Mitteldeutscher BC

Louis Hinnant (MBC): Troy Bell Told Me That By Game 4 You Will Be Starting And Low And Behold I Did

Louis Hinnant is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Gwynn Park/Oxon Hill,Maryland that recently joined the Mitteldeutscher BC. He played at Boston College from 2002-2005. In his senior year, he played 36 games: 7.5ppg, 2.8rpg, 4.6apg, FG: 48.4%, 3PT: 43%, FT: 69.1%. He reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006. In 2006-2007, he started his professional basketball career with Sundsvall Dragons (Sweden-Basketligan, starting five): 22 games: 16.0ppg, 3.8rpg, 4.9apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 38.0%, FT: 74.1%. In 2007-2008, he played for Joensuun Kataja (Finland-Korisliiga, starting five): 41 games: 18.0ppg, 5.3rpg, Assists-2(4.4apg), 1.5spg, FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 35.1%, FT: 87.5%. He then played for Zalakeramia-ZTE KK (Hungary) from 2008-2010 winning the league title and cup in 2010. Last season, he played for Kryvbasbasket-Lux Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine-Superleague)playing  13 games: 10.2ppg, 2.4rpg, 3.7apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 27.3%, FT: 71.7%. This season, he started off with Anwil Wloclawek (Poland) but left in Oct.’11, in Dec.’11 moved to Khimik-OPZ Yuzny, but left the same month. He spoke to German Hoops about basketball.

Welcome to Germany. You signed for the German team MBC. What were the main reasons for coming to Germany?

Germany “generally” provides a more stable surrounding than a lot of other countries as far as sports and the economy are concerned. Not being in so “stable” situations in the past really wore on me, and I wanted to get back to stability.

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A Conversation With Marcus Smallwood (MBC)

Marcus Smallwood is a 29 year 198cm forward playing his first season with the Mitteldeutscher BC. He is from Elgin, Illinois and played at Northern Illinois from 2000-2004. He came to Europe for his rookie season and played for Ostromecko Astoria Bydgoszcz (Poland-EBL): 4 games: 9.5ppg, 9.0rpg: was released in and later that month signed at Pyrbasket Tampere (Finland-Sparliiga): 6 games: 13.5ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.2bpg, FGP: 59%, and also played shortly at Solna Vikings (Sweden-Basketligan): 3 games: 8.3ppg, 5.3rpg, 1.0bpg. The next season, he played in Finland for Forssan Koripojat (Finland-1st Division, starting five): 26 games: 19.7ppg, Reb-2(11.1rpg), 1.3apg, 1.0spg, Blocks-1(1.4bpg), 2FGP-3(64.1%), 3PT: 31.6%, FT: 56.2%. 2006: Elgin Racers (IBL). He had a very strong season in Finland, but surprisingly in the next few years played only briefly in the IBL for the Elgin Racers. He played for the Saar-Pfalz Braves (Germany-ProA) from 2008-2010 and in 2009-2010,he played 30 games: 14.5ppg, Reb-2(9.5rpg), 1.1apg, FGP: 62.8%, FT: 49.0%.Last season, he played for Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA, starting five): 9 games: 12.6ppg, 10.9rpg, 1.6apg, FGP: 51.6%, FT: 52.8%; in Dec.’10 moved to VfL Kirchheim Knights (Germany-ProA, starting five): 20 games: 15.7ppg, Reb-1(10.8rpg), Blocks-2(2.1bpg). He spoke to German Hoops over the summer about basketball.

So many players the last years have had difficulty finding jobs, because the market has been so tough. You got ajob with MBC in mid July this year. How did the off season search for a team go? Did you have many other offers besides MBC?

Well I was very fortunate to have interest from some other clubs including some outside of Germany, but to be honest when I learned I might have a chance to play for MBC that instantly became the offer I wanted the most.

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Michael Hakim Jordan: I HAVE To Win! I NEED To Win!

