RUS - Trio of coaching candidates

MOSCOW (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Russia didn't foresee a major shake-up in their men's national team program coming just several weeks before the start of the EuroBasket in Slovenia, but that's what happened over the weekend.

Greek tactician Fotis Katsikaris, put in charge of the Russians in late December after David Blatt's decision not to continue at the helm, was eager to coach the national team that won the bronze medal at last year's Olympics and climbed to No. 6 in the FIBA Ranking Men.

Katsikaris took it in his stride when Andrei Kirilenko decided in February that he would not play at the EuroBasket, a qualifying event for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

But in the past month, with the Russia's national basketball federation experiencing changes, including the departure of Alexander Krasnenkov as president, Katsikaris and the federation have parted ways and that has left the door open for a new coach.

"On Monday, the team will work with Vasily Karasev," said acting president Julia Anikeeva on Sunday.

"We caught up with him immediately after his (Russia's gold-medal) victory at the Universiade in Kazan and he agreed to take immediate command."

Karasev is only in charge on an interim basis, though, with a full-time appointment coming on 23 July.

"There are three applicants for this position," Anikeeva said, "Evgeny Pashutin, Serguei Bazarevitch and Vasily Karasev.

"Between our specialists' complete understanding, they are willing to work together in a team."

Karasev, Pashutin and Bazarevitch were Russia national team guards themselves before entering the coaching profession.

Russia have first round games against Turkey, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Greece in Group D at the EuroBasket, which tips off on 4 September.

FIBA