Micah Bedard: So what is it with you and Mississippi State? The last two games against the Bulldogs have come down to you hitting a last-second shot. On the last possession, were you thinking about getting another chance to nail a runner?
Anthony Hickey: The play just happened. I tried to paint the picture before it was already there and just took whatever they gave me. Last year, I came off the ball screen, this year I took both of my men and got the same floater. I figured if I hit the floater last year, I could probably hit the floater again this year, and I was able to make the shot.
MB: Ole Miss guard Marshall Henderson hit a game-winner against Auburn and stirred up the crowd by popping his jersey in front of them. Did you do a little of that against Mississippi State?
AH: Yeah, I did a little bit. I looked in the crowd, and they seemed kind of mad, but it was a great game.
MB: What’s your favorite part of being an LSU athlete?
AH: Just being a Tiger. I love playing basketball here. I want to get a whole lot more people involved in the PMAC, but that’s going to come. We have to give them something to come back for to want to watch us play. We have to win games and get people to come back.
MB: LSU football coach Les Miles tweeted that he would love to see you out on the football field. What position do you think you would be the best at?
AH: Playmaker or kickoff return, anything where I can make a play with the ball in my hands.
MB: Do you use that football mindset when you guys go into your full-court press? Where do your eyes go when the ball comes inbounds?
AH: I try to watch whoever has the ball. I used to play safety, so I read whichever way he’s going to throw it and try to time the ball. I kind of use my football instincts on the basketball court.
MB: You guys were 12-7 this time last season. How, if at all, does this 12-7 team feel any different?
AH: We’re more confident. We feel no pressure. We were already in that storm and were able to come out of it. The big part is how you do when you’re in that storm, what you do next. If you take two steps back, you have to take four steps forward to get ahead again. We’re just trying to get better every day and try to get back on track.
MB: Against Missouri, some LSU football players like La’El Collins, Jarvis Landy and Anthony Johnson were leading the student section. How hyped up does that get you guys when you see fellow athletes in the crowd?
AH: It pumps us up just seeing they take time out of their days to come and support us. I would love to see the PMAC sold out before I leave here. That’s my goal — to try and get as many people in there as possible.
MB: You talked about being a little looser and you guys not feeling any pressure. Do you feel like that has changed with sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III this season?
AH: Yeah, I’m trying to stay on Johnny. We need him every day, in practice and in games. We need him to have a double-double every game. He’s a key part of this basketball team.
MB: How much has senior guard Charles Carmouche influenced your play this season?
AH: He’s been there, done that. He pushes me more and tells me what he experienced. I try to take his knowledge and put it in my head. He told me what he went through at Memphis, and I just try to listen to him.
MB: At this point in the season if you had to pick between LeBron James or Kevin Durant, who’s your NBA MVP?
AH: That’s a great question. I love Lebron James and I love Kevin Durant’s game. But I have to say LeBron.
A new feature we’re implementing this semester at The Daily Reveille is the “LSU Athlete of the Week.” This week, columnist Micah Bedard sat down with LSU men’s basketball sophomore point guard Anthony Hickey.
In future weeks, the nominations will be announced on “Out of Bounds” from 6 to 7 p.m. Sundays on 91.1 KLSU. You can vote at lsureveille.com/sports.
