Eisbaeren Bremerhaven

The Rapid 10 Miles Questions Basketball Exchange With Jermaine Thomas(Eisbaeren Bremerhaven)

Jermaine Thomas is a 26 year old 186cm combo guard playing his fifth professional season and first with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He is from Frederick, Maryland and played at La Salle from 2002-2006. In his senior year at La Salle he played 28 games averaging 12.3ppg, 4.3rpg, 3.9apg, 1.3spg, FG: 41.5%, 3PT: 36.8%, FT: 82.1%. In 2006, he came to Europe and his first stop was in Hungry as he played for Gunaras KC Dombóvár playing 22 games: 16.0ppg, 2.1rpg, 4.5apg, 2.0spg, 2FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 41.0%, FT: 78.0%. In 2007-2008, he played for MAFC Budapest (Hungary-A Division, starting five): 11 games: 13.9ppg, 3.0rpg, 2.1apg, 2.1spg, 2FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.3%, FT: 86.1%, in Dec.`07 moved to BC Lami-Ved Kormend (Hungary-A Division, starting five): 13 games: 15.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.4apg, 2.3spg, 2FGP: 67.3%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 81.1%. In 2008-2009, he went to Austria to play for UBC ökoStadt Gussing Knights (Austria-A Bundesliga, starting five): 30 games: 17.8ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.0apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 64.3%, 3PT: 37.7%, FT: 79.8%. Last season, he returned back to Hungry to play for Polaroid Lami-Ved Kormend (Hungary-A Division, starting five): 33 games: 15.7ppg, 3.4rpg, 4.4apg, 1.8spg, FGP: 59.2%, 3PT: 43.4%, FT: 86.3%. Some of the awards that he has gotten in his career were All-Atlantic 10 Honorable Mention -06, Hungarian League Finalist -08, Austrian Bundesliga A All-Star Game -09, Eurobasket.com, All-Hungarian League Honorable Mention -10, Hungarian League All-Star Game -10, and Hungarian League Semifinals -10. Jermaine sat down with German Hoops and took the rapid 10 Miles questions basketball exchange.

You come from Frederick Maryland which is about 40 kilomters from Baltimore which is by the water. How have you adjusted to Bremerhaven and the water so far?

I have adjusted pretty well. Bremerhaven is a beautiful city. But honestly I have to credit my teammates and the management and the fans here, for my adjustment going so smoothly. Everyone has made me feel so welcomed here the first day I arrived.

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Deutsche Bank Skyliners-Eisbaeren Bremerhaven BEKO BBL Top 4 Preview 2010

The last time that the Deutsche Bank Skyliners won the German cup was in 2000 when they were called The Opel Skyliners, the era of Bill Clinton as President was ending, Dan Duquette was still running the Boston Red Sox and they were still being cursed by the bambino, the Twin Towers in New York was still standing gracefully on lower battery park in New York and the Spanish music craze of Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias was in full swing, and now the Frankfurt club tries again at winning the prestigious title on home court after losing to Alba Berlin last year in the semi final in Hamburg.

It may not be June and playoff time yet in the Ballsporthalle, but with the warmer temperatures with the start of Spring and a full arena, an early playoff feeling should be present on Saturday April 10th as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners face off against The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven at 19:15. The first semi final will be played at 16:25 between two time BEKO BBL champion Brose Baskets Bamberg and BG Goettingen the team each opponent hates because of their aggressive never die attitude.
The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven have had a curious season and had a 7-7 record on December 19th and had been up and down and then went on a seven game winning streak as ex NBA player Rodney Buford had returned to the States and since then have been up and down with a 4-4 record, but seem to have found their rhythm again currently having a four game winning streak. They are the second highest scoring team in the BEKO BBL behind BG Goettingen.

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Can The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven Get On The Same Page To Be Consistently Successful?

The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven have had some luck this season in games, but nothing equals the luck that they had last summer as they were about as good as with both feet in the PRO A after a disastrous season in 2008-2009, but then as if they had found a box with four leaf clovers on their door step, the team was saved and was able to stay in the BEKO BBL, because The Cologne 99ers had declined the last Wild Card paving the way for Bremerhaven to stay in the league. After a road win to start the season in Braunschweig last season, the tide turned for the worst as if the club has been hit by a huge wave crippling them for months as they suffered a 16 game losing streak and didn´t win again until January 25th 2009. Sarunas Sakalauskas was fired and after the big losing streak, the team finished the season with a 6-11 record. The team was very talented, but the two biggest problems were not being able to escape the cellar after the miserable start and that the team was unable to come together and create a team chemistry despite so many scoring options.

“Last season, I think that they had great players, great coaches and great management, but the pieces just didn´t fit together”, stressed ex Ulm American Jeff Gibbs.

