Two guards are better than one.
That’s the case for LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones, who has a duo of capable point guards at his disposal in junior Anthony Hickey and freshman Tim Quarterman. But Hickey and Quarterman do more than provide depth for the Tigers — their different playing styles can be a nightmare for opposing players and coaches.
“Both of them like to push the ball and have a good vision of the court,” said freshman forward Jarell Martin. “Hickey can deflect the ball, get steals and push the ball. Tim likes to create plays and dish the ball; his first option is to pass and get his teammates involved.”
Hickey is a stingy defender with a knack for swiping the basketball, and he was third in the country with 2.93 steals per game last season. He also poses a dangerous scoring threat, racking up 13.5 points per game and shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc in two games this season.
Quarterman came out of high school touted as a potent distributor of the basketball, but he has dished out only one assist so far this season. The freshman stands at 6-foot-6-inches and has taken advantage of his length to pick up one steal and one block.
“It’s hard to figure us both out because we can do different things,” Hickey said. “But we’re still point guards, so that’s a big thing. He and I could be in together, so it could be tough for the defense to figure us out.”
Despite Jones’ claim that Hickey and Quarterman would rarely play at the same time, the duo ran the offense together for a brief stretch during LSU’s 92-90 loss at Massachusetts on Nov. 12.
“When they were on the floor together and Anthony was at the one and Quarterman was at the two, I thought they complemented each other well,” Jones said. “We started running a lot of baseline plays, high screen-and-roll action, and I thought Anthony executed really well out of it.”
Quarterman has started every game this year, and Jones hinted he gave the freshman the nod because of off-the-court issues with Hickey. However, Jones said the junior guard could eventually crack the starting lineup and would remain a key player in the rotation until then.
Though Hickey has come off the bench in each contest, he has been on the floor for 29 minutes per game, exactly double Quarterman’s time. Hickey’s energy and fast-paced play is a spark for the Tigers, and he may find himself in the starting rotation sooner rather than later.
“I don’t want [Hickey] to settle into anything,” Jones said. “I just want him to be at his best whenever he’s called because he’s a tenacious player when he hits the floor. Offensively and defensively, he’s strong. You know that you can count on him, and he’s going to give you everything that he has.”
Quarterman said he and Hickey aim to bring defensive intensity and get into fast breaks when they step on the hardwood. Knowing the starting spot is always up for grabs, the pair push each other at practice, according to Quarterman.
The formidable one-two punch of Hickey and Quarterman has strengthened LSU’s rotation and allowed Jones to experiment with various lineups. Both guards can effectively push the pace and run the offense, but their differences may be their greatest assets.
“It gives the opposing team a different look,” said senior guard Andre Stringer. “It keeps them off balance, and they really don’t know what to take away or how to play our guards. It gives us a variety.”

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Connor Tarter

LSU junior guard Anthony Hickey (1) maneuvers down court Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 during the Tigers' 88-74 victory against Northwestern State in the PMAC.