Pressure proved too great admits Macaulay
Coach bemoans Lions' poor Championship season
Marshall Milton Keynes Lions coach Vince Macaulay believes that the weight of expectation put on some of his young players cost them a place in this season's British Basketball League play-offs.
The Lions chief was made to sit and watch the action unfold last weekend as Newcastle Eagles went on to take the trophy with an
87-84 win over Everton Tigers at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.
And Macaulay admits that after his side's success last season, missing out this year was hard to take.
"This time last year we were celebrating the best season in the club's history whilst right now we are wondering how we even missed out on a play-off spot," he said.
"It has been a frustrating season because I did feel the team had some real potential, but my expectation of maturity in some of the players was probably a little over exaggerated.
"It takes a long time for a team to develop its character but in order to do so individuals have to step forward and take responsibility because with that comes accountability and the bottom line is that we have all failed to make that count."
Lions' away form during the season proved to be a major factor in them missing out on a top eight place, with just four wins from 17 games on the road. But Macaulay insists he knows where the problems are, and what he needs to do to rectify it in time for next season.
"I am at the stage now of planning for next season, I have identified I need to jiggle the team around and change our emphasis on the floor," he said,
"With the eligibility rules in place, meaning we are only allowed three non-Europeans and the rest of the team need to be European or European qualified, you always need to be working on two or three fronts at the same time.
"But I have targeted some key individuals currently in the BBL and that will have a huge bearing on what the Lions look like next year."
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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Temperature: 11 C to 25 C
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