medi Bayreuth

A Late Ronald Burrell Two Handed Stuff And Smashed Game Board Sums Up Another Frankfurt Crunch Time Loss To Bayreuth 72-64

A very exciting aspect to a professional basketball players season is when two players meet again for the first time as full blown professionals after making the jump from the NCAA ranks. This is something that happens every so often in any league in Europe. Back in December ex NBA player Andrew Rautins of the Fraport Skyliners and 2 time NCAA finalist with Butler Matt Howard met in Ulm and at the end Rautins was standing tallest as he had led his team past ratiopharm Ulm in three over time periods as Howard once again was at the short end of a game departing the floor as a loser. With the season winding down, medi bayreuth more or less was saved form the cellar and the Fraport Skyliners were closing out the season with pride wanting to win as many games as possible. However this wasn´t the only duel for pride, but there were also two guards from both teams that were meeting again after playing in the NCAA head to head. It was on March 14, 2012 on a comfortable evening in late winter in Los Angeles when Cal State Fullerton arrived to play Loyola Marymount. It pitted bowling aficionado and NBA aspirant DJ Seely of Cal State Fullerton against Jarred Dubois who were both juniors. After 40 minutes, it was Dubois and Loyola Marymount that prevailed 88-79. Dubois played 28 minutes netting five points and dishing out two dimes. It was Seeley who had a monster game with 32 points that probably would have needed a Bobby Brown who played at Cal Fullerton before turning professional as a reinforcement at the guard position to help win the game as he can score at an instant. 25 months later, both American guards faced off again in Frankfurt and this time DJ Seeley got revenge grinding out a hard fought 72-64 win with medi bayreuth in Frankfurt. After the game the numbers of 32 and 5 and schools Loyola Marymount and Cal State Fullerton brought a smile to his face. “I remember that game against Jarred Dubois. It was a win or go home game. It is nice seeing guys again and you can see how they have developed over time. Dubois is a good player a lefty that is hard to guard, shifty around the rim and a good defender”, stressed American DJ Seeley. Dubois who had two tough endings to the last two games also remembered the 32 points, but also was quick to reply that Loyola Marymount had won the game. “It is lovely to see a guy like Seeley again. He didn´t get the recognition that he should have, because of playing at a smaller school and it doesn´t surprise me how well he played”, added Jarred Dubois. “I have seen many guys over my career that I played against in the NCAA. I remember playing against Chris Mcnaughton when he played for Bucknell and it is especially nice when you can still see guys now at this stage when so many guys aren´t playing anymore”, stated ex Holy Cross guard Kevin Hamilton.

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Brian Qvale (medi bayreuth) We Have More Confidence And Work Better Together With Our New Defensive Concepts

Brian Qvale is a 24 year old 210cm center from Williston, North Dakota that is playing his first season in the Beko BBL with Medi bayreuth. He played at Montana (NCAA) from 2007-2011 playing a total of 116 NCAA games and in his senior year played 32 games: 14.9ppg, 8.8rpg, 3.0bpg, FGP: 62.6%, FT: 64.5%. In 2011-2012, he started his professional basketball career with Aliaga Petkim (Turkey-TBL): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 56.5%, FT: 58.3%. Last season he played for : Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Ethias League, starting five): 31 games: 9.8ppg, Reb-4(6.1rpg), Blocks-2(1.1bpg), FGP-2(65.3%), FT: 66.7%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.3ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.1%, FT: 57.1%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against the Fraport Skyliners.

Brian congrats on the 87-82 win in Braunschweig. Bayreuth had a strong fourth quarter to seal the win. What were the main reasons for the victory?

Thank you, we really stepped up our defense in the second half after they scored way too many points in the first half. I think that was the main reason we were able to get a lead and finish the game strong.

What has been the main strength as of recent under Michael Koch that Bayreuth has been able to win close games? It seems like the team is more calm and you guys are allowed to make a mistake?

We are really enjoying playing together as a team and we are full of confidence as we approach each game. Yes relaxing and being able to play free and have fun is a huge key to us winning games.