34 year old Michael Jordan is a 183cm guard from Philadelphia. He played at the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 2000. His first two years found him jumping around leagues in France and Spain before he found a new home in Germany with TSV Quackenbruck. In the 2002-2003 season, he helped lead Quackenbruck into the BBL with exceptional stats in 30 games, 21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg. He helped turn The Artland Dragons into a playoff team in the 2004-2005 season as they lost the BBL Quarterfinal playoff series to The Opel Skyliners in five games. That season he averaged in 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.4rpg, Ast-1(6.4apg), 1.3spg, 2.6bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 31.3%. The next season, he was released by The Artland Drgaons, but went to Rhein Energie Cologne and won the BBL championship in 2006 averaging in 33 games: 9.8ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-4(4.1apg), 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 52.2%. The next season, he went to Italy and played at Cantu where he led the league in assists and averaged in 37 games: 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-1(5.2apg), 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 74.0%. The next season, he played in Belgium for Charleroi averaging in 15 games: 9.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 90.0%;. He had injury problems and finished the season in Greece with PAOK. In 2008-2009 after a very short stay in Israel, he played a few months in Bamberg before going to the Cologne 99ers averaging 10,5ppg, 2,4rpg and leading the BBL in assists with 6,2apg. In 2009-2010, he played for Phoenix Hagen helping the team remain in the BEKO BBL. He played 16 games: 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-5(5.3apg), FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 73.3%. Last season, he played for Mitteldeutscher BC Weissenfels (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 19 games: 9.3ppg, 1.9rpg, 4.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 50.0%, 3PT: 38.2%, FT: 80.6%; in Jan.’11 moved to LTi Giessen 46ers (Germany-1.Bundesliga, starting five): 14 games: 7.1ppg, 2.0rpg, 3.7apg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 42.9%, FT: 72.7%. Michael spoke to German Hoops about basketball and his current situation.

It is September now and your still unsigned. How surprised are you about this? Is the Market even tighter now then the last few years due to the lockout?

I’m really surprised because I thought I played well enough last year to earn a job for this season. I did what I was brought in to do you know? I guess The lockout plays a role, but still it’s a bit disappointing.

What are the biggest difficulties for Michael Jordan finding a team right now? I am sure your agent is working day and night to find you a team?
Honestly, If I knew I would feel better about the situation. My agent Refiloe Lethunya is doing what he can to get me a job. Just a little difficult at the moment and neither of us know why exactly. I have a few theories though.

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Aaron Cook (MBC): I Am In Love With The Full Court Bounce Pass!

Aaron Cook is a 27 year old 183cm guard from Randallstown, Maryland. He will be starting his first season in the German PRO A for the Mitteldeutscher BC. He played at Hartford (NCAA) from 2002-2006. He played a total of 114 NCAA games and in his senior year played 28 games: 16.4ppg, 4.2rpg, 2.5apg, 1.6spg, FG: 41.9%, 3PT: 39%, FT: 76.6%. In 2006-2007, he started his professional basketball career in the States for the Butte Daredevils (CBA) 35 games: 13.7ppg, 3.5rpg, Assists-2(6.4apg), 1.8spg, FGP: 44.8%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 71.6%. In 2007-2008, he moved to Europe to play for Atlas Stal Ostrow Wielkopolski (Poland-DBE, starting five): 10 games: 5.5ppg, 1.0rpg, 1.1apg, FGP-3(64.7%), 3PT: 44.0%, in Dec.’08 moved to Gothia Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) 18 games: 12.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 4.9apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 41.2%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 59.1%. In 2008-2009, he played for the Vermont Frost Heaves (PBL, starting five): 17 games: 10.9ppg, 4.1rpg, 3.1apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 45.5%, 3PT: 34.9%, FT: 73.5%. Last season, he played for the Cuxhaven BasCats (Germany-ProA, starting five): 15 games: 17.2ppg, 4.9rpg, Assists-1(6.6apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 73.0%.He spoke German Hoops about basketball and MBC.
You will be starting your 6th professional basketball season. How was the signing process this season? The market has gotten alot tougher in last years. Did you have many more offers than just MBC?

The signing process i thought went well for me. I am happy with the outcome. I had drew some BBL attention but didnt receive any offers.

