Entitlement: Players don’t feel they need to earn a championship. They think it will happen automatically based on tradition or last year’s success.

Arrogance: Similar to entitlement, players don’t think losing is even possible. They lack respect for their opponent and for the game itself.

Selfishness: Players think ‘me’ and not ‘we.’ They are more concerned with individual stats than with winning.

Complacency: Players think ‘good enough’ is good enough. It isn’t.

Lack of Confidence: Too much confidence (see #2) is a major problem. But so is a lack of confidence. You have to believe you can win it all.

Lack of Effort: This one better be obvious.

Lack of Trust: Players need to trust coaches. Coaches need to trust players. Lack of trust on either side will create dysfunction and dissension and cause the entire ball of yarn to unwind.

Lack of Conditioning: It is a long season. If players run out of gas mid-way through, they can’t finish the race!

Lack of Commitment: Winning a championship requires commitment on and off the court. Staying up late on your computer the night before a game or getting in academic trouble shows a severe lack of commitment.

Lack of Leadership: Coaches can’t be the only leaders on the team. Period.

Lack of Role Acceptance: To win a championship, everyone on the team must know, accept and take pride in their role.