Marius Nolte is a 31 year old 206 cm German center playing his third season with The Fraport Skyliners He started his basketball career at Salzkotten. He played with The Paderborn Baskets from 2001-2009. He was an important part of the team with Tim Black and Steve Esterkamp helping Paderborn advance from the second Bundesliga to the BBL in 2006 winning 50 games in a row. Last season he played 35 games averaging 6.1ppg, 3.0rpg, FGP: 55.8%, FT: 65.9% and helping the team reach their first BBL playoffs losing in a tight five game quarterfinal playoff series against 8 time BBL champion Alba Berlin. He played 226 games for The Paderborn Baskets. He is a dynamic inside player with good athletic abilities, runs the floor extremely well, has a good mid range shoot and is a very solid free throw shooter. He has a a good back to the basket game where he has a variety of moves and is a good defensive player who can defend both inside positions and likes to use his body and his strength to his advantage. He is a physical player who at times gets his opponents frustrated with his style of play. Last season for Frankfurt, he played EuroCup Qualifying Round: 2 games: 4.5ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.0spg; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 5.2ppg, 4.5rpg, FGP: 55.6%, FT: 61.1%; German League: 42 games: 5.1ppg, 3.2rpg, FGP: 56.1%, FT: 71.4%. He spoke to German Hoopst about the current season in Frankfurt.

Could one call Jacob Burtschi the basketball Boris Becker after his game in Trier?

Yes that is a good comparison. That was the first time that we have seen him play like that and so much on the floor.

If someone had told you four months ago that the Fraport Skyliners would b ein 7^th place on April 16^th, would you have thought they were crazy?

That is hard to say. I would of thought that it could be difficult, but in basketball nothing is impossible. I always felt that we could reach something if we kept working hard and was always optimistic that we could make it. I am very happy with our development.

Did you get any special tips from Pascal Roller about the role of the captain?

I didn´t really talk to much with him. I would never be able to follow in his foot steps, because he had his own unique way. I wanted to make my own style. I did ask him how he manged to lead the team in the 2005-2006 season when they were struggling.

What part of being captain do you like most?

It is a lot easier to be vocal now being captain, but speaking with teammates is something I like to do. Now when I see something, I just speak my mind.

German national player Tim Ohlbrecht lauded you recently about helping him this season mentally. Could one call you Dr Marius now?

Well I don´t want that roll. Tim has become a good friend. You really are able to see his talent and he is playing a very good season. You might not see it with his scoring, but he is doing a lot. Of course I was there to try to help him when he needed it.

The Fraport Skyliners started to play better with their win in Hagen. This also happened to be the last game of Jon Leuer who went to the NBA. Would the Fraport Sykliners be where they are now if he had stayed?

Leuer got the NBA. He helped us in many games with his offense, but I think our team was missing something. But as Jacob Burtschi came, he gave us so much things that we didn´t have before. So I think we would not be where we are now without him

How much fun is it now playing defense in a team that defends so well?

It is so much fun to play defense now. My definition of basketball is always defense.

Where would the Frankfurt defense be without Quantez Robertson?

Tez is so special for us. He helps us so much. He makes steals, runs after players on the fast break tipping balls away. It is funny, there might be some players that are more athletic, because at times, he makes the most amazing dunks and then misses easy ones. It seems at times as if he can turn on a switch to make amazing plays.

Phoenix Hagen American Marc Carter said that not so much has changed from four months ago. Frankfurt still has the same size and athletic ability, but now they are clicking more.

Yes Carter is right. Our motto was always that we are a team. It just took a while to click.

You played for the Paderborn Baskets form 2001-2009 and now your third season for Frankfurt. Do you think that Frankfurt could ever be as close in your heart as Paderborn?

Yes absolute. They are different teams, but I am living the moment now. I feel so comfortable in Frankfurt and it gets stronger with time. I feel comfortable with the team, office, media and fans. Frankfurt is like a second home.

You extended your contract for two season as a player, but will also have a function in the office. On what task are you looking forward to most when you work in the office for the Fraport Skyliners?

I am really looking forward in the future to get to know a new world and get away from the daily practice routine. I am looking forward to be able to challenge my brain and just do something new. I was recently in the office for half the day with Pascal Roller. It is always nice when there is a birthday like Kamil Novak had and then eat cake.

Nobody can stop Jermareo Davidson in the low post. How do you stop him?

Its a secret.

How proud are you about your friend Steven Esterkamp who conquered adversity an dis having so much success with ratiopharm Ulm?

I am so happy for him. We talk much and after the win against ratiopharm Ulm, I told him how happy I am for his success and I will keep telling him. It is amazing how he came back from the last two tough years. He is captain of the team and despite many top players, he remains so important for the team. He is the second arm of the coach on the court. He is having a very consistent season.

You played some years with Tim Black with Paderborn. When will he make the jump to Spain or Italy?

That is hard to say, but if a player feels comfortable somewhere, plays well and gets the recognition that he deserves, why should he have to go. If you look at guys like Casey Jacobson or Seth Doliboa who signed long term contracts somewhere, you can see that guys are capable to stay in one place when they are happy.

Tim Ohlbrecht said that if the Fraport Skyliners had an Easter egg hunt that you would win. Do you share his optimistic thought?

Yes I think that he is right. I would be so motivated, but I would have Tim in my team.

How do you make Skyliner head coach Muli Katzurin laugh?

It is not easy to make him laugh. He has a very dry humor, but sometimes you just have to laugh when he uses it.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Man on the ledge with Sam Worthington.

Thanks Marius for the chat.

One of the most interesting Beko BBL news stories this spring in Tuebingen hasn´t been when Igor Perovic will have a GQ battle with guard Josh Young or when it will come to a new friendly one on one battle between friends Vaughn Duggins and Dashaun Wood, but four Walter Tiger Tuebingen Tiger players staying on board to wear the yellow and green instead moving on to a new cage somewhere else next season. In the world of basketball where money usually reigns, the news of Vaughn Duggins, Tyrone Nash, Reggie Redding and Josh Young staying has been as delightful, but also as seemingly unlikely as believing a woman would be capable of stripping at a Denver airport for fun, singer Melissa Etheridge´s former domestic partner having the audacity to burn one of their kids, basketball players having the nerve to crack jokes at the disappearing hair line of NBA superstar Lebron James or some filthy rich NBA player deciding to work overtime as a dead beat dad. Despite missing the playoffs, the Walter Tigers Tuebingen and their four Americans who will be returning next season marched into the Fraport arena and showed the Skyliners that they could be a team to be reckoned with next season beating them 96-89 in OT. “The key to team sports is keeping the team nucleus. If you look at Bamberg, they have been doing it for years and been successful. I remember when I played with Giessen, we played against Frankfurt who were successful holding guys like Tyrone Ellis and Chris Williams. It has been great playing with the young guys even if it felt weird at times being the oldest this season. I have seen them develop and come into their own and I believe that next season they could be a very dangerous team”, warned ex Oldenburg point guard Lou Campbell. Skyliner Jimmy Mckinney rarely changes his demeanor after a win or a loss, but one knows quickly that the team has lost by the brittle tone of his voice. Both teams are very much different and better than the first time they met and the American saw a very much better team than what the standings show. “This is a great team with a lot of young talent. There is no reason why this team is where it is in the standings. They hit everything and we just couldn´t get over the hump”, expressed St Louis native Jimmy Mckinney. “Nobody thought that we had a chance at the start of the season with such a young team. Many thought we would go down, but we love to play for each other and coach Igor Perovic. We got better as the season carried on with experience and learning about the league, said Walter Tigers Tuebingen guard Reggie Redding.

The game had big playoff ramifications for the Fraport Skyliners in that they would have been qualified for the 2012 Beko BBL playoffs with a win, but with a loss would have to keep hoping to reach the promised land with a do or die win in Bonn next weekend. The Fraport Skyliners have been giving up an average of 59 points in the last 10 games prior to the Tuebingen game, but left their physical and team basketball back on the court in Trier as they had given up 82 points after 40 minutes and 15 points in the five minute OT period. “Tuebingen played a great game out playing us and out hustling us. They simply wanted to win more than we did. Our defense was awful. But I still have to give them a lot of credit, because they hit a lot of tough shots. We left the middle open all day long. This was similar to the Goettingen game in which they took game from us”, stressed ex Phoenix Hagen forward Jacob Burtschi. For the Walter Tigers Tuebingen, their season was over, but they still wanted to finish strong and they also wanted to erase some unwanted history in which the team hadn´t won in Frankfurt in more than 6.5 years. The last win for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen was in the 2005-2006 season as Frankfurt lost 73-68 as Ivan Sunara was head coach, Pascal Roller was captain and Dominik Bahiense De Mello was a Beko BBL rookie. “This was a big moral win for Tuebingen. After losing here for so many years, coming in here with a young team is just phenomenal. Our young players carried the load today. Gibson and Mckinney gave us some problems, but overall, we shot very well and defended well”, added Lou Campbell. “It is good to finish the season on a strong note. We started the season very bad and we have many guys coming back next season and our goal for next season is to start strong”, stressed ex Villanova star Reggie Redding.

