TAYLORHOOPS.COM ULM UPDATE
September 13, 2005
88 
74
Strong Second Half Surge helps ratiopharm Ulm over Bayern Munch
Using the strength of a 16-0 fourth quarter run, ratiopharm Ulm powered past Bayern Munich 88-74 Tuesday evening in Munich. For the second consecutive game Ulm put six players in double figures demonstrating excellent team play while displaying several scoring options.
Jonthan Levy
Munich, relegated into the 3rd division after last season in the 2.Bundesliga South, kept much of their roster while adding significant talent to their team. Experienced Head Coach George Kampf, who guided Tubingen to the 2.Bundesliga South title in 2003-2004, was hired to direct Bayern's 3 year plan to the Bundesliga. Post men Henning Gutt and Johcen Losch were kept as pillars in the paint while athletic wing Jay Thomas also re-signed to remain in Munich. Along with these building blocks, super scorer 6'7 Justus Hammar, a regionaliga scoring machine, was added this off season. Making a committment to basketball, Bayern Munich also decided to add at least one american to their team after playing the entire 2.Bundesliga season without an American import player last year.
A difficult place to play, Munich used their home court advantage to jump to a fast lead. Early action had the visiting Ulmers on their heels as Bayern Munich played extremely physical while effectively changing defenses. As a result, Ulm execution was initially unsettled and shot selection perimeter oriented. After falling behind 14-5, an Ulm timeout helped to settle the team. Adjusting to the defensive pressure and improving execution, Ulm finished the first quarter strong on an 8-2 run trimming the deficit to 17-13 after one.
Maintaining the surge, Ulm took their first lead with 7 minutes to play in the first half at 24-22. Both teams changed defenses effectively and worked hard defensively during a back and forth second quarter. By halftime, both teams were exactly where they began --- tied 39-39.
Opening up the third quarter, Ulm immediately went to work. Power forward Jeff Gibbs scored inside while Jonathan Levy and Maksym Shtein scored off the offensive glass. Emeka Erege finished in transition and from penetrating drives. A clear and focused Ulm attack used excellent ball movement and passing to get good shots. Boosting the lead to 61-51, Ulm forced a Bayern Munich timeout.
Playing in the preseason, with the lead and opportunity to experiment, Ulm head coach Mike Taylor played a unique lineup to see what his players could do. While Ulm was experimenting, Munich fought back into the game by posting up Justus Hammar. The 11-3 Bayern Munich run took place over the end of the third and beginning of the fourth quarter. When the score tightened at 64-62, the Ulm starters re-entered and went on an immediate run.
Jeff Gibbs
Ulm's 16-0 run included 2 dunks from Jeff Gibbs and a slam in transition from Jonathan Levy. Martin Theusen poked loose two steals and sailed coast to coast for layups. The Ulm defense created offense. Blocked shots from Gibbs, Levy and Mobius sparked fast breaks. Up 80-62, Mike T went back to the bench inserting Christian Grosse, Jan Sprunken and Antonis Sivorotka into the game. Closing out the preseason win at Munich, the final score stood at 88-74 and both teams could take many positives from the game.
ratiopharm Ulm now looks ahead to their best preseason test yet, the Fritz & Macziol Cup Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Sportzentrum Kuhberg. Friday night Ulm meets ULEB Cup participant and Belgium champion Quatro Bree while German power ALBA Berlin takes on Walter Tigers Tubingen in a preseason Bundesliga battle.
Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm basketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com!
GO ULM!
MIKE T
Ulm Box score: Thuesen (15pts), Levy (23), Grosse, Sprünken (2), Erege (13), Gibbs (10), Sivorotka (4), Möbius (10), Shtein (11).
