Essengue and Saraf Watch: Ulm 3-0 in EuroCup

ratiopharm ulm improved to 3-0 in the BKT EuroCup. Ben Saraf does a good job not forcing things and Noa Essengue shines on defense

ratiopharm ulm have not lost this season through three games in each the BKT EuroCup and easyCredit BBL. Taking The Charge has been looking at Ulm’s teenage duo of Ben Saraf and Noa Essengue all season with the Essengue and Saraf Watch. Here is what they did against the Lithuanians Wolves Twinsbet Vilnius.

Ulm were playing the first game of a massive road trip that will take them after this game to Bamberg, Istanbul, Portland (for an exhibition game against NBA side Portland Trail Blazers), Oldenburg and Gran Canaria before finally playing again at home on October 26.

Saraf finished the game with 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting (1/3 threes) and 1 of 2 free throws, 3 rebounds 7 assists and 1 block. Essengue totalled 4 points on 1 of 4 shooting (0/2 threes) and 2 of 6 free throws, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals and 2 blocks.

Saraf started the game once again and just over a minute into the game he fed Philipp Herkenhoff for an open triple that did not fall. Two trips later, Isaiah Roby could not connect on a three-ball which would have been a Saraf assist. Saraf did a good job finding Roby in the far corner for another triple attempt but the big man missed another long shot.

Saraf decided to call his own number and hit a jumper at the free throw line and then drove to the baseline and kicked to the far right wing where Nelson Weidemann buried a triple. The Israeli continued to be all over the offense and buried a three-pointer to give Ulm their first lead 11-10.

Saraf was hit for his first foul with just more than 3 minutes left in the first frame, resulting in a three-point play by Jeffrey Taylor. Just before exiting the game wiht 2:41 minutes left in the first quarter, Saraf delivered a nice look away pass to Nicolas Bretzel.

Saraf came back on with 7:19 minutes in the second frame. He had a nice pass over the defense to Roby for an inside layup. Saraf then shined for the first time on defense, blocking Jeffrey Taylor’s shot.

Midway through the second quarter, Saraf drove the length of the court and then tried a tough layup but could not convert. The playmaker picked up his second foul with 5:12 minutes to go in the first half.

Saraf had another fine crosscourt pass, looking over the zone to find a wide-open Herkenhoff for the three-pointer. The next time down Saraf got the Wolves big man on him but could not knock down the triple.

Saraf showed his offensive scoring potential with some nice footwork in putting Garrison Brooks on ice skates for a jumper. But at the other end, Saraf fouled Andrew Andrews for his third foul with 3:15 minutes left in the first half.

He came back on with 3:12 minutes left in the third quarter. His first action of note was an inbounds pass to Jessup, who buried the three-pointer. Saraf missed a layup attempt the next time down and then was off-target on a step-back three-pointer.

Saraf racked up another assist as he found Alfonso Plummer off the curl for a three-pointer.

Saraf remained on the court for the rest of the quarter and then was docked for a fourth foul with 9:08 minutes left in the game.

He stayed on the court and fed Herkenhoff nicely for a layup and then was fouled on the break the next time down. Saraf went to 9 points with an inside score after a pass from Plummer. And he exited with 7:34 minutes to go.

Saraf returned with 6:31 minutes left but was back out 17 seconds later. Head coach Ty Harrelson was saving Saraf as much as he could and he came back on with 4:27 minutes to go and Saraf grabbed an offensive rebound and turned it into a free throw, leaving after the foul shot. He ended up fouling out with 57 seconds remaining in the game.

CONCLUSIONS: Saraf could have been a bit more careful with his foul trouble, but head coach Ty Harrelson did a good job getting as much out of him as possible in the fourth quarter. The Israeli was very good distributing the ball - he could have had more like 10-11 assists had some of his teammates knock down their open looks. Saraf also was a bit more controlled calling his own number. He really didn’t force too much in that regard, really just one or two occasions after up to three or four usually. This upcoming rest trip will be a great opportunity for him to learn how to deal with adversity in terms of a tired body due to all the travel.

Essengue came into the game at the 5:50 minute mark of the first quarter. He didn’t really stand out with a missed three-pointer and an offensive rebound in the final minute of the period.

A minute into the second quarter, Essengue threw up a bad three-point miss, being called to the bench shortly thereafter with 8:24 minutes left in the second quarter.

The Frenchman re-entered the game with 4:00 minutes to go in the first half. He did a good job keeping an offensive possession alive by tipping back a rebound.

Essengue started the second half on the court. Two minutes into the third quarter, he grabbed the defensive rebound, raced up court and slalomed through defenders and laid it in.

A minute later, Essengue caught a high alley-oop pass from Justinian Jessup but could not put it in and after grabbing his own miss, the youngster could not score. Essengue did benefit from a turnover later as he was credited with the steal.

Essengue learned a lesson on defense around the 4 minute mark, cheating off the corner three man and then having to race back out and picked up the call.

At the other end, he did a good job diving to the basket on a roll and was fouled - albeit he missed but foul shots. A couple of possessions later, Essengue again rolled to the basket after a pick and was fouled. The Frenchman again missed both free throws., but his hustle to the loose ball kept the ball in Ulm’s hands.

Essengue stayed on the court through the quarter break and returned to the foul line 2 minutes into the fourth quarter and finally made both foul shots.

The youngster was superb on the wing defending Tre’Shawn Thurman as he took a three-pointer. He grabbed another defensive rebound with 3 minutes to go. Essengue rose up high with 75 seconds to go and blocked Thurman.

CONCLUSION: Essengue, we all know, is not a shooter and that is probably his biggest weakness - other than his lack of physicality from simply not turning 18 until December. But the Frenchman really excelled defensively for Ulm against Wolves. He also did a good job grabbing tough rebounds or trying to tip balls to keep them alive.

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