TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
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HOLIDAY HOOPS!
ratiopharm Ulm @ Trier
Monday April 5, 2010 5pm
Trier Arena Trier, Germany
ratiopharm Ulm travels to Trier for a special Easter Monday night matchup in Game Day 30 of the 2009-2010 Beko Basketball Bundesliga season. A holiday hoops special, Ulm is focused for Monday's exciting challenge on the road in Trier.
ratiopharm Ulm point guard Austen Rowland is focused to face his former team in Trier.
click here for Regio TV report
At the point of storylines, ratiopharm Ulm point guard Austen Rowland has seen this Ulm-Trier matchup from both sides, worn both uniforms and sat on both benches. After hitting a clutch three point shot in overtime lifting Ulm to an exciting 85-82 home win December 30th 2006, Austen dished out a Bundesliga best 18 assists in Ulm's 100-90 victory at Trier Arena April 21st, 2007. After leaving Ulm, Rowland signed in Trier for the 2007-2008 season and played for the Trier team for the majority of the year. At the end of the season, with only two games remaining, Rowland was released from the team and played 2008-2009 in Furstenfeld Austria. Certainly, Monday nights Easter Holiday game will be a special matchup for Austen who understands this game from both sides.
As Ulm visits Trier for Monday's Holiday Hoops special, both teams are playing out their respective Bundesliga schedules. An amazing historical city on the western edge of Germany, Trier has long tradition as a successful city in Europe. Founded by the Romans in 16 B.C., Trier became the capital of West-Roman Empire in the 3rd Century. Trier was the home to 6 emperors and held a population of 80,000 as early as the 4th century. The basketball tradition in the city is also strong. Trier has been a successful team in the Bundesliga since "Aufsteig" in 1990. The highlight of Trier's tenure was winning the German Cup in 1998 and 2001.
ratiopharm Ulm power forward Christian Burns and Trier power forward Chris Copeland will be a featured matchup in Monday nights game!
Trier's 2009-2010 season tipped off with two wins as they topped Frankfurt 71-67 October 9th and edged Dusseldorf 87-84 October 16th in two home games. October 18th, Trier trekked to Bremerhaven where the Eisbaren beat TBB 89-73 October 18th. Trier bounced back for a 94-87 home win over Gottingen October 23rd. Ludwigsburg won big over Trier 93-65 October 25th and Braunschweig won in Trier 82-67 October 30th. Even at 3-3, Trier won three straight games beating Paderborn 99-63 November 1st, edging Artland 75-73 November 7th, beating Giessen 87-83 November 14th at Trier Arena. At 6-3, Oldenburg beat Trier 81-48 at Ewe Arena in Oldenburg. Last week, Trier topped Tubingen 86-78 November 29th. At 7-4, Trier started the season strong. But the Trier team came down with sickness prior to their Saturday night December 5th, 2009 road game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Ulm earned a convincing 97-76 victory over the shorthanded Trier tipping off a downturn in the Trier season going 1-17 since. The team has made roster moves and a coaching change in an attempt to reverse the funk. After pushing Trier on the brink of a playoff position last year, Yves Defraigne was let go less than a month ago after Trier's road loss in Berlin. Former Wurzburg and Tubingen head coach Aaron McCarthy has been signed as a replacement to finish the season. Interestingly, as Trier prepares to travel to Chengdu next week, Coach McCarthy spent the majority of this year coaching
Fujian SBS XunXin in the CBA.
ratiopharm Ulm post man John Bryant
Trier had almost their entire roster back from last season. The go-to guy for Trier is power forward Chris Copeland who headlines the cast of talented returning players. The skillfull scoring forward can score inside with strong post moves and quick spins in the lane or make plays on the perimeter with his jumpshot and passing skills. Copeland has been strong leading Trier's offensive attack averaging 16ppg 4.7reb 36% threes. The man in the middle is veteran post presence George Evans. The former George Mason post man has delivered in Trier. A terrific story, the USA military veteran led George Mason University to a cinderella Final Four run in his college career and has established himself as an outstanding inside player in Europe playing for former Trier Yves Defraigne in both Belgium and Germany. This season, big George boasts averages of 9.8ppg and 4.9reb as he powers his way to points in the paint with a soft jump hook touch. On the perimeter, skillfull scoring wing Jamal Shuler is one of the most underrated players in the Bundesliga. The former VCU Ram has produced a solid 13.6ppg with 5.1reb as he scores in transition, creating one on one and with active cutting. Shuler won the Bundesliga Slam Dunk crown at All Star day in Bonn and exploded for a season best 39 point performance in Triers triple overtime home loss to Paderborn. In the Trier backcourt, veteran guard Derek Raivio and sharpshooting Drew Neitzel provide an excellent one-two punch at the point guard position. Neitzel, the former Michigan State star joined Trier midseason when former star guard Brian Brown left the team. Meanwhile, the talented former Gonzaga Zag, Raivio has stepped up his game this season producing 9.8ppg 2.8ast and 38% from three point range. Team captain James Gillingham is a tremendous competitor and brings terrific leadership to the Trier team. After overcoming injuries in the last several seasons, James has returned to excellent form contributing solid numbers and defense to his squad. Off the bench, former Ulm big man Maksym Shtein returns to Sportszentrum Kuhberg where he helped lead ratiopharm Ulm into the Bundesliga with his crafty post play. After playing 5 seasons for Ulm in the 2.Bundesliga South and Bundesliga, Max moved on to play in Frankfurt and is now in his second season in Trier. This year, the 'Ukraine Train' has averaged a solid 6.7ppg 3.9reb in an important role for Trier in the paint. On the perimeter, Trier picked up former Oldenburg wing Miladin Pekovic who has given his new team 6.1ppg 2.3reb and 39% three point shooting. An intelligent player who is always a threat to score, Pekovic stretches the floor with his range and actively cuts to make things happen. Rounding out the Trier roster, talented young big man Maik Zirbes continues to gain experience with increased playing time and Kosta Karamatsos returns to the backcourt. New to the team this season is Samy Picard who joins Trier after successful seasons in his homeland of Luxemburg.