Before the jump ball was thrown, there were various interesting pregame things that could be observed on the court as both teams were warming up. Oklahoma natives Jacob Burtschi from Chickasha and Josh Young from Lawton had a lot to discuss while Wright State alumnist Vaughn Duggins was showing his resemblance to Artland Dragon Adam Hess with his blond mop. Many Tuebingen fans were in attendance and had special card board figures of the players including a life size one of Ruben Spoden who comes from the Frankurt area. Frankfurt was without Michael Thompson who hurt his shoulder in practice and Tuebingen without Nicolai Simon who is out for the season. When the game finally did get started it was Dashaun Wood friend Vaughn Duggins that got the first points on the board with a catch and pop jumper. Both teams then exchanged baskets as four lead changes were exchanged. Jimmy Mckinney hit a three pointer, Notre Dame alumnist Tyrone Nash made some pretty stutter steps and hit over Tim Ohlbrecht, but it was Jacob Burtschi that gave Frankfurt the lead for good at 6-4 with a three pointer from the top of the key. Frankfurt started to hit from all cylinders as Devin Gibson scored inside with his typical all business penetration and Mckinney and Quantez Robertson dropped three point bombs for the 14-6 advantage. If there was one guy Frankfurt couldn´t control was Iowa native Josh Young who is one of the few players to have made the jump from PRO B to the Beko BBL and made a fruitful transition. Young stopped the Frankfurt momentum carrying his team on a 5-0 run to cut the Frankfurt lead to 14-11. Young who like Gibson is dangerous in the penetration somehow scored under the hoop between Burtschi and Ohlbrecht and then the next time down nailed a pull up jumper. In the last minutes, the Fraport Skyliners were able to hold the lead as Duggins scored over Jermareo Davidson and Jimmy Mckinney hit his third three pointer of the afternoon. “Frankfurt was hitting their shots, but not able to get much going inside”, added Fraport Skyliner junior Jan Novak. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 47% from the field and 83% from outside while the Walter Tigers Tuebingen were shooting 55% from the field and 50% from outside. The rebounding was knotted at 6-6, but Tuebingen had five turnovers and Frankfurt only three turnovers.

The Walter Tigers Tuebingen had the better start in the second quarter escaping out on a mini 4-0 run as Tiger rookie Adnan Hodzic made some moves and finished with a hook shot over ex NBA player Davidson making him search for something he wears below his shorts. Josh Young then nailed a pull up jumper making the shot with the self confidence of an Oklahomian risking to be one minute away from an oncoming tornado as Tuebingen tied score 21-21. After Gibson made two free throws, it was Hodzic who took advantage of the many mismatches on the day making a hook shot over Gibson as the score was 23-23. Robertson then made a swift dribble behind the back split the defense and no look fed Davidson for a thunderous one handed dunk as Frankfurt led 25-23. The game stayed close as Tuebingen was playing more like a team that needed to win than Frankfurt as Reggie Redding scored on the penetration and made four free throws as score was 28-28. Then there was five lead changes as Lou Campbell found Lithuanian Paveles Cukinas with a lob pass and two quick points, Mckinney hit another three pointer, Cukinas scored inside again for the Tigers 32-31 lead, but Gibson used his quickness scoring hard to the hoop as Frankfurt led 33-32. Duggins gave Tuebingen the lead back 34-33 with a lay in via a quick Campbell back door pass. Gibson then hit a jumper and Burtschi another three pointer as Frankfurt led shortly before halftime 38-34. However Tuebingen still had some energy as Campbell got to the free throw line for two buckets and Young found Nash all alone down low with a no look pass as the score was 38-38. Skyliner captain Marius Nolte scored the last basket of the second quarter after a Super Tez Robertson steal. “Frankfurt let up a bit in the second quarter as Tuebingen got easy baskets and more on the transition. Frankfurt should of tried more inside. Frankfurt continued to hit big shots keeping the lead”, added Jan Novak. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 45% from the field and 64% from the three point line while the Walter Tigers Tuebingen were shooting 61% from the field and 50% from the three point line. Both teams were still knotted at 12 rebounds a piece. Tuebingen had nine turnovers while Frankfurt had seven turnovers.

In the third quarter, the game remained tight and exciting until the second half of the third quarter where the Walter Tigers Tuebingen were able to build a lead. Just like at the start of the second quarter, the Walter Tigers Tuebingen had the better start and sped out on a mini 4-0 run to regain the lead 42-40. Redding scored inside sneaking behind the Frankfurt defense and getting a back door pass from Young. Campbell then made a steal and went coast to coast for a quick two points as the score was tied 42-42. Frankfurt was trying to get the ball more inside as Ohlbrecht drew a foul and gave Frankfurt the 44-42 lead. Then the momentum changed in favor of the Walter Tigers Tuebingen as they made use of their advantage of the fast break as great defense translated into two transition buckets as Campbell made a steal which led to a Redding lay up, and Young then scored on the fast break after Redding made a monster block on Gibson as the Tigers led 47-44 Sometimes one just needs Super Tez Robertson to put on his superman cape and get a quick coast to coast bucket which he did. Tuebingen continued to set the tone on offense as Redding hit a jumper and they could have done more damage as Young saved a ball but passed it to the wide open Tez under the basket who made the easy lay up as Tuebingen only led 49-48. However despite Frankfurt staying with the Tigers, the Schwaben team was the more calm team and executing at a high level as they exploded on their biggest run of game at 11-1 leading 60-50. In this run, Young started it off with a three pointer, Cukinas made a jumper punishing Frankfurt as they couldn´t secure two defensive rebounds, Duggins scored twice inside and Redding hit a fade away over Davidson. Basketball remains a game of runs and Frankfurt was able to somewhat weaken the Tigers furry ending the third quarter with a 7-3 run. In the 90s it was Jordan who made basketball house calls, in the millenium it was a Kobe Bryant and this season it has been Jimmy Mckinney in Frankfurt. When Frankfurt needs a spark just say J-roc. Mckinney stepped it up nailing three consecutive shots as Frankfurt trailed only 63-57 after three quarters. “We lost our composure on defense and they executed better on offense. We let up easy buckets and we didn´t communicate well with our help defense. We were just flat on defense”, stressed Ohio native Quantez Robertson. “Coach Perovic had told us to stick to our team concept of defending well and getting out on transition and we were able to do that”, stressed Lou Campbell. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 42% from the field and 53% from the parking lot while the Walter Tigers Tuebingen were shooting 64% from the field and 44% from the parking lot. Tuebingen had the 23-17 rebound edge, but 13 turnovers while Frankfurt had only 10 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, the Walter Tigers Tuebingen picked up where they had left off in the third quarter blasting out on an 8-0 run to lead 71-57 and silencing the Fraport arena about as quickly as Natchos are being bought during the game. Duggins started the attack with a three pointer, Young scored inside as help defense continued to be off the main course and Redding finished the fast break with a basket as Tuebingen led 71-57. Everybody was wondering when the comeback would commence and it slowly would as Frankfurt retaliated with a 7-0 run battling back to 71-64 slicing the lead in half. Ohlbrecht got to the free throw line twice and Gibson nailed a three pointer. The Frankfurt come back was being annoyed a bit with continued easy baskets inside as Duggins escaped inside and scored high off the glass over Ohlbrecht and Adnan Hodzic made an easy lay up as Tuebingen still led 75-66. Frankfurt continued to use their own claws and kept chipping away at the Tigers lead as Burtschi, Gibson and Tez all scored free throws as Frankfurt suddenly only trailed 75-72 and the 5000 sold out crowd was back to life. The last two minutes were pure excitement as one could feel that the Skyliners would sometime retake the lead. Ohlbrecht made a big offensive rebound and put back and Mckinney three free throws gave Frankfurt the 77-76. But the Tigers also have their array of players that can make big shots as Hodzic hit a clutch bomb from outside giving Tuebingen the 79-77 lead back. “Hodzic has improved so much this season. He is a lot more aggressive now”, warned Josh Young. Frankfurt didn´t get nervous, but erupted on a 5-0 run to lead 82-79 as Gibson scored inside and Gibson and Mckinney made free throws. With 30 seconds to go, Redding hit a mammoth three pointer to knot the game at 82-82. Redding showed his eye of the tiger not only making this shot, but through out the game as he finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. “I play to win. I bring a versatile game and just try to get the big buckets, rebounds and assists”, stressed Reggie Redding. “Redding brings so many different elements to the game. He is so versatile and creates so many mis match problems for teams. His biggest attribute today was his toughness how he hit that big three to bring the game into OT”, added Josh Young. With 10,1 seconds to go, the Fraport Skyliners had one more chance to win the game, but Mckinney missed a floater as the game went into OT. “We had a nice lead, but let it slip away. They have a great team and made big shots. That is what great teams do”, added Reggie Redding. “We fought back in the fourth quarter. We showed a lot of character and self confidence in making the shots”, added Jimmy Mckinney. “We had mental lapses in the fourth quarter. Frankfurt is really tough at home. They made many desperation shots”, commented Lou Campbell. “We limited them on the offensive end and got fast break baskets. Mckinney hit big shots and we got key steals”, expressed Quantez Robertson. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 39% from the field and 43% from outside while the Walter Tigers Tuebingen were shooting 59% from the field and 37% from outside. Tuebingen had the 33-26 rebound edge, but 17 turnovers while Frankfurt only had 11 turnovers.

