TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
84 
77
FAN-TASTIC!
ULM BEATS RIVAL TUBINGEN WITH HELP FROM FANS!
ratiopharm Ulm won for the third straight season in Tubingen Arena, beating Walter Tigers Tubingen 84-77 Saturday night in this seasons first edition of the Baden-Wurtemburg Derby. Powered by 400 loud orange-vested fans, Ulm overcame the loss of center Sean Finn to an early ankle injury with a strong team effort. Point guard Dru Joyce topscored with a season-best 25 point performance while Lee Humphrey drilled 5 three pointers on his way to 22 and Romeo Travis added a solid 21 point 11 rebound double double including a cool 9 of 10 from the foul line. While the team production on the floor was excellent, ratiopharm Ulm fans helped energize their team with tremendous enthusiasm inspiring the team to celebrate with the fans after the final buzzer. Earning their third straight win, ratiopharm Ulm's exciting road win over rival Tubingen was truely FAN-tastic!
ratiopharm Ulm storms the stands taking their 'Baden-Wurtemburg Derby' victory celebration to the fans Saturday night at Tubingen Arena.
Click here for Ulm @ Tubingen Saturday 11-29-08 Box Score
click here for Ulm @Tubingen Photo Gallery!
Click here for Tubingen newspaper online photo gallery
For fans from ratiopharm Ulm and Walter Tigers Tubingen, the Baden-Wurtemburg Derby between the two teams just means more. Recent games in the rivalry included the classic 2003-2004 2.Bundesliga South overtime duels and the Bundesliga battles of the last two seasons. Entering Saturday night, ratiopharm Ulm had won 3 of the four meetings over the last two years including both Baden-Wurtemburg Derby games in Tubingen Arena. With a week's worth of anticipation and buildup, Ulm and Tubingen were ready for their rivalry. ratiopharm Ulm fans were ready too. Over one hour before tipoff, Ulm fans filled their section of the stands as they awaited the game. In a show of support for their team, most Ulm fans wore bright orange vests doing their part to make the rivalry special. As players went through warm-ups, the Ulm fans were ready with chants, cheers, enthusiasm and energy.
ratiopharm Ulm fans await tip-off in Tubingen Arena with their fan-tastic orange vests!
At tip off, both Ulm and Tubingen were ready. Intensity from the rivalry between the two teams had both teams focused. Unfortunately for ratiopharm Ulm, starting center Sean Finn stepped on a Tubingen foot and severly twisted his ankle only three minutes into action. Ulm was forced to adjust their game plan on the fly. Back-up center Michael Schroeder, recently returning from a leg injury of his own, entered into the game and filled in for Finn. Lee Humphrey hit from three and Romeo Travis finished inside helping Ulm earn a 19-11 lead. Tubingen big men Rasko Katic and Michael Haynes powered a Tiger comeback and the Derby was on.
Ulm lost center Sean Finn to an ankle injury 3 minutes into the game. Here physio Andi Lacher works on Sean's ankle while Sean and Jeff Gibbs discuss strategy.
With the intensity of the rivalry game picking up as both teams settled in, Ulm physio Andi Lacher worked furiously on Sean Finn's ankle in hopes of a return. However, late in the first quarter, word came that the Ulm center would miss the remainder of the game. Playing with a small lineup at times, Ulm's bench boosted their effort. As Tubingen battled back to take a 20-19 lead late in the first quarter, Ulm rookie point guard Per Gunther sank two free throws helping Ulm regain the lead. After the first ten minutes, ratiopharm Ulm was up 21-20.
Both Ulm and Tubingen played with tremendous intensity Saturday night. Here Ulm's Romeo Travis and Tubingen's Michael Haynes battle for a loose ball rebound.
Quarter two began with a 9-0 Tubingen run as they raced to a 29-21 lead. After an Ulm timeout, the team refocused and went to work. Ulm cut into the deficit and the rowdy Ulm fans empowered their team with their noise. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Tubingen led 29-27. As Tubingen stretched their lead to 33-27, Ulm's Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce sparked a 9-1 run to finish the first half. The exciting back-and-forth action captured the essence of a rivalry game and Ulm could feel good about their 36-34 halftime lead.
Lee Humphrey buried 5 big three pointers helping Ulm beat rival Tubingen Saturday night. Lee finished with 22 points in the exciting win!
While Ulm adjusted their game plan on the fly, Ulm's bench production became a focal point of the game. Big man Michael Schroeder provided a physical presence in the paint and matched up perfectly against Tubingen All Star center Rasko Katic. Schroeder sank two free throws and grabbed two rebounds in the first half, but his performance boosted his team when they needed him with Sean Finn out. Along with Schroeder, sharpshooting forward Dan Fitzgerald factored into the game positively. On top of the adjustments to the game plan without Finn, ratiopharm Ulm attacked the Tigers defense with precision. While Tubingen double-teamed the post in specific situations, Ulm post players passed the ball out to the perimeter where Lee Humphrey, Dru Joyce and Per Gunther buried key threes. The inside-out teamwork was a big part of Ulm's first half success.
Ulm rookie Per Gunther hustles after a loose ball and is tied up by Tubingen's Ken Williams in the second half of Saturday nights action.
