UNICS Kazan hosts CSKA Moscow in the Game of the Week.
Who:
UNICS, 2015-16 VTB United League finalists
vs.
CSKA, 2015-16 VTB United League and Euroleague champions
Where:
Basket Hall (capacity 7,000), Kazan, Russia
When:
6:00 PM (6:00 MSK), January 16, 2017
TV:
Match! Nash sport, VTB-League.com
Face to Face
UNICS and CSKA are almost always among the League’s elite teams, but the rivalry has been quite lopsided to this point as the Army Men enjoy a 71-17 advantage all-time vs. Kazan.
Within the VTB United League, CSKA holds a 13-2 edge, including a recent 3-0 sweep in the 2016 playoff finals.
This is the first League meeting this season, but CSKA and UNICS already played in the Euroleague in October, with CSKA picking up a 98-80 victory.
Intrigue
Last season’s top two teams have been dominant once again in the first half of 2016-17. CSKA (11-1) and UNICS (10-2) enter the game in 1st and 2nd place. With a win, Kazan can catch CSKA and create a little separation from hard-charging Lokomotiv-Kuban. On other hand, a loss would make it two in a row after the defeat to Krasnodar last week.
Both teams are coming off wins in the Euroleague. UNICS overcame Bamberg and former head coach Andrea Trinchieri in a hard-fought game on Thursday, while CSKA smoked Milan, crushing the Italian champs by 37. After three straight losses in the competition, CSKA finally got a rousing win to remain all alone in 1st place.
A win over UNICS would not only keep the Army Men in sole possession of 1st place in the VTB United League, it would also suggest that CSKA has fully recovered from its mini-crisis.
Question
CSKA has always caused nightmares for UNICS and head coach Evgeny Pashutin, dominating the rivalry year after year.
Pashutin hasn’t had much success coaching against the club where he once played and got his start on the sidelines. As you can see from the head-to-head stats above, UNICS hasn’t fared any better.
For Pashutin and UNICS, Moscow is kryptonite. The coach and club have struggled for years to get the upper hand in the rivalry. That said, Monday provides an excellent opportunity for Kazan given the home-court advantage. Can UNICS break through with a statement win?
Readiness
Evgeny Voronov and Quino Colom, two of the team’s biggest contributors, missed the Bamberg game due to injuries. Kazan hopes to have both back for Monday’s game. Without the two veterans, Kazan’s chances would not look good.
Duel
Keith Langford vs. Nando De Colo.
CSKA has almost always succeeded in slowing down Langford. Even when the American superstar is able to get his points, he struggles to carry the team to victory against the Army Men. On Monday, he’ll try again to crack the Red-Blue defense. A 25-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist outing vs. Bamberg indicates that Langford is in peak condition.
De Colo missed quite a few games in 2016 due to a hip injury. He needed some time to get back into game shape, but he appears to be hitting his stride, scoring 21 points vs. Tsmoki-Minsk and 22 against Milan.
Looking Back
