On the way to the playoff birth
PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN
A Russian derby with plenty of significance for the playoffs race tips off Round 32 on Tuesday as Zenit St Petersburg (17-13, eighth place) welcomes CSKA Moscow (20-10, second place). CSKA can secure a post-season berth with a victory, or even with a defeat depending on several other results. But more significant for Dimitris Itoudis’s team is the need to stay in the top four. Zenit knows that it could well drop out of the playoffs places with a defeat, so this is a vitally important game for both teams.
After the victory over UNICS, Muscovites got a day off. The team trained on Monday at USH CSKA, after which they went to Sheremetyevo and flew to St. Petersburg.
The Army Team do not count on Joel Bolomboy (ankle injury), Mike James (suspended by the coach) and Nikola Milutinov (shoulder surgery). But Darrun Hilliard returned to duty after an illness.
PRE-GAME QUOTES
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
Zenit is a very good team. We played them twice in official games this year and couple more time in friendly games. They have good, established game, they are balanced in all lines, both on perimeter and inside. Definitely Pangos is running the show, he has very good supporters in Thomas, the shooters from outside, the bigs who are doing great job. Overall it's a team that's playing great, organized basketball, they are moving the ball well. We are at the final stage of the regular season, we are also in a better mode offensively and defensively, we are giving our fights, we are fighting our adversities, we are very focused and determined as a team, we are altogether into that.
Nikita Kurbanov, CSKA forward:
The game will be serious and difficult. We lost the previous meeting against them in the VTB League, for us this is an additional motivation. Now, at the end of the regular season, every game is very important for both teams. The victory opens up the best prospects for the playoffs. Therefore, we expect a serious game. Zenit plays well, especially at home, they have a good perimeter, the team is famous for its shooters, it is important not to let them feel confident in shooting and attacking.
CLOSE “RELATIONS”
Mike James played under Zenit coach Xavi Pascual during the entire 2016-17 season and the last half of the next one when both were with Panathinaikos OPAP Athens.
James was a teammate of Zenit's K.C. Rivers at Panathinaikos Athens for two seasons, from 2016 to 2018.
Zenit big man Arturas Gudaitis and James were teammates at AX Armani Exchange Milan during the 2018-19 season.
Zenit’s Andrey Zubkov was a teammate of Nikita Kurbanov in Lokomotiv-Kuban during 2014-15 season.
Vitaly Fridzon spent five seasons with CSKA from 2013 through 2018. He helped the club win the 2016 EuroLeague and five VTB United League titles. He played under Coach Itoudis and alongside Semen Antonov, Will Clyburn and Nikita Kurbanov.
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Thirteen different players have appeared in CSKA's starting lineups so far this season. Only Nikita Kurbanov has started every game.
Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in 16 of his last 17 games.
Michael Eric needs 4 points to reach 500 for his career.
Semen Antonov needs 18 points to reach 500 for his career.
PAST MATCHUPS
Wins-losses: 15-5 (18-0 against Triumph Lyubertsy)
Games of the 2020-21 season:
18-Dec-2020. EuroLeague. Regular season. CSKA – Zenit: 83-65 (+18)
13-Feb-2021. VTB League. Regular season. CSKA – Zenit: 71-74 (-3)
SHORT DOSSIER
Zenit St.Petersburg, Russia
Founded: 2014
Colors: dark-blue, white, light-blue
Homecourt: SIBUR Arena (7,120)
CEO: Alexander Tserkovny
Head coach: Xavi Pascual
Website: basket.fc-zenit.ru
