BC UNICS

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BC UNICS
Leagues PBL
VTB United League
Eurocup
Founded 1991
History 1991-present
Arena Basket Hall Arena
(capacity: 7,500)
Location Kazan, Russia
Team colors Green and White
         
President Yevgeny Bogachev
Head coach Andrea Trinchieri
Championships 2 Russian Cups
(2003; 2009)
1 North European Basketball League
(2003)
1 FIBA Europe League
(2004)
1 Eurocup
Website unics.ru
Uniforms
Home
Away

BC UNICS (Russian: БК "УНИКС") is a professional basketball club in Kazan, Russia playing in the PBL. Their home arena is Basket Hall Arena.

Though officially the professional club was founded in 1991 (when began its appearance at the lowest of pro leagues), UNICS traces its origin back to KSU's college team Burevestnik which participated in USSR student championships since 1957 winning all-Soviet college title twice - in 1965 and 1970. Because of this the name 'UNICS' is quite an abbreviation - UNI(versity), C(ulture), S(port).

In 1997 it was promoted to the Russian Basketball Super League 'A', the top Russian league. A year later Yevgeny Bogachev, the chairman of the National Bank of the Republic of Tatarstan, became the President of the club.

History

The club has gone a long way towards helping Russian basketball since the club was established in 1991. Between 1994 and 1997, UNICS secured a berth in Russia's first division, and then made a smashing debut, establishing itself among the top five teams in the country. UNICS already played European competitions in 1997, but the new millennium happened to be a turning point for the club. The team placed second to CSKA in the Russian Basketball Super League in 2001 and 2002, the year in which it also reached the Saporta Cup semifinals, losing against Maroussi in the semifinals. UNICS first title was the Russian Cup in March 2003, with an electrifying 81-82 overtime victory over CSKA. UNICS fans did not have to wait long to see their team win a European title, too. Kazan hosted the FIBA Europe League final four, named now FIBA EuroCup, in April 2004 and UNICS made sure of its opportunity. UNICS signed Saulius Štombergas, Eurelijus Žukauskas or Chris Anstey, won its regular season group and advanced to the final four on its own floor, where it was crowned the FIBA Europe League champion as MVP Martin Müürsepp scored 22 points in an 87-63 win over Maroussi in the title game. By 2005-06, UNICS went one level up and made its ULEB Cup debut, tying the best regular season record in the competition's history. Things turned south quickly, as it lost at home against Roma for the only time all season in the eighth finals’ second leg and crashed out earlier than expected. UNICS got stronger for last season, keeping the core group of the previous seasons side while adding Darjuš Lavrinovič to reunite with twin brother Kšyštof Lavrinovič in a twin towers set full of talent. The team made it to the ULEB Cup semifinals before losing to eventual champs Real Madrid. It also returned to the Russian League finals, losing against perennial champion CSKA. UNICS is back in the ULEB Cup with the only goal to reach even higher and make the city of Kazan proud of its mighty basketball team.

In 2007-08, UNICS made it to the ULEB Cup Final Eight, but fell to Akasvayu Girona in the quarterfinals. Last season UNICS broke through in the Eurocup, winning its regular season and Last 16 groups before sweeping its quarterfinal series against Pepsi Caserta. Once in Finals, Unics thrashed KK Cedevita 87–66 in the semifinals behind 27 points from Lyday and registered a no-doubt-about-it 92–77 win against Cajasol Sevilla in the title game. Popovic had 18 points and a Eurocup final record 11 assists to lead UNICS to the title. In the Russian League, UNICS marched to a 21–6 record to finish the regular season atop the standings with room to spare, but then went out in the playoff semifinals after a grueling five-game duel against BC Khimki. Now this blossoming club enters new waters eager to prove it belongs among the continent’s best in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

On the heels of one of the greatest seasons in club history, UNICS looks to continue Its rise to greatness as it makes its Euroleague debut. The reigning Eurocup champion was a force to be reckoned with last year, not only marching through the Eurocup, but also making noise in the Russian League, where it finished first at the end of the regular season and reached the playoff semifinals. One of the secrets to the club’s success is that it has managed to keep a core of star players for several years. Players like Marko Popović, Maciej Lampe, Terrell Lyday, Vladimir Veremeenko and Kelly McCarty have helped write a golden chapter in UNICS history. Before that, UNICS put Kazan, Russia, on the European basketball map and became the perfect ambassador for the sports-crazy Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian federation.

Recent seasons

Season Division Regular Play-off Cup Europe Regional
1997-98 Superleague A 5th (West) 7th n/a Korać Cup Group stage n/a
1998-99 Superleague A 5th 5th n/a Saporta Cup 1/16 Finals n/a
1999-00 Superleague A 3rd Bronze n/p Korać Cup 1/16 Finals n/p
2000-01 Superleague A 2nd Silver n/a Saporta Cup 1/2 Finals n/p
2001-02 Superleague A 2nd Silver n/a Saporta Cup 1/4 Finals n/p
2002-03 Superleague A 3rd Bronze Winner FIBA Champions Cup 1/4 Finals NEBL Winner
2003-04 Superleague A 2nd Silver 3rd FIBA Europe League Winner n/a
2004-05 Superleague A 3rd Bronze Finalist FIBA Europe League 1/4 Finals n/a
2005-06 Superleague A 4th 4th 3rd ULEB Cup 1/8 Finals n/a
2006-07 Superleague A 2nd Silver Finalist ULEB Cup 1/2 Finals n/a
2007-08 Superleague A 3rd 6th 1/2 Finals ULEB Cup 1/4 Finals (Final Eight) n/a
2008-09 Superleague A 4th Bronze Winner Eurocup Top-16 stage n/p
2009-10 Superleague A 3rd Bronze Finalist Eurocup Top-16 stage VTB League Finalist
2010-11 PBL 1st Bronze n/p Eurocup Winner VTB League 3rd
2011-12 PBL 6th 5th n/p Euroleague Basketball 1/4 Finals VTB League Finalist
2012-13 PBL 6th n/p n/p Eurocup 1/4 Finals VTB League 1/4 Finals

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team, as has been defined by FIBA. Players may hold more than one nationality.

