CSKA — UNICS, 15 December 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

The rivals have already met this season, and the hosts took over in the capital of Tatarstan. In fact, at the moment the Muscovites were far from the optimal roster and from the optimal form. Now CSKA looks more like itself, but UNICS is also going through the tournament confidently, having won seven out of the previous nine Euroleague games.

The Army Men coaching staff again has a full set of players – there are no sick or injured. Only Andrei Lopatin and Alexander Khomenko, who helped CSKA-2 to defeat Khimki, were absent from training on Monday.

REFEREES

Daniel Hierezuelo (Spain, Crew Chief), Emin Mogulkoc (Turkey), Joseph Bissang (France).

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

UNICS is playing good, the have good chemistry, they are winning games, they are versatile, playing big ball, small ball, they are very competitive team. Though I can say the same about our team. It's important that we have our injured players back, we are working together, that helps the team. It's important that we breathe healthy as a team, players have concrete roles and they support each other.

Ivan Ukhov, CSKA guard:

The mood is excellent. Finally, we are preparing in full force, all the injured have recovered. We are in the stage of searching for the game that we want to see in the future, trying to polish all our set plays. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes we have mistakes, we are trying to find a balance. We play against UNICS often, this is a fast team, runs the floor well, shoots many three-pointers, and not only as a result of team actions, but also in fast breaks. It is necessary to stop them in this component, not to let them find a rhythm.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in four of his last five games.

Voigtmann has recorded double-digit PIRs in six of his last seven games.

Marius Grigonis has made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

Grigonis is ranked third all-time in free throw accuracy at 92.1%.

Will Clyburn has made 14 consecutive free throws.

Clyburn ranks sixth this season in scoring with 15.5 per game.

Shved ranks 10th all-time in scoring with 2,897 points. Jan Vesely of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is ninth with 2,910 and counting.

Shved is seventh all-time with 440 three-point shots made for his career. Milos Teodosic is sixth with 471.

Shved is in 11th place all-time with 595 free throws made for his career. Mike James of AS Monaco is 10th with 600 and counting.

Shved is tied for eighth this season in assists with 4.4 per game. He ranks 13th on the all-time charts with 843 assists. Nando De Colo is 12th with 850 and counting.

Milutinov ranks seventh on the all-time list with 481 offensive rebounds. Jan Vesely of Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul is fifth with 502 and counting.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins-losses: 81-21

CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)

Game of 2021-22 Season:

VTB League Regular Season:

07-Nov-2021. UNICS – CSKA: 69-64 (-5)

SHORT DOSSIER

UNICS Kazan

Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011),
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004),
- 4-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007),
- 6-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 3-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012, 2016)