BBL

Teamcheck: MEG Goettingen

If you would have asked the 18 managers of the BBL teams before the 2008-2009 BBL season, which team would be a top the standings at the Allstar break, I am sure no one would have predicted that MEG Goettingen would be there, but they were. A spectacular result like this could be comparable to unimposing Formula One racer Nelson Piquet junior as if he had come from nowhere to win 3-4 races and be challenging a Lewis Hamilton or Kimi Raikkonen near the top of the drivers list. Nobody had expected this bunch of relatively unknown players to be so strong and dominate the league. It was refreshing and something that was positive for the BBL. At times it seemed like the Goettingen players had to pinch themselves just to be certain that it was not all a dream:

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure, you read enough of the papers and listen to what people say about you, you can really start to believe that maybe “Gottingen was lucky that day” or maybe our opponent did “just have a bad shooting day.” But Ben Jacobson and John Patrick did a good job at having everyone on the same page and working hard everyday and we eventually realized that winning was an attitude and we should go into every game expecting to win with the way we play”, stressed American Jason Boone.

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That Was No George Foreman Sighting In Paderborn, But Really Nate Gerwig

Nate Gerwig (206-F/C-83, college: Kent St.) is a 26 year old 206cm center that grew up in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He played at Kent State from 2001-2006. He was unable to play the 2003-2004 season on account of being a medical redshirt. In his senior year, he played 32 games averaging 6.4ppg, 3.9rpg, FGP: 58.0%, FT: 58.1%.

In the 2006-2007 season he turned professional playing for Porvoon Tarmo (Korisliiga) in 22 games and averaging 2.9ppg, 2.6rpg. In the 2007-2008 season, he returned back to the States and played in the D League for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants playing 40 games and averaging 3.6ppg, 5.9rpg, FGP: 49.6%, FT: 49.1%. Last season, he played his first season in Germany in the PRO A for BV Chemnitz 99 playing 30 games and averaging 15.6ppg, 8.5rpg, 1.7apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 65.0%, FT: 61.8%. He spoke to German Hoops during training camp.

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Jerome´s diary entry #4: Pre Season Game 2

I was sleepy today. I slept in until 11am. I had a lot of time left, because we had to be at the meeting point at 2.30pm to leave for our second pre season game against Gmünden. It was a very short trip. We got there about an hour and a half before the game started. I got a little bit loose before we were getting back into the locker room for our personal team meeting. We didn`t know much about Gmünden, just that they did have a couple Veteran guys. And they really did. We have had a better start than yesterday and did build a comfortable 6 point lead after a few minutes. They came back thou. Those old guys do really know how to play and how to take advantage of every single mistake.

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Jerome’s diary entry #3: Gametime!

Today I was ready to get tested. We have had our first pre season game in Nördlingen. Fortunately it was a very close trip and we were driving with a couple cars to the game. I was still studying our playbook while we were travelling. We arrived almost two hours before the game, which was very nice, so everybody had enough time for himself to get dressed and get some shots or own drills off. Then we got, about 45 minutes before the game, back to the locker room.
Mike Taylor was introducing us the keys to success for today’s game and what we have to do and what we have to be good at to win our first game.
Then we did something what really surprised me for a second. Mike told us to come together for a prayer. So we huddled up and we or Mike started praying. The last time I was doing that was more than two years ago, while I was playing High School basketball in the states. I was really missing it. It is very hard to describe and to explain. What it is able to do with an individual and team. I do not know the right words now. It is just great to come together as a team and do things like that. It increases the team chemistry. I felt very warm and comfortable while we were praying. Surrounded by giants, which will protect me and help me up, when I am falling down.
After the prayer, we went out and did run our pre game warm-up. I felt very comfortable with my Jumpshot and everybody else did. I didn’t know that Lee Humphrey is able to dunk. It didn’t even seem hard for him.

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A Dialogue With Ronald Ross(Artland Dragons)

Ronald Ross is a 26 year old 188 cm point guard from North Hobbs, New Mexico. He played at Texas Tech from 2001-2005 under BBLLogo legendary coach Bobby Knight.

In 2004-2005 in his senior year, he played 33 games and exploding averaging 17.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.0apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3Pts: 43%. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2005.

He then turned professional and played in 2005-2006 in Italy in the Lega 2 for Univer Castelletto Ticino playing 12 games and averaging 9.3ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.6apg, 2.2spg, 2FGP: 53.3%, 3PT: 24.0%, FT: 76.5%.

In 2006-2007, he played in the CBA for the Butte Daredevils playing 48 games and averaging 15.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-2(2.4spg), FGP: 49%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 74.2%.

In 2007-2008, he came to Germany to play for ENBW Ludwigsburg playing 34 games and averaging 14.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.3apg, Steals-2(1.7spg), 2FGP: 52.5%, 3PT: 29.1%, FT: 77.9%. He also played 10 ULEB Cup games averaging 11.7ppg, 2.2rpg, 2.9apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 50%, 3PT: 44%, FT: 66.7%. He reached the 2008 BBL cup final losing to the Artland Dragons.

In 2008-2009, he started in Isarel for Maccabi Givat Shmuel playing 8 games and averaging 14.3ppg, 3.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 57.7%, 3PT: 11.8%, FT: 66.7% before moving to Maccabi Haifa Heat playing 6 games and averaging 7.2ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.7apg, 2.0spg.