In the overtime, both teams quickly exchanged baskets as Duggins scored inside as the Tigers punished Frankfurt on the boards again as Hodzic secured two offensive rebounds. Robertson tied the score at 85-85 with a lay in. However then all of a sudden as if the Fraport Skyliners had seen a tiger ghost, the guests sped out on a 6-0 run getting to the foul line as Redding and Young hit free throws for the 91-85 lead. Robertson found one last breath of energy scoring inside cutting the Tuebingen lead to 91-87. However Tuebingen stayed strong as Cukinas scored inside and Duggins hit two free throws as Frankfurt trailed 95-87. Campbell then made a quick steal with one minute to play securing the win for the Tigers. With 30 seconds to play, Mckinney was able to add to his best Beko BBL point total with a lay up and Redding hit one free throw as the Tigers snapped the five game winning streak of Frankfurt. Running out of gas wasn´t an option of the Fraport Skyliners. “We didn´t run out of gas. We just weren´t focused, didn´t get stops and were unable to execute”, added Jimmy Mckinney. “We didn´t lose focus and didn´t let Mckinney get going. Many guys made big plays”, added Reggie Redding. “In the OT, it is always, who wants it more and they showed early that they wanted it more getting offensive rebounds”, commented Jacob Burtschi.

The Walter Tigers Tuebingen were led by Reggie Redding with 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Vaughn Duggins added 22 points and six rebounds. Josh Young contributed 18 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Adan Hodzic produced 11 points, and six rebounds. The Fraport Skyliners were led by Jimmy Mckinney with 28 points. Devin Gibson had 20 points and six assists. Quantez Robertson had 13 points, three rebounds and six assists. Tim Ohlbrecht had 13 points and nine rebounds. Jacob Burtschi had 10 points. Mckinney is playing in his sixth season and it is a huge amazement that the American has never had more than 22 points in a Beko BBL game which he achieved as a rookie in Karlsruhe. “This has been the break out year for Jimmy Mckinney. This is the best that I have seen him. He is very aggressive this year. I always knew that he can score this much. It isn´t so much a shock that he had never had more than 22 points in a game before today. If you look at the supporting cast that he has had in Frankfurt the last years”, stressed Lou Campbell. Frankfurt had a weak day under the boards being out rebounded 41-29 and got hammered inside with 44 points from Tuebingen. The defense will have to find to its old ways in Bonn. The Fraport Skyliners now have a do or die game in Bonn this weekend. With a win, they will be able to secure a spot in the playoffs. “That is going to be a real war in Bonn. These are the type of games that players live for. I would like to see it, but I will be having a game myself. I think that both teams match up well”, warned Lou Campbell

There is always a certain kind of risk in life when speculating if it is playing your luck on the stock market, playing the lottery one too many times and realizing at the end of the week that there is no extra money for the misses, a 15 year old hanging out in New York at one of the 275 hotels and hoping that Justin Bieber is staying there for his concert, going with Duke in the 2012 NCAA tournament or booking a summer trip to the UK in hopes of not catching unending rain. This season, two teams gambeled heavily in the Beko BBL with BG Goettingen and the Walter Tigers Tuebingen with new young player signings and the success rate wa slike night and day. In Goettingen, the team brought in 5 NCAA players and only Paris Horne was able to make an impact while the club had to say farewell to the other four during the season. In Tuebingen, the club brought in three NCAA players with Vaughn Duggins, Adnan Hodzic and Tyrone Nash, second year man Reggie Redding and PRO B player Josh Young and despite a slow start by the team, this core of players who were younger than 24 have been a big reason for the Tigers breathing a little bit of playoff air even though the season goal of the team was to land somewhere in no mans land between the end of the standings and the playoffs places. Not only did the speculation of Igor Perovic work, but he managed to already keep one third of the team for next season by giving Americans Tyrone Nash, Josh Young, Vaughn Duggins and Reggie Redding together and showing that he wants to build for the future by giving these players the chance to further develop in Tubingen. With a bad start where the Walter Tigers Tuebingen started the season with a six game losing streak, the team was able to stay on the same page with has to do a lot with coach Igor Perovic and the solid play by Nash, Young, Redding and Duggins which stayed very consistent with the two Beko BBL rookies and other two that have combined two years professional experience before coming to the Schwaben town. “ I’m very happy that the team was able to bounce back from adversity and show their true character. It’s not easy losing a lot of close games, especially early in the season, and then to bounce back the way they have is really special. I think Igor’s attitude went a long way in helping the team achieve their success. He’s a very calm and easygoing person, so it’s good that he didn’t get rattled early on and just approached every practice day by day, just like chipping away at a large deficit in a game. You don’t get it all back at once, you have to remain patient and continue working, and that’s exactly what they have done”, stressed ex Walter Tiger Tuebingen Canadian Velimir Radinovic.

SincecomingintotheBBLin2004-2005,theWalterTigersTuebingenhavebeentreadingwaterintheBBLmiddlestandingsandattimesscrappingthederegulationarea.Thebestfinishoftheclubwas2006-2007astheyfinishedin10thplace.TheTigershavebeenmoreaharmlesscreaturethatseemstohavetheirmouthsealedwithlittlepowerescapinginsteadofshowingtheirabsoluteunconquerablequalitiesofatigeronthecourt.TheteamhasbeenknownfordevelopingahealthyfanbaseandlettingguyslikeRaskoKaticandAJMoye(hisfirstyear)developintotopBBLplayers,butthenagainalsohavegonetheusualBBLrouteofsigninganabundanceofAmericansandclosinganeyeforfurtherdevelopingGermanplayersandtheorganizationalsohasbeenpronetogettinginvolvedwithminorscandalslikein2006withTamienTrentandMikeMotenwhowerebannedbytheGermanbasketballfederationfollowingadrugtest.MakingthejumptotheBBLisnoteasyandifoneweretoaskexpertsintheTuebingensurrounding,onewouldalwaysheretwothings.AslimbudgetandnotgettingtherightmixofplayersseemedtobethemostimportantreasonswhytheclubhasneverbeenabletoplaygamesinMaywhenitcountsmost.SinceenteringtheBekoBBLin2004,theteamhasalwayshoveredbetween10^thand15^thplaceandtheirbestfinishwas2007astheywerein10^thplace.

Last season, The Walter Tigers Tuebingen finished in 12^th place with a record of 15-19. Lacking more consistence at home in the Paul Horn arena showed with their 9-8 record. Last season the team celebrated huge victories against The EWE Baskets Oldenburg, Alba Berlin and The Telekom Baskets Bonn before the Allstar break, but then again showed their inconsistency losing games to teams like the Mitteldeutscher BC or Phoenix Hagen. Just like the season before, The Walter Tigers Tuebingen made a dash for the Beko BBl playoffs in winter winning six games in a row and heightening the playoffs hopes for the fans with big wins against Bonn Oldenburg and Ulm. However then as if each player had seen a black cat and then walked under a ladder for so called bad luck went on an unlucky losing streak losing six games in a row and finishing the season 2-7 and once again not making the playoffs. A 40 point loss to Bamberg in the heat of their six game winning streak and an 18 point loss to the LTi Giessen 46ers just seemed uncharachteristic after their successful run. “It was an up and down season. The season started rough, then we had a nice winning streak, but then had a long losing streak, but closed out the season well. We hurt ourselves with our inconsistency. We were unable to bring the same effort night in and night out which killed us”, stressed ex Walter Tigers Tuebingen forward Chris Oliver who is playing in France this season with SIG Strassburg.

