Behind the wheel on Volga

Our team visits Nizhny Novgorod as a favorite of the VTB League semifinal series. CSKA is up 2-0 and dream of qualifying to the finals.

“We still need one more win and we face a good team which will try to react on its court,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “But we know the way and we will do our best. Nothing is given in our life, you need to work hard to achieve something so we will stay focused and motivated.”

The Army Men went to Nizhny by OrenAir charter flight after traditional afternoon practice. The team will have a shootaround in the morning on the Palace of Sports floor.

“Relativity” connections

Nizhny Novgorod Club’s Board Director Sergey Panov played for CSKA during 10 seasons (1994-2000, 2002-06). He was the team’s captain in his second stint.

CSKA forward Pavel Korobkov spent the previous two seasons playing for Nizhny Novgorod.

The Army Men athletic trainer Evgeny Burin worked for Nizhny from 2010 to 2012.

Dimitriy Khvostov was a teammate of CSKA Moscow guard Vitaly Fridzon at Khimki Moscow Region from 2011 through 2013.

Dmitry Golovin played for CSKA-2 from 2005 to 2007.

Past matchups

Win-loss record: 12-2
03.01.2011. BEKO PBL: N.Novgorod – CSKA: 60-95 (+35)
22.01.2011. BEKO PBL: CSKA – N.Novgorod: 85-53 (+35)
13.04.2011. BEKO PBL: N.Novgorod – CSKA: 94-89 ОТ (-5)
06.09.2011. BEKO PBL: N.Novgorod – CSKA: 62-79 (+17)
01.04.2011. BEKO PBL: CSKA – N.Novgorod: 97-53 (+44)
02.12.2012. VTB United League. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 83-60 (+23)
03.03.2013. VTB United League. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 70-68 (-2)
09.06.2014. VTB United League. Finals. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 54-65 (+11)
10.06.2014. VTB United League. Finals. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 59-86 (+27)
13.06.2014. VTB United League. Finals. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 82-66 (+16)
21.12.2013. VTB United League. Finals. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 59-84 (+25)
29.01.2015. Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 103-95 ОТ (+8)
27.03.2015. Euroleague. Top 16. N.Novgorod – CSKA: 82-86 (+4)
06.04.2015. VTB United League. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 83-75 (+8)
21.05.2015. VTB United League. Semifinal. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 86-79 (+7)
23.05.2015. VTB United League. Semifinal. CSKA – N.Novgorod: 97-77 (+20)

Short dossier

Nizhny Novgorod
Founded: 2000
Colors: white, black
Homecourt: Labor Unions Palace of Sports (5,000)
President: Dmitry Svatkovsky
Head coach: Ainars Bagatskis
Website: www.nn-basket.ru
Accomplishments: VTB United League runner-ups (2014), Russian Championship runner-up (2014), Superleague B champion (2010), Russian Cup finalists (2011)