Ulm's basketball squad secures a series draw by triumphing over Bayern.
In the pulsating 2023 Bundesliga, ratiopharm Ulm has managed to slow down FC Bayern Munich's maiden title defense march, following a convincing 82:66 victory by Bayern just three days prior. The see-saw battle ended with a tense 79:64 triumph for Ulm, tying the Best-of-Five series at 1:1. Prior to this, Ulm's home defeat in the league dates back to mid-December 2022 against the Heidelberg MLP Academics.
The opening act saw Bayern exploding with three-pointers from Andreas Obst and Vladimir Lucic, yet Ulm valiantly fought back and seized the lead for the first time courtesy of their top scorer Karim Jallow (23 points) at 23:22 (12th minute). The game was an intense rollercoaster, with Ulm gaining momentum in the second half (53:42/26), even staging a captivating comeback in front of FCB President Herbert Hainer. Munich faltered, with twice as many misses and a struggling defense.
This victory comes at a cost, though, as Ulm might be playing the fourth and potentially fifth game with a reduced squad. The developing NBA draft situation puts their talents Noa Essengue (18) and Ben Saraf (19) in jeopardy, forcing them to miss games.
Amidst these circumstances, the BBL recently disclosed that Ulm had applied to expedite the playoff schedule in April. Unfortunately for Ulm, their fellow clubs declined the proposal, leaving them little room to negotiate. "Ultimately, we're caught between a rock and a hard place," BBL CEO Stefan Holz admitted in a "Dyn" interview during halftime.
There's a strong possibility that Ulm requested a shorter playoff schedule to reduce player fatigue, avoid scheduling conflicts, and lower expenses. On the other hand, the rejection by other clubs may be due to their preference for the traditional format, revenue considerations, competitive balance concerns, and the fan experience. These factors are common themes in professional basketball playoff decisions, although precise details on Ulm's 2023 request and its rejection would require direct statements from BBL or Ulm's management.
Ulm's basketball team found success against the odds, securing a victory over Bayern despite the potential absence of upcoming NBA draftees Noa Essengue and Ben Saraf in their squad. Amidst calls to expedite the playoff schedule, the BBL controversially refused their request, leaving Ulm with a challenging schedule ahead in the pulsating 2023 Bundesliga season.