This season, The Walter Tigers Tuebingen might use a motto that German basketball player Christian Standhardinger might be using after a few miscues in the NCAA and always coming back to try his luck in the NCAA with “If you don´t succeed at first then try try again” in hopes of reaching the Beko BBL playoffs. However if a strong starting five last season with Bane Ratkovica, Johannes Herber, Chris Oliver, Dane Watts and Anatoly Kashirov wasn´t potent enough for May basketball, how does the team see making an impact this season in the even stronger Beko BBL and a new starting five? Guys like Dane Watts had a very strong season whereas other starters solid seasons, but were still able to double their market value and get better financial contracts with other teams. Some teams play for titles, while other teams play for the playoffs and in the last years , The Walter Tigers Tuebingen seem to be a team that brings in younger talented players guaranteeing them playing time so they can develop further and then go to more attractive and more lucrative teams. “You can expect a group of guys that play with a lot of passion and play extremely hard. We will defend well and can score with anybody in the Bundesliga”, warned Vaughn Duggins. Last season, Tuebingen already had established Beko BBL players like Dane Watts and Chris Oliver, but this season the team has their youngest team ever having six guys that were only 23 years old this summer. With Beko BBL babies Vaughn Duggins, Tyrone Nash and Adnan Hodzic coming from the NCAA and Americans Reggie Redding and Josh Young coming off their rookie years last season and born in 1988, Igor Perovic has indirectly shown that these guys will have perform right away getting their feet wet quickly. Perovic has much experience with thirty something players Lou Campbell and Velomir Radiovic and Nicolai Simon who has title experience with Alba Berlin, but still many young bucks that will be in a nasty shark infested basketball pool each weekend. “. I think if you have a good chemistry of players then it is a good thing. Experience is key in close games early in the season but once your out on the court all that age goes out the window in most cases. It is risky but if you got good chemistry it will help in a lot of ways. I think the team will play hard and will surprise a lot of teams. Young teams are usually hungry and they may struggle at times but just like most young teams we may not know which team may show up. But they will be a team that competes just like the rest of the BBL”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. Still having so much youth can also be a positive thing. “I think their strength will be them playing hard, I didnt really get a chance to see them in preseason but on paper they have some solid individual players. I really dont know about weaknesses but I’m sure that will show up as the season goes along”, added John Bynum. “We just need to continue to get better as a whole. Our ceiling with how good we can be is so high because we are so young. If we get better every day we will be fine during the season”, added Walter Tigers Tuebingen guard Vaughn Duggins. The glue for the Walter Tigers Tuebingen will be Lou Campbell and teams will learn quickly that keeping the American in check will make basketball life on the court very difficult for the Tigers. “I think they Campbell is a key but we have to see what the newcomers bring to the table as well. To put so much pressure on one guy meaning Campbell isnt fair but I think they got some young guys who can make a difference as well”, stressed John Bynum. One Skyliner that will be motivated to play hopefully his first official professional game and against the NCAA players is Michael Thompson who is aware of the NCAA rookies in Tuebingen. “I will be great to be on the court with those three great players with Duggins, Nash and Hodzic. All three had great careers in the NCAA. I played against Nash. We will have to keep an eye on him. He can do it all, shoot the three, play with his back to the basket and play aggressive defense”, warned Michael Thompson. “Tuebingen isn´t the same team that we played at the start. They have improved their chemistry and can compete with any team. They are a very good offensive team that are good on the transition and switch a lot on defense. They are coming into the game with no pressure and this can always lead a team to play better”, stressed Skyliners head coach Muli Katzurin.

The speculating really played dividends for head coach Igor Perovic despite starting with a six game losing streak. Much like the Fraport Skyliners, the Walter Tigers Tuebingen didn´t have any luck with their draw at the start getting opponents like Bamberg, FC Bayern Munich, Artland, Alba Berlin and ratiopharm Ulm. However they finally got their first win in Bremerhaven and from then on slowly got going getting out of the Beko BBL cellar. After an unneeded loss at home against BBC Bayreuth followed a three game winning streak as they beat Phoenix Hagen and potential playoff teams B raunschweig and Bonn displaying that they are atalented team that can play with anyone. In February followed the highlight of the season where they went on a four game winning streak beating FC Bayern Munich and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg at home. It wasn´t quite enough for the Beko BBL playoffs, but this team should be stronger next season with the core that is staying and it will be interesting to see if they can bring back point guard Lou Campbell. In the first meeting of the season, the Tigers lost to the Fraport Sklyiners 73-66 in a game that was on the line in crunch time and a game they could of won. Duggins brought the Tigers to 66-69 with 1.13 to play, but a Jon Leuer bucket and Justin Gray free throws sealed the win for Frankfurt.

The first and most important signing this past summer for the EWE Baskets Oldenburg was Lou Campbell whoisa32yearold190cmpointguardfromNewJerseythatplayedthreeyearsinJapanwaseasilythetopplaymakerintheBEKOBBLin2009-2010.HadhebeenwithOldenburgin2009-2010,hemighthavemadethedifferencebetweenanearlyexitintheplayoffsandasecondchampionship.AftergettingajumpstartinGiessenfrom2004-2006,heplayedfortheEisbaerenBremerhavenin2009-2010leadingtheteamintotheplayoffsplaying43gamesaveraging13.0ppg,3.6rpg,Assists-2(5.7apg),1.1spg,FGP:48.7%,3PT:35.2%,FT:81.6%.Hecanguideanoffense,butalsoscorewhenneededespeciallyincrunchtime.HoweveralotofthemagicthathehadforDouglasSpradleytwoyearsagowasn´tpresentlastseasonforPredragKrunicandtheEWEBasketsOldenburgasheplayed40gamesaveraging9.8ppg,2.4rpg,3.4apg,1.1spg,FGP:49.6%,3PT:27.8%,FT:82.1%.Howeverwhatmanydidn´tknow,CampbellhasaseriousAdductorinjury.Mostguyswouldofsatout,buthecontinuedtoplay,becauseOldenburghadnootheralternativeatthepoint. The team brought in 29 year old 210cm Lithuanian Paveles Cukinas who has Good size, Good turn around jumper, can control the game, is smart player and hasery soft hands for a man his size. He played for top team Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius from 2002-2006 playing 12 Euroleague games. He then came to Germany in 2006-2007 and helped EnBW Ludwigsburg reach the playoffs playing 40 games: 9.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.0apg, 2FGP: 53.0%, 3FGP: 27.3%, FT: 56.2% . Since then he has played in countries like Latvia, Italy and Lithuania. EventhoughNicolaiSimonisonly24andshouldbelongtotheyoungergeneration,isthethirdmostexperiencedplayerontheroster.Heisa191cmguardthatisplayinghissecondseasoninTuebingen.HeismadeacomebackinTheBEKOBBLin2009-2010aftercomingintotheBEKOBBLin2006-2007afterbeingheraldedasabigGermantalent.In2006-2007,hewasabletoplay33gamesforAlbaBerlindespitebeingonateamwithadeeproster.In2007-2008,heinjuredhimselfplayingonlyfivegames.Lastseason,hetookastepbackandplayedforErgasEhingenintheGermanPROBaveraging8,9ppg,2,4rpgand5,2apg.andtodevelopfurtherasaprofessionalbasketballplayer.In2009,heplayedattheWorldUniversitygamesinBelgradaveraging4,1ppg,3,6rpgand1,4apg.LastseasonforTuebingen,heplayed31games:2.8ppg,1.4rpg.

 

 

VaughnDugginsisaBekoBBLrookiethatisa24yearold187cmguardfromPendelton,Indiana.HeplayedatWrightStatefrom2006-2011includinghisfreshmanseasonwith2011BekoBBLMVPDashaunWoodashasfondmemoriesoftheAlbaBerlinguardonthecourtandtheironeononebattles. “EveryonceinawhileatpracticeI’dbewalkingbyDashaunandhewouldstopmeandtellmeexactlyhowhewasgoingtoscoreonhisopponentthatnextpossessionandsureenoughhewouldgooutthereanddothatexactthingandlookatmeandlaughwhilerunningdownthecourt.Thatseasy!Dashaunbeatme9outof10timesononeonone.Iwasayoungpuppyoutofhighschoolandhewasthehorizonleagueplayeroftheyear.Idon’trememberhimhavinganyweaknessesotherthanhewassmallerthanmesoIcouldposthimup”,stressedVaughnDuggins.Inhissenioryear,theAmericanplayed33games:18.0ppg,3.8rpg,2.2apg,1.5spg,FGP:44.7%,3PT:31.1%,FT:82.2%.BekoBBLteamswillhavetobeawareofthedangerousgameoftheAmerican.Heisascorer,butalsohashiddenattributes. “Myjumpingabilityisn´talwaysnoticed.I’vesurprisedalotpeoplewhenIgetuptoblockashotordunk”,warnedVaughnDuggins.AnotherBekoBBLrookiethisseasonisTyroneNash.Nashisa23yearold203cmforwardfromQueens,NewYork.HeplayedtogetherwithFCBayrenMunichguardBenHansbroughatNotreDameandinhissenioryearplayedNotreDame34games:9.5ppg,5.9rpg,2.6apg,FGP:48.7%,3PT:50.0%,FT:68.9%.AnotherBekoBBLrookiefortheTigersisAdnanHodzicwhoisa23yearold203cmforwardfromBosniaandHerzegovina.HeplayedatLipscomb(NCAA)from2007-2011togetherwithBGGoettingenguardJoshSlaterandinhissenioryearplayed30games:17.7ppg,7.5rpg,1.0apg,FGP:56.3%,3PT:12.5%,FT:72.6%.Despiteplayingforalessknownschoolandlosingsomecredibilityofhisworth,hehadsomegreatperformancesattheNCAAlevelwhichbroughtnotice. “Itdidhurtabit,however,someofmybestgameswereagainstbiggerschoolsandbettercompetition.ThebestplayerIplayedagainstintheNCAAwasmyjunioryear.IplayedagainstDerrickWilliams.Ihad34pts13rebIjustplayhardeverynight.Thecriticsanddoubterswillalwaysbethere”,warnedAdnanHodzic.Hodzicalsohasahiddenstrength. “Onestrengththatisveryoverlookedismyabilitytoshootfromoutside.AllspringandsummerIhavebeenworkingonexpandingmygame.Ihavedevelopedagoodmidrangeandlongrangeshot.Iamalsogoodatdrivingtheballtotherim”,stressedAdnanHodzic.