At the half, Ulm shot 46% from the floor, made 4 of 10 threes and sank 8 of 11 from the foul line (73%). Ulm also outrebounded Tubingen 16-14 at the break. Balanced scoring characterized Ulm's first half with Dru Joyce going for 9 and 8 points apiece from Lee Humphrey and Romeo Travis. Meanwhile, Tubingen hit 50% from the floor, 2 for 7 from three (29%) and 4 of 6 from the foul line (67%). Michael Haynes led Tubingen with 8 points and Rasko Katic chipped in 7.
Romeo Travis thrived in the 'Derby' atmosphere scoring 21 points with 11 rebounds including an outstanding 9 for 10 from the foul line.
In the halftime lockerroom, Ulm reviewed their in-game adjustments and discussed key points for improved performance in the second half. Rallying together in the rivalry, Ulm's Dan Fitzgerald was penciled into the starting five for the second half. As with any great rivalry, everyone involved expects a complete 40 minute game. For Ulm and Tubingen, the most exciting moments in their intense rivalry were yet to come.
With Sean Finn out after suffering an early game ankle injury, Ulm plugged Dan Fitzgerald into the starting five for the second half.
As the second half opened, Ulm's Jeff Gibbs made big plays. However, these big plays did not come on the backboards or by making a bucket. Facing a double teaming defense, Gibbs delivered perfect post-reaction passes to sharpshooter Lee Humphrey. The former Florida Gator who seems to play his best on the biggest stages, buried back to back threes off postreaction helping Ulm build a ten point lead 51-41. Tubingen called time. As the third quarter went on, the Tigers clawed their way back into the game with an 11-4 run ignited by three three pointers from Tubingen forward Michael Haynes. With every point, fans from both teams were more and more into the game. At the end of three, Ulm held a 55-54 lead.
Ulm floor general Dru Joyce ices Saturday's 'Derby' win with clutch free throws. The Akron native led ratiopharm Ulm scoring with a season best 25 point performance.
Early in the fourth, Lee Humphrey drilled another three and Romeo Travis found a way to finish in the paint. Travis continued to sink clutch free throws. Ulm led 65-60 with five minutes remaining. Michael Schroeder was called for an unsportsmanlike foul but Rasko Katic could not take advantage of the free throws. The game was in the balance with Ulm leading 69-66. Playing with excellent focus and teamwork, ratiopharm Ulm awaited their chance to take the game. It came with three minutes to play. Dru Joyce stepped up first burying a clutch left wing three, then Dan Fitzgerald drilled a game-deciding three giving Ulm a 72-66 lead. Ulm fans began to celebrate while Tubingen fans lost their wind. Ulm point guard Dru Joyce stepped to the foul line and stepped up as Tubingen played the fouling game. Joyce cooly converted 7 of 8 foul shots. But there was no quit in the Tigers as Jermaine Anderson hit a last minute three and scored on a driving layup. At the final buzzer, ratiopharm Ulm could celebrate their 84-77 Baden-Wurtemburg Derby win which was their third straight win this season and third straight win in Tubingen Arena.
Romeo Travis was relentless around the rim in Saturday nights game at Tubingen Arena.
In the win, ratiopharm Ulm overcame the loss of starting center Sean Finn and players adjusted their attack intelligently. Unselfish play from Jeff Gibbs set the table for big games from Lee Humphrey and Dru Joyce. Hardwork in the paint from Gibbs, Romeo Travis, Dan Fitzgerald and Michael Schroeder were keys to success. As a team Ulm shot 50% from the floor making 9 of 22 threes (41%) and a season best 23 of 29 from the foul line (79%). Ulm outrebounded Tubingen 32-27 in a key statistic between the two teams. Dru Joyce topscored with many clutch plays as the Akron native went for 25 points in the win. Lee Humphrey was outstanding scoring 22 points and making the Tigers pay for double-teaming the post. Romeo Travis added a terrific 21 point 11 rebound double double including an excellent 9 of 10 free throws in the win. Jeff Gibbs scored 4 points but grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out 6 assists against the Tigers double teams. For Tubingen, Michael Haynes scored 23 points and Jermaine Anderson added 14 in the loss. Tubingen shot 49% from the floor and made 9 of 24 threes (38%) along with 12 of 18 from the foul line (67%).
Dru Joyce scans the floor during an important endline inbound situation with under two minutes to play. Joyce made several clutch plays down the stretch helping Ulm earn the rivalry road win.
Thankful to their fans for the tremendous support, ratiopharm Ulm stormed the stands immediately after post-game handshakes. Taking the celebration to the fans, ratiopharm Ulm and fans enjoyed the Baden-Wurtemburg Derby win together after a terrific performance on the floor and in the bleachers. The Ulm fans understood the rivalry and made the evening something special supporting their team with bright orange-vests. For ratiopharm Ulm and fans, Saturday's road win over rival Walter Tigers Tubingen was simply FAN-tastic!
Ulm sprints to their fanblock at Tubingen Arena celebrating the Baden-Wurtemburg Derby win!
Following the initial celebration, Ulm fans wanted an encore!
Improving to 8-4, ratiopharm Ulm is now in 4th place in the Bundesliga standings and looks ahead to next weekends home game against BG74 Gottingen 7pm Saturday night at Sportszentrum Kuhberg. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm Bundesliga Basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
