Thunder coach Hildreth knows expectations will be high

WORTHING Thunder Basketball Club’s EBL Division 1 season tips off on Saturday and head coach Daniel Hildreth knows there will be more expectation on his side this campaign.
Daniel HildrethDaniel Hildreth
Daniel Hildreth

Thunder went on a fantastic ten-game winning run in the league to reach the Final Fours last season after being at the footb of the table at Christmas. From there they beat Northumbria for a 12th successive win, but lost 88-57 to Reading Rockets in the final.

Hildreth’s side get this season’s campaign underway at home to Leeds Carnegie on Saturday night and he said: “Having put on that run last year, people’s expectations are higher and with that a bit of pressure comes, but as far as I’m concerned I do not think people expect us to go out a win 12 games in a row.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“As a side we will take one game at a time and by doing that, as we did last year, a run of 12 games came, as a coach and as players we know we are more than capable of doing that.

“I think, to be honest, expectations have to be raised from last year. More importantly for club progression, ahead of goals and expectations, is getting into the habit of trying to put out a team week in week out to compete with local players in.

“The only team we did not beat last year was Leeds, so it’s quite fitting to play them first this year. They have made a lot of changes as do a lot of university teams in this division, so they are a bit of an unknown, although they have started well in their trophy games.”

Tip-off on Saturday is 7.30pm.

Related topics: