Two sell outs within 48 hours - the Audi Dome has been buzzing for weeks: The historic Olympic Hall at Westpark has already been sold out twelve times this season, with a total of almost 13,000 fans supporting the Cup winners against Monaco and Ludwigsburg last weekend. Head coach Andrea Trinchieri's team will have to do without this support for the next three games next week, as they have to play three road games in a row, starting with the BBL team of the moment in Ulm this Tuesday evening.
Tip-off is at 19:00, MagentaSport will broadcast live as usual. On Thursday, the FCBB plays host to title contender Real Madrid in the EuroLeague and on Easter Monday in Würzburg. The next home game is the last EuroLeague game for this season against Lithuania's record champion Zalgiris Kaunas (April 14th, 20:30).
Gavel's team 8-2 in their last 10 games
The Ulm team, led by former FCBB championship captain Anton Gavel, have made significant changes to their squad over the course of the season and have now moved up the standings with good prospects of a playoff spot. After eight wins in their last ten games, they are seventh in the standings with a record of 14-11 all the while keeping an eye on sixth-placed local rivals Ludwigsburg (15-11). Ulm currently has two fewer losses than ninth-placed Rostock (13-13). Ulm finished third in the EuroCup in the regular season (11-7) and will face Podgorica in the round of 16.
Freddie Gillespie is the top rebounder in the BBL (Photo: Eirich)
Guard Yago dos Santos (14.0 ppg, 5.3 apg) and the two new signings Bruno Caboclo (15.5, 6.6 rpg), who like dos Santos is Brazilian, and Brandon Paul (11.3) lead Ulm's scoring, with FCBB talent, Karim Jallow (10.4) following closely behind. Bayern center Freddie Gillespie, the BBL's top rebounder with seven rebounds per game, will square up against the fourth-best in former NBA pro Caboclo In view of almost identical rebound stats for each team (FCBB 36.4 RpS, Ulm 36.2), the rebounding will certainly be of great importance in this southern Germany rivalry game.
Dos Santos is top scorer
Ulm recently won the important duel in Goettingen 108-101 in overtime last weekend and almost squandered a 76-46 lead (29th). The top scorer was playmaker dos Santos (24) ahead of power forward Joshua Hawley (21). National player Philipp Herkenhoff (6) made his comeback after being out for nearly a year due to injury.
The injury weakened Bayern squad for Ulm is hoping for some help as they are without several of their top players; Rubit (out for the season), Harris (back in training), Hunter and Winston (back injuries in each case). In Sunday's home win against LudwigsburgOgnjen Jaramaz was able to play his first minutes since recovering from appendicitis.