Looking for proofs

Our team landed on the Asian side of Istanbul to meet Fenerbahce, one of the biggest rivals in last years.

“Fenerbahce is a great team that has two additions in comparison to our last meeting,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “They signed Bennett and got Bogdanovic back after injury. They play in front of amazing crowd that pushes them all game long, adds energy and motivation. It is going to be a really tough game.”

Both teams will try to prove their superiority just another time. The Istanbul side is still affected by the loss in the Final Four in Berlin. The Army Men are looking to demonstrate that the failure in Moscow was just a coincidence, as well as to recover after not-so-good winter part of the season. The situation is complicated by the absences of key players. CSKA will face Fener with the same roster as the team had in last two games – without Milos Teodosic, Victor Khryapa, Pavel Korobkov and Ivan Lazarev.

Important numbers

Coach Itoudis has used 14 different players in his starting lineups so far this season; no player has started every game.

Nando De Colo has recorded a performance index rating in double figures in 44 of his last 45 EuroLeague games.

Nando De Colo ranks second in scoring this season with 18.8 points per game, and is also ranked second with an average performance index rating of 21.0.

De Colo is ranked first in EuroLeague history in free throw accuracy. He has made 92.91% of his free throws.

Nando De Colo needs 1 assist to reach 300 for his EuroLeague career.

Milos Teodosic has hit at least 1 three-pointer in 13 straight and 33 of his last 34 EuroLeague games.

Teodosic has dished at least 5 assists in 17 of his last 18 EuroLeague games.

Milos Teodosic ranks third all-time in assists with 1,043. Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos is in second place with 1,072 and counting.

Milos Teodosic leads the EuroLeague this season with 7.6 assists per game.

Milos Teodosic is fourth in scoring in the EuroLeague this season with 16.9 points per night, and is ranked fifth with 17.8 performance index rating.

Milos Teodosic is fourth on the all-time scoring charts with 2,593 points.

Victor Khryapa has 154 blocked shots in his EuroLeague career. He is fifth on the all-time list. Kyle Hines is sixth with 148 blocks.

Victor Khryapa has 224 steals and is tied with Jorge Garbajosa for eighth place on the all-time charts. Real Madrid forward Jonas Maciulis is seventh with 231 and counting.

Cory Higgins is the EuroLeague career leader among active, qualified players in three-point accuracy at 49.0%.

James Augustine is the EuroLeague career leader among active, qualified players in shooting accuracy at 66.46%.

Vitaly Fridzon is 2 steals away from reaching the century mark for his EuroLeague career.

Last week Kyle Hines became only the sixth man in competition history to reach 350 offensive rebounds for his EuroLeague career. Hines now has 354.

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 21-8

Short dossier

Fenerbahce-Ulker Istanbul, Turkey
Founded: 1913
Colors: yellow, dark-blue
Homecourt: Ulker Sports Arena (13800)
President: Azim Yildirim
Head coach: Zelimir Obradovic
Website: www.fenerbahce.org/fbulker/
Trophy case: Turkish champions (1991, 2007, 08, 10, 11, 14, 16), Turkish Cup winners (1967, 2010, 11, 13, 16), President’s Cup winners (1990, 91, 94, 2007, 13, 16)