For the lead
First or second
An unpleasant period for CSKA allowed its main competitors to benefit from it. UNICS was the first to take advantage of the situation. Six victories in a row allowed the Kazan team to take the lead in the standings from the Muscovites. Yes, in terms of the head-to-head meetings in the first round, the red-and-blue are still ahead, but the regulations of the United League at the intermediate stage prioritize the normal point difference.
Exactly a month ago these same teams met at the same place. After a good first half, the hosts were let down by the low percentage of the long-range shots and suffered from the outstanding performance of Dmitry Kulagin (27 points!). Thanks to this performance, Kulagin Sr. received the title of February MVP in the VTB League. Though, having received a trophy before the game with Loko, Dmitry did not finish this very game due to an ankle injury in the second quarter.
Newcomer is here
The red-blues did not stay long in St. Petersburg, returning to Moscow by charter flight immediately after the game. The rest was short: before the meeting with the Kazan team, the team held two full practice sessions, with the participation of Olivier Hanlan. On Monday, the Canadian was added to the VTB League roster.
“It is tough period of the season for us, but we continue believing in ourselves,” CSKA head coach Emil Rajkovic said. “It has to be a reaction from the team after recent losses, we desperately want to get back to the winning ways. UNICS looks impressive, they deservedly climbed to the top of the standings, so the game has even bigger importance. We work hard to improve our game and to embed our newcomer Olivier Hanlan into the team’s system. It is important to stick to our game plan and to use the energy of our fans who will hopefully fill the stands tomorrow.”
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 86-25
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 2023-24 VTB League Season:
23-Nov-2023. UNICS – CSKA: 66-79 (+13)
04-Feb-2023. CSKA – UNICS: 73-83 (-10)
Brief 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);
- VTB League and Russian champion (2023);
- 8-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021),
- 7-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2022),
- 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, 2021)