TheteamalsobroughtinReggieReddingwhowillbestartinghissecondprofessionalseasondespitebeingonly23yearsold.Reddingisa196cmguardfromPhiladelphiaandpossessesagreatfeelforthegame,moveswellwithouttheball,offerssizeandtheabilitytoscorefromtheguardposition.HeplayedatVillanova(NCAA)withexBGGoettingenforwardDwayneAndersonandinhissenioryearplayed23games:7.3ppg,4.7rpg,2.4apg,1.4spg,FGP:40.8%,3PT:39.5%,FT:63.8%.hereachedtheNCAASweet16in2008.LastseasonheplayedforInterCollegeEthaEngomis(Cyprus-DivisionA)winningtheleagueandcuptitleandplayed16games:9.5ppg,4.3rpg,2.1apg,1.0spg,FGP:46.1%,3PT:44.4%,FT:73.9%;EuroChallenge:8games:7.0ppg,3.4rpg,2.3apg,FGP:40.0%,3PT:31.3%,FT:62.5%.TheclubalsobroughtinJoshYoungwhomakesthejumpfromthePROBtotheBekoBBL.Youngisa23yearold185cmguardfromShawnee,Oklahoma.HeplayedatDrakefrom2006-2010includingtwoyearswithexSkylinerAdamEmmenecker.Inhissenioryear,heplayed32games:14.4ppg,3.9rpg,2.7apg,1.0spg,FGP:44.0%,3PT:35.8%,FT:73.0%.LastseasonhecametoGermanyandplayedforBayerGiantsLeverkusen(Germany-ProB)tearinguptheleagueplaying11gamesaveraging26.7ppg,6.4rpg,3.0apg,2.3spg,FGP:45.2%,3PT:45.3%,FT:79.0%.RuebenSpoedenisa22yearold202cmforwardfromFrankfurtthatisplayinghissecondseasoninTuebingen.HestartedhisbasketballcareerwithEintrachtFrankfurtandthenplayedforTVLangenwherehisteammatewasRobinBenzing.HealsohasalicenseforErgasEhingen.LastseasonhewiththeWalterTigersTuebingenheplayed8games:1.3ppg;alsoplayedatErdgaEhingen/Urspringschule(ProB):28games:7.4ppg,3.8rpg,FGP:50.4%,3PT:21.7%,FT:60.7%.GermanAmericanAkeemVargasroundsouttheroster.Heisa21yearold190cmguardthatstartedhisbasketballcareerwiththeSGUrspringschulejuniorteamin2005.In2009-2010,hegotexperienceintheStatesplayingforIowaLakesCC(JUCO):31games:5.6ppg,3.0rpg,1.5apg,1.2spg,FGP:53.0%,FT:94.0%.LastseasonwithTuebingen,hegotinto12games:0.4ppg;andalsohadalsoalicensetoplayforErdgasEhingen/Urspringschule(2.BundesligaProB)playing27games:8.6ppg,3.7rpg,1.9apg,1.4spg,FGP:50.4%,3PT:25.5%,FT:77.6%.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ismet Akpinar is a 16 year old 182cm point guard from Hamberg that recently completed his first season in the Pro B for SC Rist Wedel. He played 24 games averaging 5,9ppg, 1,5rpg and 2,3apg. He started his basketball career for : BC Hamburg Tigers junior team in 2009 and last year played for the Oberliga team. Last summer, he took part at the European Championships U16 in Czech Republic -11: 9 games: 13.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 63.9%. He recently spoketo German Hoops about his experience at the 2012 Albert Schweitzer tournament in Mannheim, Germany.

Congrats on finishing in 4^th place at the Albert Schweitzer tournament in mannheim. If some one had told you that Germany would finish in 4^th place before the tournament started, what would you have said?

We are completely satisfied with our performance !I would believe that but I think the most people out there wouldn’t ! We proved ourselves and made some noise So people need to be aware of us. I think untill the European championship in the summer we will be even a more complete team

Germany beat USA quite easily in a exhibition game. Were you sure after this win that Germany would have a successful tournament?

We had a couple of preparation games against New Zealand Australia and the USA
After all these wins we had more self confidence and started motivated into the tournament

The United States finished only in 7^th place. How much did this surprise you? Was there talent level not as strong this year?

After our first meeting I was a bit sad about their game I was completely surprised how they ended this tournament. I would have wished that the USA would have been a more stronger team

What was your impression of American Austin Nichols? Are there any players on that team that could become NBA players in the future?

All players have much potential. Some Player more some less. But the Most Important thing is that every player has to work hard to reach this goal. Austin Nichols is a very complete player !

You had a solid tournament averaging 8,4ppg, 3,0rpg and 1,7apg. How happy were you with your play?

I am not satisfied with my performance. Even though I am a year younger than the most guys there I could have played better. I had a couple of good games but also a couple of not so good. I will work hard until the summer and hopefully have some good games in the European championships.

How much could you learn from this week of international play?

During these days you can learn very much. You have the opportunity to compare yourself with the best players of the world. And I did it. I learned very much during my game time.

Germany lost to Serbia which didn´t let them get a medal. What would have gotten Germany past the hump to win this game. What would Germany would have done better to win?

We really could have won this game. If we would have stopped their players in the one on one game And if we would have played better help side and rotated better . All in all we were to weak in the defensive game.

You had some good games against New Zealand, Turkey and Serbia. What game will you remember the most?

Every game has this special feeling. You don’t get often the chance to play against New Zealand and see the Haka. Against Serbia it’s always dynamic and I played against the MVP of the tournament. But I think the game I will not forget is against turkey !The Turkish fans were very loud and energetic. Also it had a complete other atmosphere. What also counts is that it’s always something special when you play against you fatherland

What was your personal favorite play in a game that you will remember for a while?

My personal play I will not forget is my first national team dunk against New Zealand.

German Paul Zipser made a name for himself. He averaged 14,6ppg, 5,0rpg and 2,3apg. Do you think that in the future that he will continue to be a point guard or play more the forward position?

I think Paul is also a very completed player. He can play the point position but I think he will prefer the small forward spot .

Gavin Schilling also had a productive tournament averaging 10,7ppg and 5,4rpg. Where do you see his route going in the next years. Could he become a solid NCAA player?

Gavin will be a great NCAA player. He has a lot of potential. He is very athletic and is perfect for the American basketball

What was the most important thing that you learned form coach Kay Blumel in this week?

I think the most important thing is that he always believed in us. Doesn’t matter how much points we were down he stayed the most of time very calm and made the right decision. So to be direct ” believe in yourself and never give up “

You saw many players last week in the tournament. Who will be the stars of tomorrow?

Its very hard to say it right now. The most of the players are still improving themselves. But great players were Radiceciv, Perez , Erülkü, Ristic, and Diop

Spain won the 2012 Albert Schweitzer tournament. What keeps Spain still steps in front of Germany in young player development?

Spain plays very good as a unit. There are no selfish players that make very little mistakes and everybody does his job perfect in the team. I think everybody in Spain is the leader of his own club-team but in the national team they fit perfectly together and play very fast(typical for Spain teams) and they dominate most of their opponents.

What are your plans for the summer?

I am gonna plan my summer in the upcoming days together with my coaches. I want to improve my little mistakes in my game like something of my shooting form my passing my ball handling reading situations and so on. I will work hard everyday and a lot of individual things. My goal is to play a very good European championships and I will start from now on.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?

Haha the last DVD I have watched is honestly the old but gold film Space Jam, but I realized that I am a bit to grown up for this film, but I still loved it.