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Jeff Gibbs Set To Lead Bremerhaven Into The Playoffs

Jeff Gibbs is a 29 year old 188cm forward/center from Columbus, Ohio. He played at Otterbein(NCAA3) from 1998 to 2002. He was 140309_1_mittel_Logo_Eisbaeren_BremerhavenNCAA3 champion and Final Four MVP in 2002. He holds the record for rebounds in a game (25) at NCAA3 Final Four, record for rebounds (40) in a NCAA3 Final Four and holds Otterbein’s record for career rebounds. He went to Germany in 2003 to start his professional basketball career to play for TSG Ehingen. In 2004-2005, he tore up the second bundesliga playing 22 games and averaging 21.5ppg, Reb-1(12.8rpg), 1.8apg, 2.3spg, 1.2bpg, 2FGP: 62.6%, 3FGP: 31.6%, FT: 70.7%. In 2005, he went to Ratiopharm Ulm where he would play for until 2009. In 2005-2006, the team won the second BUndesliga south and came to the BBL. He was the BBL top rebounder for three straight years (2007,2008,2009). This season, he is playing his first season for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and spoke to German Hoops.

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Strange Ranking and Early Hot-Shots

Trouble with the rankingsbekobbl

It had been a press release no one really cared about during the off-season. On the 7th of June the DBB (German Basketball Federation) announced that for the 2009/2010 campaign all german leagues will have to follow the FIBA scoring system. Just like before a winning team is now rewarded with 2 points. But with the new system also the losing team earns 1 point for attending the game. Last season and all those years before the loser got no point, but had to deal with 0:2 points.

If you follow the BBL you might remember the odd story about Gießen not making it to the game in Ludwigsburg. The 46ers’ teambus was stuck in traffic and the team could not make it in time. Ludwigsburg got the win and Gießen was punished by the league with the loss of all direct comparisons. If a situation like this would come up now, the team not attending the game would have to deal with 0 points.

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Eric Osmundson Might Take On The Waves One Day, But Now Looks For A New Team

Eric Osmundson is a 26 year old 196cm combo guard that can also play the small forward position. He grew up in Carlsbad, California and BBLpresently resides in San Diego. He played his freshman year at Utah, and then transferring to Pennsylvania and playing there from 2003-2006. In his senior year, he played 29 games averaging 9.9ppg, 2.1rpg, 2.5apg, FG: 37.5%, 3PT: 34.1%, FT: 60.7%. He was Ivy League champion in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, he was drafted by the Colorodo 14ers of the D-League. In 2007-2008, he played 50 games for Colorodo averaging 8.7ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 43.1%, 3PT: 37%, FT: 70.5%.

Last season, he came to Germany in February to play for the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven averaging 5.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 34.9%, 3PT: 24.4%, FT: 76.4%. Eric is currently looking for a team. For interest please contact him at eric.n.osmundson@gmail.com.

Eric thanks for talking to German Hoops. Its been a tough summer for many players on the transfer market. Did you expect that it would be so difficult for you in finding a club?

I knew it would be a little difficult given our result from last year in Bremerhaven but I am staying positive and working on my game in hopes of signing with a club sometime soon. It is a very tough market and there are a lot of really solid players with good experience still in my position looking to find a club.

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Brandon Brooks looking To Lead The Point Guard Duties In Bremerhaven

Brandon Brooks is a 22 year old 188 cm guard that is about to start his first season in the BBL with The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He is freshBBL from the NCAA having played at Alabama State. In his senior year, he played 32 games averaging 13.7ppg, 4.2rpg, 6.6apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 50.2%, 3Pts: 36.9%, FT: 77.1%.

It will be interesting to see how the young American fits into the deep Bremerhaven roster and how he does at the point guard position. He has developed nicely in pre season camp and even won a game with a last second shot.

Brandon spoke to German Hoops early in pre season camp.

You are a BBL rookie. How do you feel coming to Germany?

I feel great and thankful for the chance to play here. Playing with vets all summer in atlanta helped out a ton so I’m coming in with confidence.

How was the plane ride? Were you able to gell really well with a particular player in those first hours together?

That was the longest that I had to sit still ever in life lol. I got used to an elderly lady besides me and I didn’t sit next to any teammates, because I needed leg room, watched about four movies though.

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Teamcheck: Eisbaeren Bremerhaven

Eisbaeren Bremerhaven management tried to get the first six new Americans, Steve Esterkamp, Lou Campbell, Brandon Brooks, Jonathan 140309_1_mittel_Logo_Eisbaeren_BremerhavenMoore, Rodney Buford and Kevin Lyde on the same plane from Newark to Hamburg which could be seen as a mini geographical miracle since all players come from different spots in the States, but in the end Buford and Lyde did not make the flight, but the big question this season will be if coach Doug Spradley can get these Americans plus the other players to find a way to come together on the court. These questions seemed to have turned a total 180 degrees with the spectacular signing of Jeff Gibbs. One slowly has to ask, if manager Jan Rathjen has taken special magician courses with eccentric David Blaine, because what he has done in the short period in the off season has been incredible. He is already leading the early list for manager of the year. One could carefully say that the Bremerhaven Eisbaeren have gone from a playoff team to a title candidate in only 24 hours.

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