ratiopharm Ulm's Rocky Trice
Earlier this season, ratiopharm Ulm picked up their fifth win of the season getting healthy against a flu-stricken Trier team Saturday night December 5th, 2009 at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm. Lee Humphrey hit 3 threes for a game best 24 points while rookie forward Robin Benzing errupted for 23 points on 4 of 6 three point shooting in his first Bundesliga start and Per Gunther added a career high 20 points with 6 assists in Ulm's 97-76 win.
click here for complete Ulm v Trier 12-5-09 Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm's Per Gunther penetrated his way to a career high 20 points 6 assists in the December 5th, 2009 97-76 home win over TBB Trier.
click here for 12-5-09 Box score
click here for Regio tv report
click here for Ulm v Trier photo gallery
click here for Ulm v Trier photo gallery from Sudwest Presse
Last season, Ulm and Trier split their two games with each team winning on their home floor. In the first meeting, ratiopharm Ulm celebrated their last game of the 2008 calendar year with an 82-74 home win over TBB Trier Friday night December 19th, 2008. Earning their 10th win of the season, ratiopharm Ulm improved to 10-5 at their Christmas break while announcing several positive developments before tip off at a sold out Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Before the exciting win, ratiopharm Ulm management announced a new contract extension with sponsor SWU strengthening the teams support and financial situation into the near future. Along with the terrific SWU sponsorship extension, ratiopharm Ulm management also announced the contract extension of sharpshooting guard Lee Humphrey. For ratiopharm Ulm, the positive developments on and off the floor give the team and fans alot to celebrate this Holiday season!
click here for December 19, 2008 Ulm vs Trier Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm captain Lee Humphrey
Later in 2009, ratiopharm Ulm celebrated their 103-66 playoff clinching home win Friday night April 17th over EnBW Ludwigsburg at Sportszentrum Kuhberg tipping off their exciting two game weekend, but were unable to complete the weekend sweep after tripping in Trier 82-63 Sunday evening April 19th, 2009 on BBL.TV. Tied at 32 at the half, Trier built an 11 point lead through a third quarter run and cruised to the late season win. Rooke point guard Per Gunther paced ratiopharm Ulm scoring with a solid 14 point performance while Lee Humphrey added 11.
Click here for April 19, 2009 Ulm @ Trier Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm rookie forward Robin Benzing
In 2007-2008, ratiopharm Ulm and Trier met three times with Ulm earning wins in all three games. On January 10th, 2008, Ulm advanced in the German Cup with a hardfought 73-68 road win at Trier Arena. Without injured point guard Kyle Bailey, Ulm's Dru Joyce stepped into the starting lineup and stepped up to score 27 points in a fantastic game helping to lead his team to the road win. Ulm's strong start gave them a 23-13 lead after one quarter and a 12 point lead at half before holding off a Trier comeback. Ulm advanced to the Elite Eight of the German Cup before falling at ALBA Berlin in a memorable double-overtime game Wednesday March 19th.
Click here for Ulm @ Trier January 10th German Cup Game Summary!
Last November, ratiopharm Ulm faced TBB Trier at Sportszentrum Kuhberg Saturday night November 17th. Ulm put all five starters in double figures led by All Star Jeff Gibbs who powered his way to a team best 24 point 9 rebound 4 assist night in a 92-70 win. Trailing the determined Trier team 41-37 at half, Ulm found their rhythm regaining the lead in the third before breaking the game open with a 31-13 fourth quarter. An all-around team effort, Ulm shot 53% from the floor and distributed 19 assists while outrebounding their guests 36-27 in the win. Ulm received 16 points 9 rebounds from Konrad Wysocki, 15 points 6 assists from Kyle Bailey and 14 points apiece from EJ Gallup and Bryan Lucas. Ulm's victory over Trier sparked a 5 game win streak.
Click here for Ulm-Trier November 17, 2007 game summary.
