Unfortunate start against Ulm

The injury-decimated Bayern Basketball team lost its opening game in the Bundesliga against Ulm in front of around 3,100 very loud fans in the Audi Dome, including club boss Herbert Hainer. The team of head coach Andrea Trinchieri had to pay tribute to the enormous efforts of a thin rotation with shaky legs the last minutes of regulation as well as in overtime. Against an almost complete Ulm squad, the Cup winners had only a short team available for well-known reasons. Driven by Hilliard (26 points), Rubit (18) and Thomas (20), the Bayern was ahead 50-39 (25th) after the break and again 83-77 in overtime. But in the last three minutes they couldn't make a shot and especially from distance (28%) there was a noticeable lack of energy.

On Thursday, the FCBB will play their EuroLeague opener in Tel Aviv before facing defending champions Bamberg at home in the Cup quarterfinals on Sunday.

Points per quarter Bayern - Ulm: 20-23, 23-12, 15-20, 17-20, 8-11.

Stats: - Two-points shooting: 60% (FCBB) // 57 % (Ulm); Three-point shooting: 28 % // 36 %; Free-throw shooting: 93 % // 61 %; Rebounds: 30 // 41; Assists: 15 // 24; Turnovers: 9 // 14.

Quotes:

Munich head coach, Andrea Trinchieri: „

We didn't play smart at the end. The game is defined by details, and we didn't get them right at the crucial moments. But at the beginning of the season we have a lot of time and a lot of games to come back - and that's positive. Sooner or later we will have back the players who are missing today. We have to survive this moment and somehow get through it. We fought and came back. We forced over time even though we were dead tired, but we have to act smarter. (...) We controlled the game for 32, 33 minutes, but then lost concentration, lost confidence as well and made such bad mistakes on defense. That cost us the game. It became a game of mistakes. But when you have players who have to play 41 minutes, you can't ask for more. The mentality was good, but we should have supplemented that with more concentration."

Ulm head coach, Jaka Lakovic: "It was a great matchup. A very nice start to the season for the fans and the BBL. Having the fans back in the hall also meant a lot to the players. To start with a win in Munich is very good, although I'm not completely satisfied with the performance either. Because to be able to win consistently, we need to play even better together."

The Game:

Ognjen Jaramaz, Jason George, Nick Weiler-Babb, Augustine Rubit and Darrun Hilliard started as the emergency squad in the first must-win game of the 2021/22 season. At last, the Audi Dome was loud again - the spectators celebrated a lively and dynamic start from both teams as the lead changed several times. Rubit stopped an 8-0 run by Ulm with a three-point play at the seven-minute mark. Bayern got back on track, defended intensely and had an eye for the better-positioned man. Nevertheless, Ulm was just ahead after the first quarter - 23-20.

Hilliard ended the drought from distance with a three-pointer to equalize 25-25 (14th). Rubit followed up with six points in a row and was helped out with some nice passes from his teammates - time-out Ulm (31-27/16th). The FCBB defense tightened up and the lead grew to 37-29 (18.). The guests countered with two three-pointers, but the FCBB were on their guard and allowed only twelve Ulm points in the second quarter. FCBB coach Andrea Trinchieri's team took a clear lead into halftime - 43-35.

Hilliard sank a three-pointer at just the right time to make it 48-39 (24). Rubit was successful after a smooth defensive sequence for the first double-digit lead (50-39/24.). For their part, Ulm intensified their defense and cut the lead to 54-49 (27). The FCBB stayed calm and responded with stops on defense (58-49/28), but suddenly the guests were back and sank two threes, 58-55 after three quarters.

The first bucket for Bayern in the final came after almost two minutes as Jaramaz steered the three-pointer into the Ulm basket (61-58/32). Jaramaz created a stir in the back and in front, the Trinchieri squad maintained the lead (66-62/34). Hilliard played increasingly better but the game remained close (65-64/35th). Suddenly, however, Munich lost the thread of the game and committed a number of bad turnovers which were immediately converted by the visitors into a 7-0 run and the lead changed hands (71-69/36). Coach Trinchieri's time-out did not prevent another turnover and you can't score without the ball - Ulm, on the other hand, scored (75-71/39). Time was running out when Nick Weiler-Babb was fouled on his way to the basket while shooting and he hit both free throws (75-73/ 48 seconds left). Ulm missed a shot and Darrun Hilliard sunk a jumper to equalize at 75-75 - 3.9 seconds left on the clock.

The energy finally ran out three minutes before the end

Overtime started promisingly as Thomas converted the three-pointer, and after a bucket by Weiler-Babb immediately another one (83-77/42.). But Ulm's top scorer Christon held his own, and with two minutes left in overtime, Ulm was within one point (83-82). The energy was running out, the energy reserves were visibly depleted. The deeper-benched guests pulled away with a 9-0 run and led by three points (86-83/ 12 seconds left). Hilliard had two more chances to equalize, but the three-point attempts missed their target.

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Foto-Credit: Eirich,  Sampics