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Eye To Eye With Michael Hakim Jordan(Giessen 46ers)

33 year old Michael Jordan is a 183cm guard from Philadelphia. He played at the University of Pennsylvania graduating in 2000. His first two years found him jumping around leagues in France and Spain before he found a new home in Germany with TSV Quackenbruck. In the 2002-2003 season, he helped lead Quackenbruck into the BBL with exceptional stats in 30 games, 21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 6.9 apg. He helped turn The Artland Dragons into a playoff team in the 2004-2005 season as they lost the BBL Quarterfinal playoff series to The Opel Skyliners in five games. That season he averaged in 34 games: 11.1ppg, 3.4rpg, Ast-1(6.4apg), 1.3spg, 2.6bpg, 2FGP: 52.5%, 3FGP: 31.3%. The next season, he was released by The Artland Drgaons, but went to Rhein Energie Cologne and won the BBL championship in 2006 averaging in 33 games: 9.8ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-4(4.1apg), 1.0spg, 2FGP: 45.3%, 3PT: 40.3%, FT: 52.2%. The next season, he went to Italy and played at Cantu where he led the league in assists and averaged in 37 games: 13.8ppg, 2.7rpg, Assists-1(5.2apg), 2.0spg, 2FGP: 54.6%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 74.0%. The next season, he played in Belgium for Charleroi averaging in15 games: 9.5ppg, 1.6rpg, 3.6apg, 1.0spg, 2FGP: 56.0%, 3PT: 36.0%, FT: 90.0%;. He had injury problems and finished the season in Greece with PAOK. In 2008-2009 after a very short stay in Israel, he played a few months in Bamberg before going to the Cologne 99ers averaging 10,5ppg, 2,4rpg and leading the BBL in assists with 6,2apg. Last season, he played for Phoenix Hagen helping the team remain in the BEKO BBL. He played 16 games: 8.9ppg, 2.3rpg, Assists-5(5.3apg), FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 32.5%, FT: 73.3%. This season he played for MBC averaging 9,3ppg, 1,9rpg and 4,3apg before moving on to the Giessen 46ers. He spoke to German Hoops about his new home Giessen recently.

MJ you are like a fireman. Any place where there is a fire, you go there and put it out. Last season you came to Phoenix Hagen stopped a long losing streak by winning three games in a row.

I just try to do whatever I can to help a team win. The record of Giessen just doesnt reflect how good they are. I just try to put the ball in the hole and lead it toward the hole

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Ronald Ross (MBC Wolves): Like Old Coach Bob Knight Always Told Me, Victory Always Favors The Team With The Fewest Mistakes

Ronald Ross is a 27 year old 188cm guard playing his first season for MBC. He is originally from Hobbs New Mexico and played at Texas Tech from 2001-2005. In his senior year, he averaged 17.5ppg, 5.5rpg, 3.0apg, 2.6spg, FGP: 51.9%, 3Pts: 43% and reached the NCA Sweet 16. He started his professional career with Univer Castelletto Ticino (Italy-Lega2) and then moved on to the CBA in 2006-2007 for Butte Daredevils playing 48 games averaging 15.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.8apg, Steals-2(2.4spg), FGP: 49%, 3PT: 29.4%, FT: 74.2% and in 2007 for the Albany Patroons (USBL, starting five) playing 21 games: Score-3(17.4ppg), 3.0rpg, Assists-4(4.0apg), Steals-1(2.5spg), FGP: 47.6%, 3FGP: 41.4%, FT: 84.2%. In 2007-2008, he played 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% reaching the cup final in 2008. In 2008-2009 he started in Israel before moving on to the Artland Dragons playing 12 games and averaging 15.8ppg, 3.3rpg, 4.0apg, 2.0spg, FGP: 59.0%, 3PT: 57.1%, FT: 70.0%. Last season for the Artland Dragons, he played 12 games: 10.8ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.1apg, FGP: 56.9%, 3PT: 18.8%, FT: 83.0%; German League: 32 games: 11.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 52.4%, 3PT: 27.1%, FT: 75.7%. He spoke to German Hoops concerning the 2011 beko BBL Top 4 in Bamberg.

How is the mood in the team of MBC after the Frankfurt loss? I guess the best news is that BBC Bayreuth also lost?

Mood is not the greatest because I would have loved to win, but my mood is not the worst.