Thanks Ismet for the chat

Darryl Webb is a 24 year old 198cm forward from Elkridge, Maryland. He is playing his first season in Germany in the PRO A for the Crailsheim Merlins. He played at Indiana, PA (NCAA2) from 2007-2011 playing a total of 126 NCAA 2 games. In his senior season, he played 32 games: 17.4ppg, 10.1rpg, 1.6apg, 1.5bpg, FGP: 49.6%, 3Pts: 29.1%, 72.6%. He helped carry the Crailsheim Merlins past the Webmoebel Baskets in game 4 with 39 points. He spoke to German Hoops about game 4 and the next series against the Mitteldeutscher BC.
Congrats to the 111-77 win against the Webmoebel Baskets and advancing to the semifinals. How pissed was the team after losing game three by three points?
They weren’t really pissed, I think they were a little more disappointed if anything because they wanted to force a game 5 which was something we didn’t want especially since that is one heck of a drive.

Crailsheim had the 47-41 lead at halftime. What did Ingo Enskat tell the team to do better in the second half?
We needed to get more stops and get out in transition. Also our 1 on 1 defense not letting them penetrate and kick it out to the shooters or even get to the rim for easy layups.

His words must of sunk in with the team as the team exploded and won the second half 64-36. What was key for getting the win in the last 20 minutes?
It was just a matter of getting stops, getting out in transition and knocking down our shots and finishing at the rim. Also we’ve been struggling as far as free throws so going 19-24 helped as well.

You have been solid all season long and had some high scoring games including scoring in double figures 24 times. You seemed to save your best for last with 39 points. Were you feeling like you were in the zone?
Yea I was really feeling it getting rebounds, hitting some 3’s, and knocking down all of my free throws, but when it comes down to it was the guards who really helped me have a big night, every time they drove the lane they were always looking for me, and also calling a lot of plays for me.

Crailsheim outrebounded Paderborn and dished out 20 assists. What was another big strength in this game that helped the Merlins to win the game?
Having 20 assists was really big because we just shared the ball really well but it was our defense in the second half that really got us going on offense and knocking down shots.

Your 39 points were big and might have kept the performance of your teammate Aaron Cook in the shadows. How big was the production of Cook on this night?
Him having 26 and 8 was big he was all over the court defensively, and on offense. He was knocking down 3’s getting into the lane and looking to dish it out to one of our shooters or drop it off to one of the centers.

How much fun was it dueling against American Jefferson Mason?
I didn’t have the chance of getting to guard him except a few times, but to me he’s really good. He rebounds, can get to the rim and can knock down the 3. With his size and his skills he’s definitely going to help a lot of teams out especially with what he can do.

How exciting is it for you to be able to playoffs coming from the NCAA? How was the atmosphere in game four and what was your favorite play in the game?
The atmosphere last was great, but then again the Merlins fans always are crazy every home game and even away games they’re always creating a great atmosphere for us. As for my favorite play of the game I would have to say the 3 I made at the end of the shot clock but the referees took it away haha.

What in this 4 game series was key for being able to advance to the next round?
They’re the best 3 point shooting team in the league I think and the main thing they do is penetrate and kick it out to the shooters, so that’s something we really couldn’t let them do, staying out on the shooters and fake helping when a guard penetrated really worked well for us.

Crailsheim split the season series against MBC 1-1. What will be key to winning this series against the best team in the PRO A?

We’re going to have to really play defense and rebound well against them they have home court advantage so we can’t get out of sync when they are making runs at us. We have to play team basketball like we did in the first round and really work when it comes down to playing 1 on 1 defense.

How hungry are the Melrins to beat MBC? Aaron Cook will be playing against his old team and see if he can cage the wolves! Lol
Me personally I think MBC is very much beatable and I think we can steal a road win this series. Aaron going back to MBC I’m sure he’s excited and ready even though he’s not showing it.

How dangerous can it be to be an NBA mascot? David West accidently sent the Cavaliers mascot moondog to the hospital with an eye injury. How have you been taken by the mascots in the PRO A?
I haven’t really seen any mascots but if I did I probably just didn’t pay attention to them but having mascots can always be a good thing especially for the younger kids. as for the NBA mascots those guys are out there doing all types of crazy stuff so yea I think it is dangerous but they’re doing something they love.

What was the last DVD movie that you saw?
The last movie I watched was Billy Madison one of my favorite Adam Sandler movies .

Thanks Darryl for the chat.

Velimir Radinovic is a 31 year old 212cm center that was born in Canada, but also has the Serbian citizenship as he has Serbian parents. He played at Ohio State from 2000-2004. He turned professional in 2004 and played for Reflex Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 10 games: 4.4ppg, 2.4rpg, FGP: 51.7%; Adriatic League: 30 games: 6.0ppg, 2.7rpg, FGP: 56.0%; 1A League: 14 games: 5.4ppg, 1.7rpg, 0.3apg. In 2005-2006, he played for FMP Zeleznik Beograd (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 4 games: 1.0ppg; Adriatic League: 10 games: 2.1ppg, 1.4rpg, in Dec.’05 signed at KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-1A): ULEB Cup: 6 games: 7.3ppg, 1.8rpg, 2FGP: 88.9%; Adriatic League: 14 games: 3.1ppg, 1.8rpg; SCG Superleague: 5 games: 5.6ppg, 2.0rpg, 0.8apg. In 2006-2007, he played for KK Hemofarm Vrsac (SCG-A): Adriatic League: 26 games: 4.9ppg, 2.6rpg; ULEB Cup: 12 games: 9.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2FGP: 64.1%, 3FGP: 0%, FT: 66.7%. In 2007-2008, he played in France for Stade Clermontois Basket Auvergne (France-ProA, starting five): 28 games: 5.6ppg, 3.9rpg, 2FGP: 57.3%, FT: 79.6%. In 2008-2009, he played in Greece for Iraklis Thessaloniki (Greece-A2): 29 games: 7.0ppg, 4.4rpg, 2FGP: 55.0%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 87.0. He played for MBC from 2009-2011. Last season, for MBC, he played 27 games: 6.6ppg, 4.1rpg, FGP: 52.6%, FT: 68.8%. He spoke to German Hoops about his career and issued this statement. “”I officially announce my retirement from professional basketball. At this time I think it’s best for my family and myself that I walk away, and concentrate on moving forward with a more sustainable career path. Unfortunately I cannot continue to endure the rigours that is required of a professional athlete, and to compete at a high level. I want to thank all my former coaches, teammates, Managers for all the opportunities that the game of basketball has provided me.”

The last team that you played for was the Walter Tigers Tuebingen leaving in November 2011. How tough is it in general not playing looking for a new job and seeing other guys playing?

It’s surprisingly not that tough. Don’t get me wrong, I loved playing but I definitely don’t miss practicing. I enjoy watching the game, I’ve been following the NCAA tournament pretty closely and cringe at the thought of running up and down the floor right now.

You are 31 years old now and are going to hang up your sneakers after 7 professional seasons.
You probably wanted to keep playing, but injuries and your body have put a dent into your career. What physically is hindering you from continuing your basketball career?

Unfortunately I am suffering from a degenerative right knee. I had torn my meniscus while playing for MBC right before the season started, and I probably came back to play a little too soon, which really wasn’t good for my knee. The end result is a pretty beat up right knee.

Did you have a feeling in the last few years that your body might not be on the same page as you in terms of playing?

Kind of, but you fight through it. The mind can be a powerful tool. They always say “mind over matter” and it’s true to an extent. No matter how much pain I was in on a daily basis, once I got loose and warmed up I sometimes forgot about the pain and just played. After practice was a different story. It was hard to do daily chores, walking up and down stairs was even tough, but I was able to run up and down the court during practice. I guess that’s what our bodies are trained to do.

How tough was it making this decision to hang up the sneakers? Did you seek any advice from family, friends and players in the last months? If yes how did they help you best?

I didn’t really seek any advice, it was more like a voice inside saying it was time, but I wanted to see if I could get back to a level I was previously at. Once you realize you can’t then it can be pretty tough.

Could you still have continued your basketball career or was it best for you and your body to retire now?

I had a procedure done in December, and I’m still rehabbing. There are days I feel like I can go out onto the court and run up and down and just play, but I know it’s not that easy. I would probably have a good day once every two weeks at this point.

You played parts of three seasons in the Beko BBL in Germany. What are your fondest memories from this time?

Fortunately I had the opportunity to play with a lot of good guys. I’ll miss hanging out in the locker room before and after practice, cracking jokes w/ teammates. Also I’ll miss the Haribo “smurfs” candy. I don’t think they have those here.

You played two seasons for the Mitteldeutscher BC. The MBC family is very special. Do you still follow them? They are going back to the Beko BBL after a season in the PRO A.

I am very happy for them, and have kept an eye on their progress. It’s too bad they had to go through the process of dropping down and fighting to get back into the BEKO BBL, but the GM Martin Geissler has done a great job with that club in a small market, and he’s shown a commitment to putting out a quality product for the people of that community (Weissenfels).

With MBC, you played together with Anatoly Kashirov. You saw him develop. How were you able to help his game best?

