At home before a month of travels

Will you miss us?

The Moscow public will have next opportunity to see their favorite team in person on January 18, more than a month later, in Krylatskoye. The red-and-blue will return to Megasport only on January 21.

Before the meeting with Avtodor, the team worked at the Basket Hall Moscow, with the only practice at Megasport on the eve of the game.

“Our main goal is to stay on the course of progressing game-by-game, to play CSKA basketball and strengthen our position in the league,” said CSKA head coach Emil Rajkovic. “The next game will be just another challenge for us, because Avtodor is coming through changes and has been playing better lately. The picked up some wins since we play in Saratov and stay in the playoff race. We prepare seriously and we would like to see many fans in the stands before we go to the series of away games.”

Other accents

The main change in the Saratov team since our previous meeting was the coaching staff’s refusal to use Kyle Viñales, the team’s leading scorer. Vinales managed to find a place in the second division of the Turkish championship, and without him Avtodor plays completely differently - and, as experts note, better. As the ball began to move more on offense, the team became more versatile, and many players gradually regained confidence in their own abilities.

Now the main striking force of the opponents is power forward Rayshawn Hammonds (18.1 points, 6.2 rebounds), Dominic Mavra (12.0 points and 5.4 assists) and Vasilije Pusica (8.8 points, 45.2% of three-pointers).

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 65-16
Game of 2023-24 VTB League season:

21-Oct-2023. Avtodor – CSKA: 73-85 (+12)

Brief dossier

Avtodor Saratov

Founded: 1960
Colors: black, white
Home court: Kristall Ice Palace (5,500)
President: Vladimir Rodionov
Head coach: Milenko Bogicevic
Website: www.avtodor.ru
Trophy case: 4-time Russian League runner-up (1994, 97, 98, 99), 2-time Russian League bronze winner (1992, 96), EuroCup semifinalist (1998), Superleague A champion (1997, 98), Superleague B champion (2009), Superleague champion (2013/14)