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Dashaun Wood Is The Sun As He Drives The MBC Wolves Back Into Their Den As The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Prevail 70-58 On The Road

When checking out the Looney Tunes, there is absolutely no surprise that the roadrunner never gets captured and eaten by the motivated Wile E coyote, because the bird is too quick and too smart. In Weissenfels, The Deutsche Bank Skyliners were looking to start  a new winning streak and were up against a torn and tattered  Mitteldeutscher BC squad. The scenario on the floor was similar to Looney Tunes as Dashaun “mr roadrunner” had to put up with pesky wolves all night long, but the current leading scorer in the BEKO BBL had the hoop in front of him at most instances and the MBC wolves behind him as he led Frankfurt to the 70-58 win and had no problems getting the wolf pack to retreat back to their dens. “I was the sun. When the sun rises, wolves go away. I was slowly rising in the second half and when I made the last of the floaters, I had reached the top. There was no more howling from the wolves and they went back to their caves”, laughed Dashaun Wood. Quantez Robertson was glad that Wood was on his side. “The wolves were unable to catch up to him. Wood howled like crazy which the wolves didn´t like”, smiled Quantez Robertson. “Wood was a very hot sun that was burning”, added Kimmo Muurinen. Wood was as unstoppable as a tiger tearing apart an antelope on a barren field in Africa, and the way Kemba Walker has been leading UCONN to the 2011 NCAA Final 4. “Wood is the heart and soul of team. He is most comfortable when he can do what he wants. The difference between him and other players is that he is consistent and gets the job done”, added Ronald Ross.

The Deutsche Bank Skyliners had had  a tough time digesting the 79-70l oss to 8 time BEKO BBL champion Alba Berlin last weekend and one might of expected that Frankfurt would jump out on MBC early, but instead they were trailing as the home team was desperate to win and get out of the BEKO BBL cellar. Frankfurt surprisingly had a tougher time with the 16th ranked MBC squad, but in the end a win is a win no matter if it was pretty or butt ugly. “I have said all year long that any win on the road is big. Drums were playing and it was harsh environment, but as soon as we got control, they had a tough time coming back. No team is easy in this league as each team can win against anyone. It is important that we continue to bounce back after losses”, stressed Dashaun Wood. MBC lost their fifth game in a row and continue to drown at the bottom of the standings. “This was a very disappointing loss. We practiced well this week, but let the game get away in the third quarter. We couldn´t get flow going the way we needed too”, added MBC guard Ronald Ross. “This wasn´t a pretty win. We found a way to pick up our intensity in the second half, played more aggressive defense and limited them to one shot”, added Quantez Robertson.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Look To Survive a Hungry MBC Team Who Want To Find A Few More Late Season Highlights and Remain In The BEKO BBL

After the refreshing relaunch by MBC Last Season in the BEKO BBL where the team combined heart, effort and luck to a 1oth place finish and near playoff appearance, fans were looking to build on the success of last season this year, but their sophomore season back in the big show has felt more like a rough earthquake while scrambling  not to fall into the earth. The team has been struck by injuries, lost coach Bjoern Harmsen for an extended period of time due to sickness and recently announced that he will miss the remainder of the season and had to say good bye to top players Jerome Tillmann, Michael Jordan and Richard Schields who were responsible for scoring, scoring, scoring and leadership. This season has been a nasty nightmare as the club seems to have been as unlucky as Charlie Sheen where the big suits upstairs from Two And A half men no longer put up with his personal theater and drama, Cavalier fans having to explain a 13-53 season and no more Lebron James and BEKO BBL team Walter Tigers Tuebingen were last week losing to The Deutsche Bank Skyliners leading for 36 minutes and then getting pierced through their hearts with a white dagger as they lost and their playoffs hopes sunk a bit more deeper into the Ammer river. With so much misfortune happening this season to MBC, the team may have to hope for many four leaf clovers and much wolf support in the arena as top team The Deutsche Bank Skyliners arrive March 26th for a late season duel at 19:30. “Yes it has been a tough season for them and it is tough to imagine what they are going through. They still are in most games but when you have that many changes in a season I am sure it is tough to find a good chemistry and get players on the same page all the time. It also hurts confidence, but at this level, you cant hold on for things too long because you have to find a way to play the next week just as hard and you have to have short memory playing the game of basketball”, stressed TBB Trier guard John Bynum.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Keep The Face Of Michael Jordan Stone Cold Ripping Apart The MBC Wolves 83-52

