For the third straight game, the LSU basketball team will venture into uncharted territories as it takes on Marquette at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee today at 1 p.m.
Fresh off its first road win of the season against UC Irvine, the Tigers (7-1) will look to continue their luck against the Big East, having won three straight contests against Big East foes dating back to last season.
Sophomore guard Anthony Hickey, back in coach Johnny Jones’ good graces after his suspension was lifted before an 89-70 loss at Boise State, said he still has some maturing to do, but is happy to be back on the floor.
“I’ve got to grow up,” Hickey said. “That suspension was just telling me that I’m going to have to get it together.”
Hickey played 21 minutes in the win over Irvine, pouring in ten points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals.
In Hickey’s absence, junior guard Andre Stringer and freshman guard Corban Collins seized the opportunity to run the point, pleasing Jones with their efforts through the first leg of the road trip.
Collins scored a team-high 19 points in the loss to Boise, while Stringer netted 19 of his own against Irvine, alternating spots at point guard throughout both games.
“I think it’s good for our team when you know that you have two solid guys out there that can play the point guard tar you can trust,” Jones said. “You don’t have any slippage when either of those guys are in there.”
Stringer shook off a dismal 1-for-10 shooting performance at Boise to score his season-high against the Anteaters, staying after practices in California to ensure he wouldn’t have a repeat performance.
“I didn’t want to shoot that way again,” Stringer said. “I felt confident, got open, and my teammates found me. I finally got some to go down.”
Marquette (7-3) enters the contest seeking to rebound from a disappointing 49-47 road loss against UW-Green Bay.
The Golden Eagles will welcome back sophomore guard Todd Mayo, who is expected to be in uniform for the first time this season after being ruled academically ineligible for the entire fall semester.
Junior guard Vander Blue leads the Golden Eagles, averaging 12.7 points per game with 6-foot-8 junior forward Davante Gardner close behind averaging 12.1 points per game.
Jones denied any preconceived notions his team may have about the Golden Eagles after their loss to unheralded UW-Green Bay.
“We fear none but respect all,” Jones said. “We are not afraid, but we have a great deal of respect for who we’re plating regardless of what their last game was like.”
LSU's Andre Stringer(10) and Marquette's Jake Thomas dive for the loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
