 82-70 at Ewe Arena. In the first quarter, ratiopharm Ulm could not get a bounce as they made 4 of 18 shots while watching Oldenburg build a 25-10 lead before Ulm could get the lid off. Ulm bounced back trimming the halftime lead to 45-35 and pulling within 6 in the second half. Oldenburg's excellent three point shooting and timely scoring kept Ulm's comeback attempt at bay as the Thunderbirds earned the win bouncing ratiopharm Ulm out of the German Cup. Center Sean Finn led Ulm with a strong 18 point 11 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 14 points 7 boards and Lee Humphrey 12 points in the loss.
Click here for 11-19-08 Ulm @ Oldenburg German Cup Game Summary!
click here for link to Oldenburg photo gallery from 10-18-08
click here for link to Oldenburg photo gallery from 11-19-08
One month earlier in a regular season Bundesliga game, Oldenburg edged ratiopharm Ulm 80-75 in an intensely competitive game at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg Saturday October 18th. ratiopharm Ulm trailed by 16 points in the third quarter of their Game Day 5 road game at Ewe Arena against Ewe Baskets Oldenburg. A powerful third quarter push from the Thunderbirds gave the home team momentum and the double-digit lead. But Ulm had been there before. Last season, the team trailed by 14 points in the fourth quarter before staging an amazing comeback and miracle win capped by Emeka Erege's halfcourt shot. Rallying around their belief, ratiopharm Ulm stormed back in an exciting fourth quarter comeback to even the game at 74 with 46 seconds to play. Oldenburg's star point guard Jason Gardner made the difference with a skillful three point play and two clutch free throws to seal the Thunderbirds exciting 80-75 win.
Click here for 10-18-08 Ulm @ Oldenburg Game Summary!
In the 2007-2008 season, Ulm and Oldenburg split two games with teams winning on the road. Basketball fans were witness to a truly amazing sports moment of pure athletic drama -- Emeka Erege's halfcourt game winning buzzer beater capped ratiopharm Ulm's tremendous comeback win over Ewe Baskets Oldenburg last season at Ewe Arena. Trailing by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter, Ulm stormed back and stole the road win with the miracle finish thanks to Emeka's golden touch. Certainly both teams remember the amazing ending to last years matchup at Ewe Arena.
click here for Ulm @ Oldenburg December 9th, 2008 Game Summary!
Emeka Erege and Ulm celebrate the former captains miracle halfcourt game winner in Oldenburg in 2007-2008!
Emeka's Shot on Youtube
Emeka Erege's Buzzer Beater in Oldenburg December 9, 2007
Earlier in the 2007-2008 year, Head coach Predrag Krunic rallied his Ewe Baskets Oldenburg team after a slow start and the Thunderbirds developed into one of the Bundesliga's most improved and best teams. The Thunderbirds raced to a fantastic 10 game win streak midseason helping them rise up the standings. Finishing the season strong at 21-14 and in fourth place, Oldenburg advanced to the semi-finals of the Bundesliga playoffs before falling 3 games to 1 to eventual champion ALBA Berlin.
Late in the 2007-2008 season, a determined Oldenburg team marched into Sportszentrum Kuhberg and earned a hardfought 90-82 victory April 12th, 2008. Ulm's Sean Finn enjoyed one of his best performances of the season posting a strong 17 point 12 rebound double double while Jeff Gibbs added 17 points 9 boards in the tight loss. However, the star of the game went to Oldenburg's Rickey Paulding who went to work against the Ulm defense for 30 points in a terrific scoring display.
Click here for April 12, 2008 Ulm v Oldenburg Game Summary!
In the 2006-2007 season Ulm and Oldenburg split two meetings with both teams protecting their home court. ratiopharm Ulm earned their first Bundesliga win with a 91-77 victory at Sportszentrum Kuhberg over the slow starting Thunderbirds. After reinforcing their squad and getting healthy, veteran head coach Don Beck and his Oldenburg team made a playoff push late in the season and collected a 90-78 home win over Ulm January 20th at Ewe Arena. For game summaries from 2006-2007, click the links below:
October 11, 2006 ratiopharm Ulm 91 Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 77
January 20, 2007 Ewe Baskets Oldenburg 90 ratiopharm Ulm 78
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Austen Rowland
Saturday nights game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg will certainly be a sell-out as families look to fill their holiday time with exciting basketball action. With one of the top teams in the Beko Basketball Bundesliga on the ticket, Ulm fans will be treated to a terrific opponent in the return of the traditional Christmas Game.
ratiopharm Ulm sharpshooter Lee Humphrey leads the Bundesliga in three point makes with 39 hitting for a 40% clip.