BC UNICS Kazan roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 4 United States McKee, Tywain 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 27 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1986-03-07)March 7, 1986
G 6 Greece Zisis, Nikolaos 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 30 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1983-08-16)August 16, 1983
F 7 United States Harangody, Luke 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 26 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1988-01-02)January 2, 1988
G 10 Russia Sergeyev, Pavel 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) 81 kg (179 lb) 26 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1987-07-28)July 28, 1987
F 12 Belarus Veremeenko, Vladimir (DC) 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 29 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1984-07-21)July 21, 1984
C 15 Greece Vougioukas, Ian 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in) 127 kg (280 lb) 28 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1985-05-31)May 31, 1985
G 17 Russia Kolesnikov, Evgeniy 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 28 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1985-12-26)December 26, 1985
C 20 Russia Sokolov, Dmitri 2.14 m (7 ft 0 in) 116 kg (256 lb) 29 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1985-01-21)January 21, 1985
F 21 Greece Kaimakoglou, Kostas 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 113 kg (249 lb) 30 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1983-03-15)March 15, 1983
F 22 Russia Antipov, Pavel 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 96 kg (212 lb) 22 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1991-09-19)September 19, 1991
G 30 United States Goudelock, Andrew 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 25 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1988-12-07)December 7, 1988
F 31 United States Eidson, Chuck 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 33 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1980-10-10)October 10, 1980
F 41 Russia Kurbanov, Nikita 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 27 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1986-10-05)October 5, 1986
F 45 Russia Sheleketo, Maksim 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 27 – <span="font-size:140%;">(1987-01-04)January 4, 1987
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Greece Ilias Kantzoris
  • Italy Sandro Bencardino

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DC) Dual citizenship
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: September 2, 2013

Depth Chart

Pos. Starter Bench Bench Reserve Reserve
C Ian Vougioukas Dmitri Sokolov
PF Kostas Kaimakoglou Vladimir Veremeenko Nikita Kurbanov
SF Chuck Eidson Luke Harangody Pavel Antipov Maksim Sheleketo
SG Andrew Goudelock Nikolaos Zisis Evgeniy Kolesnikov
PG Tywain McKee Pavel Sergeev

Notable Russian players

bold - FIBA World and FIBA Europe champions and medalists

  • Russia Ruslan Avleev (1997-01, 04-06) - 301 games, 19.2 ppg;
  • Russia Victor Kurilchuk (1997-00) - 201 games, 8.9 ppg;
  • Russia Eduard Soobtsokov (1997-00) - 204 games, 7 ppg;
  • Russia Petr Samoylenko (1998-07, 08-13) - 774 games, 5.8 ppg;
  • Russia Andrey Sepelev (1998–99) - 53 games, 11 ppg;
  • Russia Anton Yudin (1999-03, 04-06) - 243 games, 10.7 ppg;
  • Russia Alexander Petrenko (1999-00) - 58 games, 13.2 ppg;
  • Russia Andrey Kornev (1999-01) - 76 games, 6.1 ppg;
  • Russia Aleksandr Gutorov (1999-00) - 35 games, 8.4 ppg;
  • Russia Evgeniy Pashutin (2000–02) - 86 games, 8.5 ppg;
  • Russia Igor Grachev (2000–02) - 74 games, 8.6 ppg;
  • Russia Valentin Kubrakov (2000–02, 03-04) - 121 games, 8.5 ppg;
  • Russia Igor Zamansky (2001–03, 08-13) - 246 games, 5.3 ppg;
  • Russia Igor Kudelin (2002–03, 06-07) - 35 games, 8.1 ppg;

  • Russia Sergei Chikalkin (2002–03, 05-09) - 187 games, 10.6 ppg;
  • Russia Andrei Fetisov (2002–03) - 20 games, 6.2 ppg;
  • Russia Alexandr Miloserdov (2003–05, 06-07) - 125 games, 9.3 ppg;
  • Russia Viktor Keirou (2003–05, 07-08) - 83 games, 5.4 ppg;
  • Russia Sergei Toporov (2004–06) - 93 games, 7.3 ppg;
  • Russia Vadim Panin (2006–07) - 35 games, 6.1 ppg;
  • Russia Dmitri Sokolov (2006–09) - 128 games, 6.8 ppg;
  • Russia Nikolay Padius (2007–08, 10-11) - 59 games, 5.3 ppg;
  • Russia Fedor Likholitov (2009–10) - 10 games, 2.5 ppg;
  • Russia Zakhar Pashutin (2010–12) - 102 games, 4.3 ppg;
  • Russia Aleksey Savrasenko (2011–12) - 56 games, 4.6 ppg;
  • Russia Artyom Yakovenko (2011–12) - 22 games, 6.2 ppg;
  • Russia Nikita Shabalkin (2012–13) - 28 games, 6.3 ppg;

Notable foreign players

bold - former NBA players; Olympics, FIBA World and FIBA Europe champions and medalists

USA
Australia

Europe

Serbia Milan Gurović (2004) and Turkey Hüseyin Beşok (2005) shortly were under contract with UNICS Kazan, but never played a single game for the team.

(*) former NBA champions

Coaches

bold - Olympics, FIBA World and FIBA Europe champions and medalists

External links

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