Schueller: ‘Every game is our Gold Medal game’

Written by Melbourne United Media

With just seven games remaining for Melbourne United this NBL23 regular season, the team’s coaches have made it abundantly clear that each and every game is a must win.

Sitting in eighth place, United will need to storm home to close the season and secure a spot in the NBL’s new play-in format.

Speaking to SEN 1116 on Thursday evening, Assistant Coach Justin Schueller said starting on New Year’s Day against the Brisbane Bullets, his side needs to play every game like it’s their last.

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“Every game now is our Gold Medal game,” he said.

“We need to keep taking steps forward… our previous basketball over this past mont we’ve been pretty pleased with.”

United have won four of their past six outings, with their most recent loss coming without star Chris Goulding and veteran leader David Barlow.

Despite this stumble, Schueller said he has been thrilled by what he has seen from the group since establishing a more consistent, healthy lineup.

“I think the hardest thing we found early on was just not being able to find roles,” he continued.

“It felt like every week we had someone different out or we were changing someone’s role within the group to just make do… In any sport that’s a tough environment.

“I think the beauty of being able to have some consistency in our lineup of late has been a positive, and we know we’re going to be able to make a really good push for the play-in now that we have those roles defined and everyone’s back to full strength and full health.”

This run to the postseason will have to come on the road as Melbourne play six-straight games away from home due to the Australian Open.

While United have had their struggles outside of John Cain Arena (2-4 record), Schueller remains confident the side can rally around each other, starting in Brisbane on Sunday.

“We’ve always seen the road as a great opportunity to just continue to really lock in on what’s needed at hand.

“We knew January was going to be this way, it always is for us. It presents a challenge in one way but I think the timing will be a good one for us.”

Melbourne United will face the Brisbane Bullets in their line game of Round 13 on Sunday afternoon from 4pm.

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