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Brian Qvale Bringing Individual Consistency To A Disappointing Team medi bayreuth Season

If one were to match up American and Topeka, Kansas native Kyle Weems and American and Williston, North Dakota native and teammates Brian Qvale by letting them attempt certain duties, each guy would shine at a certain thing. For instance park both guys in the corner with a blindfold and let them fire fade away bombs form the corner with a Ronny Burrell in their face, then ex Missouri State(NCAA) Weems will probably hit more shots than Qvale, however put them both in the zone and let each guy battle with ex Bayreuth center Brandon Hunter, then most definitely it would be Qvale who could have more success with getting rebounds, making hard punishing put backs and turn around jumpers. If they would battle in a miniature golf game, it would be hard to tell who would win, but Qvale definitely has played before. However one aspect to both guys games where they are head to head at the moment is in scoring consistency. Before the game against the Fraport Skyliners, both guys have scored in double figures 24 times and are the most consistent on the team. Weems has shined scoring 20 points or more five times including a 27 point feast against Phoenix Hagen while Brian Qvale has scored 20 points or more three times including a 28 point outburst against the Telekom Baskets Bonn and has registered four double doubles. If one follows the career of Qvale, it seems like he has made the right choices each season and has developed with each increasing in skill league that he entered. After playing at Montana(NCAA) for four years, he went to Turkey in 2011 as a rookie and played for Aliaga Petkim (Turkey-TBL): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 56.5%, FT: 58.3%. Last season he played for Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Ethias League, starting five): 31 games: 9.8ppg, Reb-4(6.1rpg), Blocks-2(1.1bpg), FGP-2(65.3%), FT: 66.7%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.3ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.1%, FT: 57.1%. He has improved his stats each season and now with Bayreuth has really had a statistical explosion in points and rebounds in a league that belongs to the top 5 in Europe. He made the playoffs last season in Belgium and wont make them this season in the Beko BBL, but he definitely has made general managers in Europe even more aware of his abilities. Another important aspect to the success of Qvale is his character as he is the ultimate team player and just has a good attitude on and off the court. He came to Bayreuth with the right attitude and it has shown all season long. “I will do anything I need to do to help the team win. I will play the role that coach wants me to play. I plan to be a solid defensive player in the middle with blocking shots and rebounding and offensively give the team an effective low post presence scoring and rebounding”, stated Brian Qvale. Even though offense is a potent aspect to his game, he plays at both ends of the court. “I would say I am good at being in the right position on defense involving blocking shots or helping out a teammate”, stressed Qvale. Qvale definitely knew how big a chance he had with medi bayreuth and it has paid off. “I will come in and do the very best job I am capable of. I am confident in my abilities and I promise to work hard and do the best I can and that is all I can do”, warned Qvale. Those were his words before the season and he definitely kept his promise. It is unknown who will win the scoring consistency crown between Weems and Qvale and it wont be as spectacular as a Kevin Durant breaking the consecutive 25 points or more scoring games in a row of 41 of Michael Jordan, but one thing is for sure, that medi bayreuth fans will equally be happy to have had both guys chugging away this season as who knows where the club may have been without the services of the two?

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Brian Qvale (medi bayreuth) Phoenix Hagen Can Score A Lot Of Points In A Hurry So We Will Need To Slow Down Their Weapons On Offense

Congrats on the 82-70 win against SC RASTA Vechta. How thrilling was it getting a huge win in the fight to stay in the league and was this the best season effort of the club?

Thank you, beating Vechta was a huge win for us. It gives us confidence, puts us in a much better spot in the standings than if we would have lost, and it was great to win a game and give something back to the fans and community who support us.

Medi bayreuth had a nice lead going into the fourth quarter, but SC RASTA Vechta made a run which is always typical in basketball. Did medi bayreuth get a bit tired or just lose focus a bit in closing out the game?

We did not finish the game as strong as we could have. We held on for the win but coach made sure to tell us that we did an awful job of closing out the game and we need to finish the game stronger next time.

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Brian Qvale (medi bayreuth) None Of Us Have Lost This Many Games Before In Our Career So Mentally It Is Definitely A New Challenge For Us To Overcome

Brian thanks for talking to German Hoops again. medi bayreuth suffered a tough 73-61 loss in Ludwigsburg. Ludwigsburg had a one point lead in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, but then broke away. What were the main reasons for the loss on the road?

We had way too many turnovers. Their press took us away from getting into our offense and we didn’t execute as well as we should have.

