After 16 years

Our team gets back to Podgorica after long absence.

Pre-game breakdown

Buducnost did not compete on European top level since 2001-02 season. The team won the Adriatic League last season and earned the right to play in the EuroLeague.

The Montenegrins set the EuroLeague all-time record by making 21 three-pointers against Baskonia last week.

In the previous meeting of two teams, on Jan 10, 2002, CSKA forward Mirsad Turkcan set the EuroLeague all-time rebounding mark – 23. Only Antonis Fotsis from Dynamo Moscow was able to rebound more (24) in the game in 2007.

The Army Men followed their standard routing by having practice at noon before departure. The training included recovery drills, shooting and tactics.

14 players boarded Aeroflot charter flight. Only Andrey Lopatin stayed in Moscow with the second team.

Pre-game quotes

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

We play back-to-back games and, moreover, we played overtime yesterday. It will be difficult because Buducnost plays with greater motivation at home. We have to use their weaknesses and turn them into our advantages, but we also have to remember about their strengths. Gordic is running the game for them, they also have Clarke and Clark spreading the floor, Jackson who is great one-on-one player, Omic who plays on the block and off pick-n-rolls, they have good number of quality players coming off the bench. We have to control our emotion and physical load, and be ready for another difficult game.

Nikita Kurbanov, CSKA forward:

It’s a double-week in the EuroLeague, which is not easy for all teams. We had not much time to prepare so we need to be extremely focused during the game. Buducnost plays great at home, they set the three-pointers record recently, so we are very serious in our approach to the game.

“Relativity” connections

Not found.

Important numbers

Andrei Lopatin is the only player on the CSKA roster without previous EuroLeague experience.

Sergio Rodriguez has hit at least 1 three-point shot in each of his last 15 EuroLeague games.

Sergio Rodriguez is fifth in EuroLeague history with 979 career assists. Barcelona point guard Thomas Heurtel is fourth with 1,051 assists and counting.

Cory Higgins has scored in double figures in 15 consecutive EuroLeague games.

Cory Higgins is ranked fourth in the league in scoring this season with 17.1 points per game.

Alec Peters has made multiple three-pointers in five of his last six games. He is shooting 16 for 27 from downtown (59.3%) over that stretch.

De Colo is the EuroLeague career leader in free throw accuracy at 93.78%.

Will Clyburn leads the league in rebounding with 7.8 per game.

Kyle Hines is ranked fourth in EuroLeague history with 189 blocked shots. Ioannis Bourousis is third with 194 blocks.

Hines is 7 points shy of reaching the 2,000-point milestone for his EuroLeague career.

Hines is ranked 12th in competition history with 1,053 rebounds. Former teammate Victor Khryapa is ranked 11th with 1,070 boards.

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 2-0

2001-02 – Euroleague. Regular season. CSKA – Buducnost: 88-83 (+6)
2001-02 – Euroleague. Regular season. Buducnost – CSKA: 72-103 (+31)

Short dossier

Buducnost Voli Podgorica, Montenegro
Founded: 1949
Colors: blue, silver, white
Home court: Morača Sports Center (15.000)
President: Dragan Bokan
Head coach: Alexandar Djikic
Website: www.kkbuducnost.me
Trophy case: Adriatic League champion (2018), 9-time Montenegrin champion (2007-13, 2016-17), 11-time Montenegrin Cup winner (2007-12, 2014-18), 3-time Serbia and Montenegro champion (1999, 2000, 2001), 3-time Serbia and Montenegro Cup winner (1996, 98, 2001)