Pre-game breakdown
The Army Men had a video session and no-tape practice on Thursday afternoon. The team went to Sheremetyevo and flew to St.Petersburg with Aeroflot charter flight.
CSKA injured list became even longer. Daniel Hackett is unable to play against Zenit because of back pains. He remained in Moscow for rehab with club’s doctors. Kosta Koufos (foot), Mikhail Kulagin (foot) and Will Clyburn (ACL) remain out.
The club added young forward Andrey Lopatin to its EuroLeague roster.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
It will be difficult game as all other games in EuroLeague. Zenit is a tough opponent. We need to bounce back after our recent loss.
Semen Antonov, CSKA forward:
We have to bounce back after our loss to Olympiacos. It is going to be a difficult game, and we also keep in mind that we already lost to Zenit this season in the VTB League game.
Close “relations”
Zenit guard and team captain Evgeny Voronov played for CSKA Moscow from 2011 to 2014 and finished his rookie season as a EuroLeague runner-up at the 2012 Final Four. He played alongside current CSKA stars Andrey Vorontsevich, Nikita Kurbanov and Kyle Hines.
Anton Ponkrashov had three stints with CSKA, in 2006-07 season, in 2009-10 and from 2011 to 2013. He helped CSKA reach Final Fours in 2007, 2012 and 2013. During his time there he was a teammate of Andrey Vorontsevich and Nikita Kurbanov.
Important numbers
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in 10 of his last 11 games.
Mike James is tied for fifth this season in average PIR with 20.6 per game.
James ranks third this season with 19.8 points per game.
Darrun Hilliard has hit multiple three-point shots in eight of his last nine games.
Kyle Hines ranks third all-time with 212 blocks.
Hines ranks second all-time with 519 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is the all-time leader with 695.
Hines ranks sixth all-time with 877 two-pointers made.
Hines ranks eighth all-time with 1,166 rebounds. Kerem Gonlum is seventh with 1,189.
Janis Strelnieks ranks seventh all-time in free throw accuracy at 90.72%.
Janis Strelnieks needs 3 assists to reach 300 for his career.
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 11-3 (18-0 against Triumph Lyubertsy)
Games of the 2018-19 VTB United League season:
20-Jan-2019. Regular season. Zenit – CSKA: 93-86 (-7)
08-Apr-2019. Regular season. CSKA – Zenit: 83-73 (+10)
23-May-2019. Semifinal. CSKA – Zenit: 98-82 (+16)
25-May-2019. Semifinal. CSKA – Zenit: 83-81 (+2)
28-May-2019. Semifinal. Zenit – CSKA: 68-69 (+1)
Short dossier
Founded: 2014
Colors: dark-blue, white, light-blue
Homecourt: SIBUR Arena (7,120)
CEO: Alexander Tserkovny
Head coach: Joan Plaza
Website: basket.fc-zenit.ru
