What was Basil thinking?

When Basil II died in 1025 Byzantium was at its highest point since the Arab conquests due not only to military reconquest but also land reform and the removal of power from eastern military figures and land owners. Yet with all of this Basil never set up a succession plan which went beyond his old and incompetent brother and nieces. Why do you think he did this? One answer is that he wished for a succession of the strongest ala Alexander the Great yet he had intentionally consolidated power and legitimacy during his long reign within the Macedonian house. Another possibility is that he just lived too long outlasting his chosen heirs ala Augustus, yet even Augustus adapted to the changing realties albeit with a third rate choice.   I am very interested to see what you all think.

Well that is possible however after all he accomplished during his reign: coming to power despite multiple usurpers, nearly marrying his neice to the Holy Roman Emperor and making a Greek Pope with his support (HRE died before he got it all done), conquering the Bulgars, and giving new land rights to peasants. It just seems like after 50 years of a reign like this he would have had a plan maybe thats just me though.