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ULM COMPLETES WEEKEND SWEEP WITH WIN OVER NORDLINGEN! ratiopharm Ulm earned their 10th 2.Bundesliga South win of the season beating visiting Nordlingen 104-88 in an entertaining Sunday afternoon game at Sportszentrum Kuhberg in Ulm Germany. Sunday's win sends ratiopharm Ulm into their Holiday break with a sweep of important weekend games coupled with Friday's hard earned road win in Chemnitz. Continuing his sizzling shooting, Ulm shooting guard Kenny Price drilled 6 more three pointers giving him 13 for the weekend in Ulm's two wins. Price has paced Ulm in scoring for the last five games and topscored against Nordlingen with 25. Ulm forward Niki Arinze also added 24 points and 8 rebounds in the win. After returning from Chemnitz early Saturday morning (around 4am), Ulm held a light shoot and stretch as they prepared for Nordlingen by watching game film and going through their scouting report Saturday afternoon. On one day prep, Mike T worked efficiently with his men focusing on a Nordlingen team which had won 6 of their last 8 games coming in. Starting a unique lineup, Ulm went with their "Black unit" as the hockey subbing continued to be a part of the game plan. Only point guard Christian Grosse would miss the game due to a twisted knee. From the Chemnitz win, Ulm hoped to jump start the "Black" five by putting them on the floor for the opening tip. When 7 footer Big Mike Niebling drilled a three from the left wing off an inbound play, Ulm jumped ahead early 5-2 and things looked good. However, the hungry Nordlingen team drew on their experience and regained the lead forcing an Ulm timeout. Trailing 11-7, Ulm needed better play in transition on both ends. Possibly tired from Friday's intense game and long trip, Ulm players were slow in transition on offense missing opportunities for easy scores against slow Nordlingen big men and failed to sprint back in transition on D giving Nordlingen easy baskets of their own. The "Black" unit also failed to closeout shooters effectively and did not communicate on screens early on allowing several open, uncontested three point looks that the visitors in blue caitalized on. Before anyone in Kuhberg knew it, Nordlingen had raced out to a 17-9 first quarter lead.
Big Mike Niebling jumpstarts the team with an early 3! Working the rotation, Mike T brought in the "White Unit" which has been the heart and soul of Ulm basketball in the last month. The tempo of the game changed as Ulm began to press and trap. Point man Michael Bree immediately went to work directing the attack. Kenny Price found openings off teammates screens and drilled two threes while Emeka Erege zoomed up and down the floor making things happen. Florian Mobius actively worked around the Nordlingen zone and physically defended and rebounded tallying 4 first half boards. Center Maksym Shtein flashed and sealed and went to work in the paint. Still feeling it after a 3 for 4 three point shooting performance in the big win over Chemnitz, Max drifted out to the left corner and casually sank a three ball ---its becoming regular. Shtein finished the first half perfect from the floor at 5-5.
Ulm's press sparked a run. A strong finish to the first quarter cut the deficit to three with Ulm trailing 27-24. Between quarters, the huddle focused on working harder on defense, effort in transition and attacking Nordlingen's zone. Intelligently, Ulm players made their adjustments and broke the game open with a 30-17 second quarter. Niki Arinze sank consecutive open jump shots and Maksym Shtein continued his assult in the paint. Both finished the first half with 12 points. As a team, Ulm shot 61% from the floor as the action was fast paced and end to end for the first 20 minutes.
Kenny Price drills another three: this weekend he hit 13 in 2 games. Up 54-44 at the half, Ulm was cruising, continuing their hot shooting and in control of the game. Looking for the team to raise the intensity level on defense from gear 6 to gear 8, Mike T hoped to complete the weekend sweep and head into the Holiday break with positive feelings. The team was 20 minutes away. Fast-paced, exciting action continued in the third. Nordlingen would not go away. Every time Ulm built a lead and looked to put the game away, Nordlingen battled back with scrappy effort and hardnosed teamwork. By the end of three, Ulm commanded a 73-61 advantage. Fittingly on this "Family Day", before over 2000 fans, ratiopharm Ulm finished the game with excitement. And with a bang. The 31-37 fourth quarter provided action from both teams up and down the floor. Kenny Price sank three point shots --- Ulm fans loved it. Michael Bree sank free throws to put the team over 100 points --- Ulm fans loved it. But no one could have predicted the finishing touch.
Point guard duel: Ulm's Michael Bree against Mark Brown. Playing in his final game as an active Ulm guard, veteran Dennis Woolfolk subbed into the game with just under 2 minutes to go. Stepping into the role of Player/Head Coach for Ulm's new farm team Neu Ulm, Woolfolk will serve as Mike T's assistant coach because he is unable to play for both ratiopharm Ulm and Neu Ulm at the same time. Fans cheered as the announcement was made. Playing the fouling game, Nordlingen still struggled to stay alive in the game. They put Ulm players on the line with late game fouls. Perfectly, they fouled Dennis. The cagey vet stepped to the line cold. Drawing on years of experience, Woolfolk sank his first free throw and the already standing home crowd roared. For the remainder of game action, Ulm players consistently looked for Dennis and tried to get him to shoot.
Dennis Woolfolk is the Joe Dumars of Ulm. Dennis had something up his sleeve. On one final possession, as Nordlingen players chased Ulm ballmovement around the floor, Dennis caught a pass at the top of the key. Instantly he winged it up into the air in what looked like a wild shot. Out of no where, Ulm forward Niki Arinze rose along the right baseline flying toward the rim --- he took Woolfolk's beautifully placed lob pass and slammed it home sending the crowd into a frenzy. The perfect finish touch to the game and a great way for Dennis to go out with a bang. Arinze, the Taylorhoops.com Player of the Game, played well along with Price and Shtein. Florian Mobius did the dirty work grabbing 7 boards and Emeka Erege finished with 14 points and 4 boards in a solid night. Ulm guard Peter Heizer also played well finishing his night with 7 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Also noteworthy, Ulm forward Antoine Sinclair drilled his first three, grabbed three boards and dished out 3 assists in an effective 17 minutes. Nordlingen was led by Jurica Puljic who shot in 19 while Mark Brown added 18 and Burkhard Steibach finished with 17. A much improved team, Nordlingen played without injured American shooting guard Caleb Gervin who was averaging 24ppg coming into the contest. Gervin broke his hand against Kronberd and is expected to miss up to 4 weeks. Finishing the pre-Christmas schedule at 11-3, Ulm sits at 10-2 in 2.Bundesliga South play trailing only RCE Falke Nurnberg. Breaking for the Holidays, Ulm players will be heading home to family for Christmas later this week. A much needed break for Michael Bree and Michael Niebling, both Ulm players will enjoy some time off after playing throughout the summer and early fall with their National teams. The time off will certainly help Ulm players as they rest and refresh themselves for a GREAT second half of the season. The team will return to Ulm after Christmas and take the practice floor December 29th. The teams next game is at home againt Langen, Sunday January 9th. Follow all the fast breaking ratiopharm Ulm baketball action all season long on Taylorhoops.com! GO ULM! MIKE T
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