It seemed like even when medi had an answer in the fourth quarter, Ludwigsburg had a better answer. Were the home team just a bit more clever in certain situations at the end?

They made some tough shots and we had defensive breakdowns in crucial times and it led to us losing the game unfortunately.

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Brian Qvale (medi bayreuth) It Was A Bad First Half To The Season And Something We Will Not Repeat

Thanks Brian for talking to German Hoops again. How did you spend the Allstar break? Was it more relaxation or did you keep your body in shape?

The Allstar break was more about getting rest for our team. I think we all tried to relax and get ready for the 2nd half of the season.

A tough first half for basketball club medi bayreuth. You guys started off great winning two of the first three games, but since then lost 12 of 14 games. How would you summarize the first half of the season?

Nobody on our team has experienced a season like this before. We got off to a good start and then we just started losing and dug ourselves into a hole. We lost and things just kept going downhill for us. It was a bad first half to the season and something we will not repeat.

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Brian Qvale (medi bayreuth) We Just Need To Keep Working Hard And Things Will Turn Around For Us.

Brian Qvale is a 25 year old 210cm center from Williston, North Dakota that is playing his first season in the Beko BBL with Medi bayreuth. He played at Montana (NCAA) from 2007-2011 playing a total of 116 NCAA games and in his senior year played 32 games: 14.9ppg, 8.8rpg, 3.0bpg, FGP: 62.6%, FT: 64.5%. In 2011-2012, he started his professional basketball career with Aliaga Petkim (Turkey-TBL): 32 games: 8.9ppg, 4.4rpg, FGP: 56.5%, FT: 58.3%. Last season he played for : Belfius Mons-Hainaut (Belgium-Ethias League, starting five): 31 games: 9.8ppg, Reb-4(6.1rpg), Blocks-2(1.1bpg), FGP-2(65.3%), FT: 66.7%; EuroChallenge: 6 games: 13.3ppg, 9.7rpg, 1.0apg, 1.7bpg, FGP: 71.1%, FT: 57.1%. He spoke to German Hoops before the game against SC Rasta Vechta.

Brian thanks for talking to German Hoops again. A tough 81-59 loss against Alba Berlin last weekend. After beating them the last two times in Bayreuth, Alba Berlin gave a spirited performance in a hostile enviroment. What were the main reasons for not being able to get the win?

They were a very physical team and pushed us out of some things we were trying to do on offense. We just got into a hole early and were not able to get out of it.

You have seen the three best German teams this season with FC Bayern Munich, Bamberg and Berlin. Where would you rate the play of Alba Berlin compared to the other two teams? Are they at eye level with Munich and Bamberg?

I think they are all good teams that have deep rosters, play physical, and are talented. I think a game could go either way between those 3 teams.

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Medi Bayreuth Survive The Brick Battle As Brian Qvale Leads The Charge Past The Fraport Skyliners 74-67

The last time the Fraport Skyliners played an official game, FC Bayern Munich still wasn´t crowned Champions League winner they weren´t fretful at all of the chances of Borussia Dortmund to upset them, tennis ace Andy Murray was probably still having numerous Wimbeldon dreams of winning and Lebron James was pulling an Eddie Murphy from Beverly Hills Cop babling “lalalala I cant hear you” to any doubters about him ever being able to repeat as NBA champion which he did. All these events occurred after April 27^th the last official game of the Fraport Skyliners in the 2012-2013 season as they had to win on the last game day to stay in the league and did putting the Neckar Riesen Ludwigsburg in their place with a huge home victory. Fans now had to wait more than five months to get the ball bouncing again and the Fraport Skyliners didn´t have an easy place to start the new 2013-2014 season as they had to play at medi bayreuth one of the nastiest and loudest arenas in the Beko BBL. Since Bayreuth has returned to the Beko BBL, Frankfurt has a 1-2 record in the Oberfrankenhalle and even lost three years ago with a monster game by 2011 MVP Dashaum Wood who proclaimed the arena one of the loudest that he has played in Europe. The Fraport Skyliners opened the new season in Bayreuth losing a tough defensive battle that was dominated by bricks in the first half from both teams as neither could hit the ocean and as always a very loud crowd that made life difficult for the Fraport Skyliners. “It was an ugly first half for both teams. There are days where shots fall and days where they don´t. Nobody could any shots into the ocean and both teams were standing on the beach”, smiled ex Bamberg forward Beckham Wyrick. One of the match winners of the game was Brian Qvale who was gleaming after the game when asked about the home crowd. “I like the home crowd fans. It was a great atmosphere and they helped us the whole game. I am looking forward to playing all home games this season”, added Brian Qvale. “Even though it was an ugly game, our fans were always behind us. WE defended very hard and we don´t care if the game is pretty or ugly, but that in the end we get a win”, stressed medi Bayreuth guard Simon Schmitz.