I think I was able to keep his competitive juices flowing. I joined the team later in the year and I think the team had hit a bit of a rough patch, but I focused on coming to practice every day with a smile on my face and a positive attitude. Doing that every day can be contagious and it can help you to work harder and eventually adopting a winning attitude.

You started the season with the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. After starting with a 6 game losing streak, they have playoff ambitions now. How proud are you of the team and how important is coach Igor Perovic for the success?

– I’m very happy that the team was able to bounce back from adversity and show their true character. It’s not easy losing a lot of close games, especially early in the season, and then to bounce back the way they have is really special. I think Igor’s attitude went a long way in helping the team achieve their success. He’s a very calm and easygoing person, so it’s good that he didn’t get rattled early on and just approached every practice day by day, just like chipping away at a large deficit in a game. You don’t get it all back at once, you have to remain patient and continue working, and that’s exactly what they have done.

Besides in Germany, you also played in countries like Serbia, France and Greece. What was your favorite destination that you played at in your 7 year career?

I enjoyed my time in Serbia because I was able to reconnect with a lot of my family, some of whom I hadn’t seen or even spoken to since I was a child. That was pretty neat, as well as being able to brush up on my language skills.

You played together with Predrag Suput at KK Hemofarm Stada Vrsac. Did you ever think that the Serb would become such a dominant player in the Beko BBL?

– Definitely. He was probably our best player while we were together in Hemofarm, and coming from an institution in that country like Partizan, you know he is equipped with a good work ethic as well as high basketball IQ which he has shown throughout his time with Bamberg. He makes the game look very easy, but that is probably the hardest thing to do in any sport.

What are your fondest memories of ex Tiger Michael Haynes who you played a season with at : Stade Clermontois Basket Auvergne (France)? What was the most amazing thing that you saw him do in a game or practice?

– Taking care of his dog while we played together in France. My wife would watch the dog while we went on the road, and I spent some time with him as well, he was a pretty hyper guy (it was a boxer) and had a lot of energy. Mike is a great athlete and would routinely throw down windmills and dunk over people in practice. If you saw him driving down the lane you’d get out of his way b/c he might break your hand when he went up to dunk.

Is there anything that you regret that you couldn´t do as well on the court which you would have liked to have done better?

Not really, I had fun when I played and was always a “team first” kind of guy. I would always try and help the team win in any way necessary. If I need to rebound more, play defense and take charges, score, set screens, or just foul, I would do what was necessary. Maybe I could have been more selfish, but that wasn’t the type of player I was.

You played at Ohio State from 2000-2004. As a freshman, ex NBA player Ken Johnson was a senior. What do you remember most from his blocking ability?

– He had great timing. He would never leave his feet on shot fakes, and whenever you went up for a shot over him he would be there to meet you at the peak of your jump and be able to block the shot due to his athleticism and length.

Who was the best player that you played against in the NCAA or in Europe that you will never forget?

– I don’t know if he was the best player I went up against but I won’t forget playing against Kris Humphries while he was at Minnesota and I was at Ohio State. It was always physical and I felt like I wanted to fight him, and I’m sure he felt the same way. I remember my then-teammate Terence Dials had a similar opinion at the time, but it was all in good fun and in the spirit of competitiveness.

What game will you never forget and why?

I think playing in the ULEB Cup (Euro cup now) semi-final against ARIS while I was with Hemofarm. I didn’t get a whole lot of playing time, but it was a great atmosphere in Thessaloniki, and the game went down to the wire with their point guard Terrel Castle hitting a layup in the lane in the final seconds to send their team to the final. We just fell short of reaching the final game, but it was a great experience nonetheless.

What plans do you have now? You just became a dad. Will your role as a dad be your biggest priority at the moment?

It definitely is at the moment, and for the foreseeable future as well. Right now, I’m just enjoying spending time with my wife and son, and keeping my options open as far as the next step career-wise.

What would you like basketball fans to remember most when they hear the name Velimir Radinovic?

That I always played as hard as I could and tried to have while doing so.

Thanks Velimir for the chat. Good luck for your future.

Watching a Jimmy Mckinney cross over that leads to a step back jumper, Jared Jordan to Tony Gaffney ally-op smash dunk for the seemingly 100^th time, Isaiah Swann showing that Maryland sneer getting angry and saving ratiopharm Ulm in crunch time once again or Artland Dragon point guard David Holston sneaking into the lane and scoring in the lane unscathed are all things that beko BBL fans strive to see happen each weekend in warm and cold times. However in the dead of winter especially when your living in Finland where its dark almost all day long and freezing, getting up to enjoy basketball can be tough especially going on road trips. However one place that the Fraport Skyliners have witnessed in rather warm times the last four years has been Trier. In three of the last four years, the team has experienced the warmth of the Mosel city in March, April and May. Two seasons ago, they started the Beko BBL season in Trier in October so the team hasn´t felt and blistery brittle air of winter therehe last years. Despite the warm air, the Fraport Skyliners haven´t always had luck losing three of four games the last years in warmer weather in Trier. However last year, the team enjoyed a big 69-61 road win in April as Skyliner Quantez Robertson seemed destined for revenge after another second place finish in the Beko BBL allstar day slam dunk contest in Trier and with the playoff hopes still very much on the horizon for the Frankfurt club, the American from Cincinnati with a supporting cast were able to win their second game in a row in Trier beating TBB Trier 72-52. Robertson seems to have found a small place in his heart for Trier even if he can´t really admit it. “A win is a win no matter in what gym I play. It is always fun to play in this gym and I was able to come up with some good play”, stressed Quantez Robertson. TBB Trier guard and good friend of NBA superstar Lebron James Dru Joyce seemed very somber after the loss and sensed an extra motivation by Robertson. “Robertson did a good job today. Maybe he has that extra motivation to do well here. Frankfurt stepped it up as a team turning on the faucet and we just couldn´t turn it off”, expressed ex ratiopharm Ulm guard Dru Joyce. It doesn´t matter if Mckinney has lost in one place a lot of times he has a home everywhere. “I have been in this league now six years and I feel comfortable in all gyms”, smilied Jimmy Mckinney.

The Fraport Skyliners have been going up in a positive trend winning their fifth game in a row as the post season becomes more and more a reality. After a so so start, the Fraport Skyliners found their rhythm to 100% in the second quarter and stepped up their defensive intensity controlling the game until the end and never leaving even a crack open in the door for TBB trier to crawl back in. The victory also was a sweet birthday win for Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak. “This was a very nice birthday win for me. We started very focused and were very concentrated. We had the eight point lead at halftime and picked up our defense in the third quarter keeping the lead and letting up only seven points”, stressed Kamil Novak. The Fraport Skyliners continue to belong to the top defensive teams in the Beko BBL as it was their seventh game this season holding the opponent under 60 points. “We needed some time to find our rhythm, but you have to give TBB Trier credit, they are a very good defensive team. We were definitely in the zone on defense. We kept pushing and we achieved step five and next weekend Tuebingen will be step 6”, smiled ex Phoenix Hagen forward Jacob Burtschi. For TBB Trier, they have had a spiral trend going down as they have lost five games in a row and are dangerously close to the last places with only one win more than a Ludwigsburg, Giessen and Phoenix Hagen. A lot has changed in the five months since the 64-54 TBB Trier win in Frankfurt. “Frankfurt plays with a lot more intensity on defense than in the first game this season. We have the season in our own hands now. All we need is one more win in the last two games”, stressed ex Alba Berlin center Andreas Seiferth. The long season for Dru Joyce is almost over and one could sense in his eyes that he might take a few days to digest this loss. “I thought that we played pretty good basketball for 20 minutes. One could see that Frankfurt slowly had their rhythm at the end of the second quarter. Davidson and Mckinney hit big shots in the second half and we had some defensive let downs in the second half. We really missed John Bynum at the defensive end. He allows us to be able to different things on offense”, added Dru Joyce.