The choice of having the Michael Jordan wolf like sneer or his gregarious smile is either way never really a positive experience. When he has his game face on, he can sneer and probably even scare Ratiopharm Ulm big man John Bryant and when he has his lovable smile which could probably even brighten up the darkest alley in Liverpool, which means that he is most likely undergoing a very beneficial situation on the court. However at the end of 40 minutes in the Ballsporthalle, Jordan left the court as his sneer had simply been ignored by Frankfurt as if it had lost value the same way the dollar has the last years and his usuall cheerful big smile had been replaced by a stone cold expression as if his Denver Broncos had just lost the Superbowl 55-0 as The Deutsche Bank Skyliners took apart MBC 83-52 after having lost in Berlin and in Eurochallenge play. “I had a blank stare on my face. It is just very frustrating to get spanked two weeks in a row. Basketball is a game of runs and they made two of them and we weren´t up to the challenge. There were times where they got a loose ball and easy basket or a hand on a ball leading up to a basket. You can´t allow a good team like Frankfurt so many second chances”, stressed Michael Jordan. “Jordan didn´t really have anything to smile about after this loss. But that is normal. Has we won, then he would of showed his big smile”, added Ronald Ross. Frankfurt didn´t play perfect for 40 minutes, but managed to win by 31 points. “We played great for three quarters. We had too many turnovers in the second quarter. We have to minimize our mistakes. We held them to under 60 points and anytime we do that we will always have good chances to win”, commented Skyliner guard Dashaun Wood.
Despite the cold weather in Frankfurt which has felt as cold or colder as experiencing a slay ride in a blizzard in Siberia, hanging out in a refrigerator that has +2c when its really -9c in downtown Leipzig, or challenging the local Eskimos to a fishing contest on the north pole, but the MBC Wolves seemed not be comfortable in the very much warmer Ballsporthalle as they seemed very lonely away from their dens in the lonely woods of Weissenfels. “I dont think the warmer weather really effected us. This was a great opportunity  for us to get over the hump, but Frankfurt kept the wolve sin their holes and we just couldn´t adjust”, warned ex Artland Dragon Ronald Ross.. For Michael Jordan playing in warm areas has been nothing new to him. “The heat didn´t distract us at all. Wolves like the cold, but I hav eplayed in many warm arenas. I remember when I was playing in Cologne, Marcin Gortat always kept pushing to turn down the hot lights. I love it warm”, stressed Michael Jordan.

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The Deutsche Bank Skyliners Will probably Desire the Wolf Sneer of Michael Jordan Rather Than His Colgate Smile As They Meet MBC On December 4th

When the MBC Wolves come in packs to the Ballsporthalle, the Deutsche Bank Skyliners will possibly have the choice of experiencing the aggressive wolf sneer of Michael hakim Jordan or his gregarious giant lovable smile that could melt ten feet of snow in the dead of winter in Winnipeg, Manitoba, get a weak, but positive smile from pro football player Terell Brown who is forced to diet on Thanksgiving and watch his teammates snack on a Turkey and spare ribs or even have the rare raw talent of getting a quick grin from the German politicians who were insulted in Wikipedia. Either way Jordan will be able to put on his competitive wolf sneer or model his irresistible and charming smile and will still play his typical hard game and be the strong MBC floor general that he has been this season leading the wolf attack. But current BEKO BBL players see the wolf sneer as possibly the better choice of attack form Jordan. “I think that any time when Jordan is on the court that his wolf sneer would be the better bet for Frankfurt. Because anytime when he is smiling with all those white teeth then means things are going well for him”, warned TBB Trier guard John Bynum. When Jordan was with Cologne in 2006, he flashed those whitey whites for days after the team won the title and players remember when Jordan uses his choppers to show the world he has had success. “For the sake of Frankfurt, they better hope that Jordan plays with the wolf sneer, because if he is smiling then it means that he is winning”, stressed ex Phoenix Hagen teammate Quentin Pryor.
MBC left the BEKO BBL in 2004 and returned back in 2009. For even the most dedicated MBC fans. five years of inactivity from the highest German Basketball league may have felt like five years without your favourite beer, or for a child being able to go into a candy store, but not grab for their favourite candy. How tough must it have been for the organization and fans in 2004 to win the prestigious Fiba Europe Cup against JDA Dijon 84-68 not losing  a single game in international play and a short time later have to learn that they would have to stop their successful run in the BBL due to bankruptcy.” I remember watching the Eurocup final in 2004. I am happy that MBC is back and it is nice to see how well a job young coach Bjorn Harmsen is doing. It is a special team that is playing with a lot of emotion and energy. It is refreshing to see that 10 players are sharing minutes, scoring and rebounding”, stressed Murat Didin.

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