That was a short stay as he then continued back to Germany to play for the Artland Dragons playing 12 games and becoming a central figure in their offense averaging 15.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 57.1%, FT: 70.0%.

Ronald spoke to German Hoops some weeks ago before heading to Germany.

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Jerome Bridgewater’s diary entry #2

This practice week was very rough. Going two-a-days is not that easy like I thought it would. My legs got so tired on Tuesday already. Everything was sore. I was even too tired to fix myself something to eat at the evening. I was just lying in my bed resting.

Probably because we were also going out to the track to do some running Tuesday afternoon. It didn’t seem too hard and I won the first 400 metre run. I felt comfortable and in such a great shape. So I got a little bit too loud and I asked Coleman Collins for a race for the next 200metre sprint. Winner gets a free Burger king menu. Well he just took off. It wasn’t even close. He was probably at the finish line while I still had to run 20 metres. He is so fast for a Big Man. All he said afterwards is that he wants a large cup of Apple Cider and some extra bacon on his burger.

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Teamcheck: EnBW Ludwigsburg

EnBW Ludwigsburg are looking to land back in the playoff places in 2009-2010 and want to find some of that magic that was present some de_enbw_ludwigsburg_logo years ago as ex coach Silvano Poropat led the team into the playoffs.

Since then Poropat was dismissed and Rick Stafford was unable to form a consistent team last season missing the playoffs. Since their spectacular 2006-2007 season, where they finished the season at position 2 with a 25-9 record, not much greatness was able to follow the last two seasons except a 13th place finish in 2008 and 11th place ending last season. The most notable highlight was reaching the BBL cup final in 2008 losing to a motivated Artland Dragons. This season will see some changes, besides a good room cleaning with the roster, a new coach has come with the Regional train from Tuebingen with Tolga Öngören and the team say goodbye to the small and cosy Rundsporthalle as the team will move into a new arena.

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In Between Ballerina Steps With Derrick Allen

Derrick Allen is a 203cm forward that grew up in Gadsen Alabama. He is a rugged inside player who attacks the glass, will provide help on BBLLogo the boards, is a solid defender in the post, a competitor and hard worker that can score facing the basket and has shooting range to the foul line. He started his career at Southern Union State from 1998-2000.

He then transferred to Mississippi and played there from 2000-2003.

He then started his professional basketball career in Iceland playing for Keflavikur ripping up the FIBA Europe Cup playing 8 games and averaging 26.6ppg, 9.4rpg, 2.5apg, 1.8spg and playing 22 games in the Iceland league averaging 23,4ppg, 10.5rpg. He won the Icelandic league and cup title in his rookie season.

In 2004, he ventured to Germany and has played there ever since with two years in Karlsruhe, one year in Leverkusen and he is now starting his third season for The Deutsche Bank Skyliners.

In 2006-2007, he led Leverksuen into the playoffs and led the BBL in scoring playing 38 games and averaging 16.5ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 50.6%, 3FGP: 32.3%, FT: 72.2%. In 2007-2008, he was second best scorer in the BBL for Frankfurt playing 43 games and averaging 18.1ppg, 7.3rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 50.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 75.6%; and playing 10 ULEB Cup games finishing as the third best scorer averaging 19.9ppg, 7.9rpg, 2.0apg, FGP: 54%, 3PT: 28.6%, FT: 72.9%. He has reached three BBL playoffs in five seasons and played in the 2008 BBL Allstar game. He had a chat with us about his summer, Skyliners and Usain Bolt.

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A Welcome To Germany Interview With Mr. Assist Jared Jordan

Jared Jordan is a 24 year old 188 cm pure point guard who understands how to run a team and has great court vision and leadership and BBLLogo hails from Hartford Connecticut. He played at Kingswood-Oxford prep school before going to Marist from 2003-2007.

He really made a name for himself as he gave the word assist a new meaning as he was leading the nation in assists in his junior and senior years. In his last year, he played 33 games and averaged 17.2ppg, 5.9rpg and led the NCAA in assists with 8.7apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 42.5%, 3PT: 29.8%, FT: 69.0%. He finished as Marist’s all-time leader in assists with 813 and ranks sixth all-time in points with 1,538.

It was no surprise that he was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round at #45.

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Jerome Bridgewater(Ratiopharm Ulm) 2009-2010 BBL Diary Entry #1

Today was the day, I was waiting for such a long time in my life. Today, I have had my first professional basketball practice with some of the best athletes in Germany.

Not just that it was my first proffesional practice, it was in front of a crowd of 500 people. It was very weird for me. I cannot even remember the last time I was playing in front of a crowd like that in a real game. It was very new too me. Unfortunately I was very nervous at the beginning and had some troubles to find my shot at all. We did some transition drills, played some three on three and at the end a five on five pick up game.

Our new team is very young and athletic.We have very exciting players with Rocky Trice, Christian Burns and Coleman Collins and also John Bryant. I think the crowd did like what they have seen today. We are an almost complete new team. The only starter that returned was Lee Humphrey. It is very exciting for me to get the chance to guard and get guarded by a player like Lee Humphrey. I used to watch him on the screens while I was in the states and while he was playing for the University of Florida. I think it will be very helpful to compete against those guys. I of course, also have had some struggles today. But I think i am going to get used to it very soon.

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