A great thing about the city of Trier is that it is very close to the Benelux countries and often gives ex TBB Trier players the chance to make a road trip from France or Belgium back to their old stomping ground to inspect the current Mosel team. 2010 Beko BBL slam dunk contest winner Jamal Shuler who played for TBB Trier from 2008-2010 and now plays for Sluc Nancy Basket Pro (France-Pro A) was back in town to see his ex team and exchanged some brief words with Quantez Robertson who had finished second to him at the slam dunk contest in Bonn in 2010. “Tez is always super freaky on the court”, joked Jamal Shuler. Shuler also had a long chat with ex teammate Samy Picard. Ex team mate Chris Copeland who plays in Belgium and played for TBB Trier some years ago was scheduled to also visit, but had a unexpected practice after losing to 5-20 club Verviers-Pepinster on the weekend. The TBB Trier arena was full, but got loud quickly as the game was even in the first two minutes. German national player Tim Ohlbrecht started off with a witty defensive stop on Zirbes, then hit a hook shot over Zirbes and then got a steal. Zirbes even the score at 2-2 with a lay in after getting a quick pass from Joyce. Jacob Burtschi and Joyce traded buckets as the score was 4-4. Jimmy Mckinney then dropped two consecutive three pointers as the Frankfurt offense was sparked by strong defense. Jacob Burtschi brought his game to another level as the hustling Oklahoma forward spent about as much time on the floor in the first half diving for loose balls like Boris Becker did for tennis balls back in the day as there was a spurt where he had three steals in a row which felt more like 10 steals. “Burtschi was playing at another level. He gives everything to the team. It seems like he has been on the floor 10 times diving for loose balls”, joked Jamal Shuler. After the win, Burtschi stayed humble, but also showed his humorous side. “I am used to diving, but before this game there was a youth game and the court was still slippery”, smiled Jacob Burtschi. Mckinney was hit with three fouls and had to exit which TBB Trier used to their advantage. Basketball is a game of runs and after the rapid fire power of the Fraport Skyliners, TBB Trier was able to bounce back going on a 11-3 run to lead 15-13 after one quarter. James Washington hit a desperation shot form the corner, Joyce scored inside and ex Alba Berlin forward Phillip Zwiener hit two consecutive jumpers. “Both teams came out setting a nice tempo. The three fouls which Mckinney got hurt the Skyliners which got TBB Trier into the game. TBB Trier was penetrating much and I thought that they could of utilized the pick and role more”, added Jamal Shuler. “ We had problem with the early foul trouble, but we were able to compensate it, come back well and hold the lead later in the game”, expressed Skyliner center Tim Ohlbrecht. TBB Trier was shooting 46% from the field and 0% from outside while The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 33% from the field and 60% from outside. TBB Trier had the 11-6 rebound edge, but five turnovers while Frankfurt had four turnovers.

In the second quarter, there were a few runs and five lead changes before the Fraport Skyliners could settle into halftime with a comfortable lead. The Fraport Skyliners retrieved the lead 21-17 as Michael Thompson hit a big three pointer and scored inside, bothe times being fed basketball caviar in terms of perfect passes from Devin Gibson who was doing a solid job as playmaker. After Seifert free throws, it was Thompson that nailed another three pointer that was set up again by Gibson as Frankfurt led 24-19. “They played well together and were a good one two punch”, commented Jamal Shuler. However the Fraport Skyliners were incapable of withstanding a arsenal of three pointers from Luxemburg native Samy Picard and Serb Dragan Dojcin who gave TBB Trier the 25-24 advantage. However the Fraport Skyliners got the lead back and ended the second quarter with 14-7 run to lead comfortably 39-31. Skyliner captain Marius Nolte got an easy bucket inside which was followed by a furious Quantez Robertson spin move around baffled Phillip Zwiener and a steal by Robertson which led to a Burtschi fast break hoop. Ex NBA player Jermareo Davidson was inserted and prompt scored inside. Robertson continued to be every TBB Trier´s athletic nightmare as he scored inside and made a free throw for the Frankfurt 35-28 lead. Davidson scored on a mid distance jumper and seemed destined for a big second half. “The Skyliners were playing with a very high intensity at both ends of the court. Tez and Gibson were huge factors in the second quarter for Frankfurt being able to open up the game”, said Jamal Shuler. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 45% from the field and 67% from the three point line while TBB Trier was shooting 39% from the field and 100% from the three point line. TBB Trier still ha dthe rebound advantage at 17-14, but nine turnovers while Frankfurt had six turnovers.

In the third quarter, both teams took a step back from offense as defense played the major role in the ten minute quarter as Frankfurt could extend their lead while not scoring so much, but giving up only seven points. TBB Trier guard James Washington who hails from ST Louis and is friends with Mckinney started off the third quarter with a sweet catch and pop as TBB Trier trailed only 39-34. “Maybe Washington was able to learn something form Mckinney during the last summer with his shooting”, smiled Jamal Shuler. Mckinney reacted with his own version of a catch an dpop jumper as Frankfurt led 42-36. Washington kept up his stellar rookie play hitting a runner on the fast break as TBB Trier trailed only 42-36. However the TBB Trier scoring frenzy was abruptly halted as the Fraport Skyliners continued to halt giving the opponent any real space to penetrate and allowing only tough shots going on a strong 9-2 run to close out the third quarter 51-38. Ohlbrecht was playing heads up defense against Maik Zirbes hardly giving him any touches in the low post. Burtschi started the run getting an offensive rebound and getting a put back, Mckinney dropped a step back jumper and finished the third quarter with a crazy buzzer beater from the corner that even got a chuckle from Jermareo Davidson. Frankfurt really picked up their energy after a slow start. They showed that they had many weapons that could step up at anytime. Ohlbrecht was the stopper on defense getting rebounds, blocking shots and really smothering Zirbes. He seemed lost in the zone”, commented Jamal Shuler. The Fraport Skyliners were shooting 42% from the field and 50% from the parking lot while TBB Trier was shooting 33% from the field and 60% from the parking lot. TBB Trier still had the slight 25-23 rebound edge, but 13 turnovers while Frankfurt only had 10 turnovers.

In the fourth quarter, The Fraport Skyliners were able to extend their lead and were able to put their offense up a gear while keeping their consistent defense giving TBB Trier problems to get easy baskets. Davidson returned back into the game and smoked young German Andreas Seiferth with his patent fade away jumper, while Seiferth returned back up the floor scoring a nifty lay in over Davidson. Davidson seemed to have his target picked out and burned Seiferth again with a fade away jumper as TBB Trier trailed 56-40. TBB Trier had had quite some misfortune missing easy lay ups, but then had some fortune as Joyce was able to convert with hard penetration, but Robertson showed he could do the same as he scored hard to the hole with his left hand. Gibson was back with his successful penetration and dish pass finding Burtschi for the easy lay up. TBB Trier was getting tired and was having continued problems with the Frankfurt annoying defense. “TBB Trier was telegraphing their passes making it easy for Frankfurt to come up with steals”, added Jamal Shuler. The aggressive defense was still leading to fast break buckets as Mckinney converted as Frankfurt led 62-42. Gibson then lost sight of Joyce for a second and was burned with an open three pointer. Davidson was still in the game and three was a charm for him as he burned Seiferth for the third time as Frankfurt led 64-45. “Davidson is hard to guard, but he got good help from Mckinney and Tez. I should of forced him to penetrate more, but he opted to shoot more”, stressed Andreas Seiferth. After Washington free throws, it was time for another Davidson fade away jumper this time over Zirbes as Frankfurt led 66-47. “Davidson is aggressive on offense and defense and can finish with authority and can shoot. He has the NBA game and I expect him to be back in the NBA. Muli Katzurin had a prefect game plan, getting a nice lead and then letting Davidson clean up from the bench in the fourth quarter”, warned Jamal Shuler. “ Jermareo Davidosn took care of business in the fourth quarter”, warned Jacob Burtschi. After Linhart scored, it was Mckinney again with a catch and pop jumper as Frankfurt led 68-49. “Mckinney is so consistent and probbaly one of best pure shooters in the league. That is what you want to see from the leader taking the important shots”, added Jamal Shuler. With the clock winding down, Zirbes and Davidson traded buckets at the end as the Fraport Skyliners were able to win their third game in a row on the road. “This was a great team effort by Frankfurt. Mckinney had the hot end and Ohlbrecht and Davidson had great games at both ends of the court. Gibosn and Burtschi set the tempo at the start getting team going”, said Jamal Shuler. “We had some let downs on offense in the third quarter. I thought that we did a pretty good job penetrating in the game, but we were unable to make our shots on a consistent basis and were unable to stop their runs”, stressed Dru Joyce.

The Fraport Skyliners were led by Jermareo Davidson with 19 points. Jimmy Mckinney produced 18 points while Jacob Burtschi contributed 14 points and eight rebounds. TBB Trier was led by Dru Joyce with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. The Fraport Skyliners had a very productive shooting day at 48% from the field and 44% from downtown while TBB Trier struggled at 32% from the field and 36% from downtown. After trailing the first three quarters on the boards, the Fraport Skyliners were able to win the rebound battle in the fourth quarter 33-29. They also did a solid job winning the second chance points and fast break buckets. The Frankfurt defense continues to be the back bone of the team and it seems it is sending chills down the spines of opponents. “Jamal Shuler is very athletic, but the way we are playing defense now, I don´t think that he could have been much help for TBB Trier. Our defense is scary and teams seem to be afraid to play us”, added Jimmy Mckinney. Even though defense was a big factor in the win, dealing with hardship was also overcome. “Our biggest strength today was our dealing with adversity. We had some tough situations that didn´t go our way, but we didn´t get down, but bounced back getting big shots from Jimmy Mckinney”, stressed Jacob Burtschi. With so many match points the last weeks, this win might have been the ultimate match ball. “This win was a very important step for us. We have to stay concentrated and take the next step and win the next home game. I hope it isn´t our last home game”, warned Skyliner sport director Kamil Novak.