CSKA will host UNICS in the Game of the Week on Tuesday.
Place: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Time: March 5, 2024, 20:00
Broadcast: TV Start Triumph, Match! Igra, League website
Rivalry history
CSKA and UNICS are the only teams to have played in the League since the very first season. And it’s no surprise that the rivalry history is incredibly rich. The teams first played in the 2009-10 season Final, where the Moscow team won the first title (66:55).
The teams have played 35 games in the United League and the Moscow team has 26 wins. Both UNICS and CSKA have won once each this season, interestingly enough, on the road.
The teams’ previous game was exactly a month ago: on February 4 in Moscow, UNICS trailed by 8 at the halftime, but changed the game in the second half and took the win. Dmity Kulagin set several career-highs in the United League in points (27) and three-pointers made (6).
Since then
What has happened in the teams’ this month?
After a loss to UNICS, CSKA traveled to Perm and unexpectedly lost to PARMA – 80:84. And right after the All-Star break, the Army team lost to Zenit on the road, unable to figure out how to break down the St. Petersburg team defense – 71:81.
This was CSKA’s third straight loss, the team had never had such a long losing streak in the VTB League regular season.
UNICS, on the other hand, took advantage of their rival’s decrease and moved into the top. The reigning champion beat Enisey and Loko, extending winning streak to 6 games. The Kazan team is tied with CSKA in the standings and is ahead in extra points.
Numbers
CSKA and UNICS are the two best teams in the League in scoring: the Army team average 87.0 points, while the Kazan team 85.9. CSKA is also the best in the VTB League in made shots from the game (50.4%), three-pointers (39.0%), mid-range shots (57.1%) and free throws (81.6%). In addition, the Moscow team has 20.2 assists per game.
The Kazan team makes only 10.5 turnovers (second in the League), the Moscow team makes 13.3 (7th in the League). UNICS has 7.7 steals on average, compared to CSKA 6.9. The reigning champion is allowing opponents to score 74.5 points, while CSKA is allowing 76.9 points on average.
Leaders
UNICS’ undisputed leader is Nenad Dimitrijevic. The North Macedonian playmaker ranks in the League’s Top 5 in points (17.3) and assists (6.3), as well as in the Top 10 in steals (1.5). Jalen Reynolds scored 19 points against MBA, Dmitry Kulagin scored 27 against CSKA, and Erick Green scored 31 against Enisey.
As for CSKA, there is no clear leader. Casper Ware (13.9 points), Amath M’Baye (13.5 points) and Melo Trimble (13.4 points) have similar scoring efficiency, and Ware and Trimble has 4 assists per game.
Injuries
CSKA lost Casper Ware. The guard suffered a leg injury before the All-Star Game and is out for several weeks. Without the key guard, the Army team has already experienced some problems in St. Petersburg, scoring just 71 points against Zenit.
The VTB League MVP of February Dmitry Kulagin was injured in the previous game.
Strengthening
Last week CSKA announced Olivier Hanlan signing. The 31-year-old Canadian guard averaged 18.7 points in Italy this season. The Moscow team added the guard to the roster for the United League season, but whether the Canadian will play against UNICS remains questionable.