Looking for more consistency and production, ratiopharm Ulm continues to integrate new point guard Austen Rowland who returned to the team for his first action since 2006-2007 last weekend against Artland. Recently voted into the starting lineup for the South team in the Bundesliga All Star game in Bonn, 21 year old Per Gunther and 20 year old Robin Benzing continue to develop and gain excellent experience playing major roles for ratiopharm Ulm this season. Ulm's lineup continues to work hard on their team defense and have allowed 77.4ppg over their last 4 games including 72 last game against Artland and 73 in Giessen. Overall this season, Ulm defense has allowed 83ppg putting extra pressure on their offense to produce. For ratiopharm Ulm, hardworking guard Sebastian Betz continues to rehabilitate a hamstring injury and will be a game-time decision Saturday night against Oldenburg.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action this season on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
TAYLORHOOPS.COM GAME NOTES
ALL STAR DAY 2009-2010
ratiopharm Ulm placed two players in the top five vote getters for the South team at Beko Bundesliga All Star day 2009-2010 January 23rd, 2010 at Telekom Dome in Bonn. Robin Benzing led the South voting with 37.5% while Per Gunther picked up a solid 21.9% for fifth. Also representing ratiopharm Ulm, Rocky Trice will take part in the Slam Dunk contest.
Team Nord
1. Rickey Paulding (EWE Baskets Oldenburg, SF, 41,8 %)
2. Julius Jenkins (ALBA Berlin, SG, 38,4 %)
3. Heiko Schaffartzik (New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig, PG, 34,6 %)
4. Jeff Gibbs (Eisbären Bremerhaven, PF, 31,4 %)
5. Ruben Boumtje Boumtje (EWE Baskets Oldenburg, C, 21,3 %)
6. Adam Chubb (ALBA Berlin, C, 13,7 %)
7. Steffen Hamann (ALBA Berlin, PG, 13,6 %)
8. Immanuel McElroy (ALBA Berlin, SG, 11,7 %)
9. Je’Kel Foster (EWE Baskets Oldenburg, PG, 11,2 %)
9. Rodney Buford (Eisbären Bremerhaven, SG, 11,2 %).
Team Süd
1. Robin Benzing (ratiopharm Ulm, SF, 37,5 %)
2. Tim Ohlbrecht (Telekom Baskets Bonn, C, 32,2 %)
3. Chris Ensminger (Telekom Baskets Bonn, C, 26,6 %)
4. Jared Jordan (Telekom Baskets Bonn, PG, 22,2 %)
5. Per Günther (ratiopharm Ulm, PG, 21,9 %)
6. Casey Jacobsen (Brose Baskets, SG, 21,4 %)
7. Bryce Taylor (Telekom Baskets Bonn, SG, 19,0 %)
8. Koko Archibong (GIANTS Düsseldorf, SF, 18,7 %),
9. Derrick Allen (DEUTSCHE BANK SKYLINERS, PF, 14,3 %)
10. Aleksandar Nadjfeji (WALTER Tigers Tübingen, PF, 12,7 %).
Ulm Roster
Lee Humphrey: sharpshooter leads Bundesliga in three point makes
Rocky Trice: Ulm impact player leads Bundesliga in steals at 2.5
Christian Burns: leads Ulm O with 15.2ppg 6.2reb
Coleman Collins: solid 10.8ppg 4.8reb 52% from the floor.
Robin Benzing: rookie F can score in a variety of ways
John Bryant: has helped improve Ulm team defense with hardwork
Kevin Kanaskie: rookie PG also picking up the two spot
Sebastian Betz: tweaked hamstring last week/Gametime decision
Per Gunther: focused for matchup against excellent PG Gardner
Christian Grosse: excellent week in practice
Austen Rowland: finding rhythm in return to Ulm team
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Oldenburg, Germany
Main Sponsor: Ewe
Home Court: EWE Arena
website: www.ewe-baskets.de
2007-2008: 21-13 4th place
2008-2009: Bundesliga Champions
Offense: With an all star filled backcourt, the strength of the Oldenburg attack revolves around PG Jason Gardner, new shooting guard Je'kel Foster and former Detroit Pistons 2nd round NBA Draft Pick Rickey Paulding. Combined the three stars make the Thunderbirds tough to stop. The team excells in transition and with Gardner quarterbacking the offense, plays quality basketball in the halfcourt as well. Inside, big men Ruben Boumtje Boumtje and Milan Majstorovic provide a scoring presence while Jasmin Perkovic is a terrific inside-out scoring threat. Last season, Oldenburg enjoyed a ten game win streak as the team really came together. This year, the team has potential to be better with the addition of Foster and a season experience playing together.
Defense: A fundamental and solid defensive team, an athletic perimeter is supported by terrific size in the paint with shot blocking big man Boumtje Boumtje defending the rim. Paudling and Foster have tremendous ability to create steals, cause turnovers and spark transition by playing passing lanes. A physical inside presence and depth in the front court have this seasons edition of Oldenburg focused for another deep playoff run.
GM:
Head Coach: Predrag Krunic
Players:
Jason Gardner: outstanding PG returning from early injury
Je'kel Foster: excellent shooting guard/former Ludwigsburg star
Rickey Paulding: former Missouri Tiger gave Ulm 34 last season
Milan Majstorovic: 6'10 Serbian C in top shape this year
Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: C is experienced/excellent shot blocker
Jasmin Perkovic: powerful Croatian 4man/skilled in-out scorer
Marko Scekic: active big man/energy player/
Daniel Hain: young German G filled in nicely with Gardner out
Marco Buljevic: 3pt shooting wing/young german talent
Daniel Strauch: pick n pop 3pt shooting/rebounding German post
Josh Carter: rookie wing from Texas A&M hitting 41% threes
