Pre-game breakdown
CSKA visits the Astroballe for the first time since October 2002, when ASVEL registered a 99-87 home win, the first of just three defeats for CSKA until that season’s Final Four. That game remains tied for the second-most points ASVEL has ever scored in a EuroLeague game. Only one player from that game, CSKA forward Sergy Monia, still plays in the EuroLeague. Monia now plays for Khimki Moscow Region.
The Army Men went to Lyon on Thursday by Aeroflot charter flight.
The red-blues lineup has been changed again. Joel Bolomboy injured his knee during the practice on Thursday. The coaching staff does not expect the center to miss much time but he did not take the flight to France. His spot on the roster is given to Kosta Koufos who started to work with the team.
Daniel Hackett (back), Mikhail Kulagin (foot) and Will Clyburn (knee) stayed in Moscow.
Pre-game quotes
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Unfortunately, we have injuries, but this is part of our life. The team is practicing seriously, we know we are facing ambitious opponent that plays differently at home and away. They already have three wins at home – against Baskonia, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos, that makes them very dangerous. ASVEL plays aggressive basketball, we have to be concentrated from minute 1 to minute 40.
Ivan Ukhov, CSKA guard:
Our opponents are not afraid to shoot, they are confident with their shots, forces turnovers and gets easy points out of it. Their advantage is in constant desire to fight, you just can’t relax against them.
Close “relations”
ASVEL’s Adreian Payne and CSKA’s Mike James were teammates at Panathinaikos OPAP Athens in the second part of the 2017-18 season.
Important numbers
Mike James has made at least 1 three-point shot in seven straight games.
Mike James ranks fourth this season in average PIR with 20.0 per game and third with 19.2 points per game.
Darrun Hilliard has hit multiple three-point shots in nine of his last 10 games.
Kyle Hines ranks third all-time with 212 blocks.
Hines ranks second all-time with 520 offensive rebounds. Felipe Reyes is the all-time leader with 695.
Hines ranks sixth all-time with 880 two-pointers made.
Hines ranks eighth all-time with 1,168 rebounds. Kerem Gonlum is seventh with 1,189.
Janis Strelnieks ranks sixth all-time in free-throw accuracy at 90.91%.
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 3-3
19-Feb-1970. European Champions Cup. 1/4 Final. Group Stage. CSKA – ASVEL: 109-70 (+39)
26-Feb-1970. European Champions Cup. 1/4 Final. Group Stage. ASVEL – CSKA: 99-89 (-10)
20-Dec-2000. Suproleague. Regular Season. ASVEL – CSKA: 72-80 (+8)
08-Mar-2001. Suproleague. Regular Season. CSKA – ASVEL: 83-91 (-8)
31-Oct-2002. Euroleague. Regular Season. ASVEL – CSKA: 99-87 (-12)
15-Jan-2003. Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – ASVEL: 85-65 (+20)
Short dossier
Founded: 1948
Colors: black, white, grey
Homecourt: Astroballe (5,556)
President: Toni Parker
Head coach: Zvezdan Mitrovic
Website: ldlcasvel.com