Finally, in a third game against Trier last season, ratiopharm Ulm rallied from a 38-32 halftime deficit to outscore host TBB Trier 47-26 in the second half as part of a 79-64 road win Saturday night March 29th at Trier Arena. Sebastian Betz buried three big threes, Dru Joyce orchestrated a key third quarter run and Jeff Gibbs scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half to power the comeback win. Ulm's strong second half was sparked by strong second options from the bench --- after a slow start, Betz, Romeo Travis and Florian Mobius helped lift the Ulm attack in their own way.
Click here for March 29th, 2008 Ulm @ Trier Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm post man Kevin Martin adds power to the frontcourt.
In the 2006-2007 season ratiopharm Ulm won on the road in Trier in an exciting uptempo game highlighted by Jeff Gibbs' monster dunk and a strong team effort. Former Ulm point guard Austen Rowland also played well dishing out a Bundesliga best 18 assists for Ulm that April evening.
Click here for Ulm @ Trier April 21, 2007 game summary.
Earlier in the 2006-2007 season, Ulm and Trier met at Sportszentrum Kuhberg and it was also near the Christmas Holidays. Before a sold-out Sportszentrum Kuhberg Holiday-weekend crowd, ratiopharm Ulm topped Trier in overtime 85-82 December 30th, 2006. In a true team effort, Ulm received excellent production from their bench and used a balanced scoring attack to edge Trier, recently one of the hottest teams in the Bundesliga. C Maksym Shtein and PG Austen Rowland topscored for Ulm with 18 points apiece and Konrad Wysocki added a strong 14 points 8 rebounds to the Ulm win. Ironically, both Shtein and Rowland would later play for Trier.
click for Ulm vs Trier December 30, 2006 Game Summary!
ratiopharm Ulm post player Coleman Collins hopes for a return to action Monday in Trier.
Ulm's lineup could receive a boost as forward Coleman Collins is aiming to return to action Monday night in Trier after missing most of the game in Braunschweig and all of last weekends game against Paderborn. With a long week of practice, Ulm took advantage of time for players to heal up bumps and bruises. While the team lost Sebastian Betz for the season last week, the team is excited for the return of Coleman Collins Monday night in Trier.
This season, ratiopharm Ulm has enjoyed several exciting experiences as a team. One of the most unique was the teams two game exhibition trip to Chengdu China in mid-January. A terrific team-building trip, the experiences in Chengdu were outstanding to bring the team closer together and helped the young Ulm team further establish themselves in the Bundesliga. Next week, Trier will make the same trek to Chengdu that ratiopharm Ulm made for two exhibition games against Beijing Aoshen Olympians.
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: 4th in league in 3pt makes 62 at 40% clip
Rocky Trice: leads Bundesliga in steals with 2.3stlpg
Christian Burns: 4th in league in scoring 15.2ppg 7th in reb 6.2pg
Coleman Collins: back in action in Trier
Robin Benzing: rookie F a leading candidate for Rookie of Year
John Bryant: hardworking post man focused for challenge in Trier
Austen Rowland: focused to play former Trier team
Sebastian Betz: out for the remainder of the season
Kevin Martin: focused for matchup on block with George Evans
Per Gunther: enjoyed career best 20pt game v Trier in December
Christian Grosse: excellent week in practice
Head Coach: Mike Taylor
Asst Coach : Rainer Bauer
Location: Trier, Germany
Main Sponsor: Hochwald
Home Court: Trier Arena
website: www.trierer-basketball.de
2007-2008: 7-27 17th place
2008-2009:
Offense: A tremendously improved offensive team, Trier's attack revolves around the transition play and ballscreens of point guard Derek Raivio. The skillful PG sets the tone with excellent work running the fast break along with attacking ballscreen defenses to score or make the right pass. Chris Copeland is a go-to guy for Trier and is one of the most talented scorers in the Bundesliga. Several wings shoot the three well and when Trier can get into transition and get hot from the perimeter, they can score with the best in the Bundesliga. In the post, George Evans and Maksym Shtein compliment one another well and give Trier two scoring options on the block. Trier's improvement this season has alot to do with the new talented players and excellent work on offense.
Defense: Defensively Trier features a solid man to man scheme with excellent size and shot blocking from George Evans. Captain James Gillingham is an excellent defensive player on the perimeter and wings are long, lanky with the ability to pressure the ball.
GM: Lothar Hemerling
Head Coach: Aaron McCarthy
Players:
James Gillingham: captain and team leader playing strong season
Derek Raivio: Trier PG playing well 13.5ppg 3.1ast 46% threes
Chris Copeland: talented go-to scoring forward 17.5ppg
Jamal Shuler: athletic scoring wing from VCU 12.1ppg 5.1reb
Maksym Shtein: former Ulm center enjoying excellent yr in Trier
George Evans: talented C go-to-guy in post for Trier
Miladin Pekovic: skillfull wing joins Trier from Oldenburg
Kosta Karamatsos: talented young guard provides energy for Trier
Maik Zirbes: talented young post man