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Can A New Name And Complete Predrag Krunic Lift medi bayreuth To Their First Playoff Appearance?

The glory days of Steiner Bayreuth and Michael Koch hoisting the Beko BBL title are a distant memory for the hardcore fans as well as breathing playoff air as the last time it was able to do that the walk man and listening to a Michael Jackson Bad cassette in the mall while doing some people gazing and seeing how many Madonna look a liikes one could count on your fingers was the game, a slew of German soccer legends like Lothar Matthaus, Rudi Voller or Jurgen Kinsmann were still looking but close to their first and only world cup title and the music trend acid was making its rounds following by the dance emergence in Europe and the grunge scene was only a few years away and already preparing for take off as the late 80´s were ending as was the high point of Bayreuth basketball. A long lull and dry spell followed as the club went through bankruptcy and falling into lower leagues until the reemergence of returning to the first German basketball league in 2010. In it´s first three years back in the top German basketball address, the club had some solid teams, but were unable to make noise in the playoffs due to a minimal budget and a continued heightening of the level of play in the Beko BBL. The club wants to change all that and after more than 20 years of feeling like wily coyote with their mouth foaming and foaming with hunger for being able to play in May, the club hopes to make that step this season. With a new name, a complete Predrag Krunic who is able to select his own roster this season unlike last season where he arrived as a fire fighter to douse the fire like he did in his Oldenburg tenure where he led the team to a title in 2009 and a stronger roster than in recent years, this could be the year where the club reaches the promised land for the first time. A new name could be that good luck charm and the name, resume and the intense eyes of sheer focus and desire to achieve success of Predrag Krunic could give Bayreuth fans this season something to forget their misery of certain departed players from last season and to pass their time before the Wagner games commence.

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Brian Qvale Seeking To Start A New Center Tradition For medi bayreuth

How many times does one hear the sad stories of how basketball players are unhappy in their surrounding area of play in Europe and then escape in sprint mode the torture of their new place of play like an enthusiastic New York Yankees fan has to flee Fenway park that had visited a weekend series in Boston and seen his team swept in rude fashion. However these type of horror stories of only running cold water, no internet, irregular payment or having to practice sign language with the head coach because he doesn´t speak English doesn´t happen in the well known German Beko BBL. All a basketball player wants and needs is to feel comfortable in his surrounding so he can do his job on the court successfully without any outside distractions. When you look at 24 year old new medi bayreuth center Brian Qvale who stands 208cm and weighs 107 kilos, it becomes apparent quite quickly that he has found a new home in the Bavarian city. His wishes to be happy in his new home Bayreuth are not as bizarre as Fast Times at Ringemont High character Jeff Suppcoli played by legendary Hollywood actor Sean Penn who marvels in the last scene in a convenient store “All I need are some tasty waves, cool buzz and I m fine”. Qvale has the picturesque Fichtel mountains only 20 minutes away that look as if he is back home in Lolo, Montana, has his companion and lovely wife Misty along for the ride, his new dog Turk that they got during their stay in Turkey and what better way to name their dog for their fond memories of his time as a rookie with Aliaga Petkim and he can always eat his favorite food pizza at the best pizza place in Bayreuth Pizza Ria. The eyes of the North Dakota native that now has a home in Montana sparkle when asked about his homeland and with his knowledge and love for his state, he probably not only could be a tourist guide in North Dakota, but could even moonlight as a tourist guide in Bayreuth since it reminds him so much of home. The fact that North Dakota at the moment is the least visited state in the United States doesn´t bother his optimisum that business will pick up. “There are a few nice state parks, Lake Sacacawea and the Missouri river. Right now my state is going through a giant oil boom so everyone is coming there to work and make good money”, said Brian Qvale.

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