Q & A With Hicks:
(On tennis background) "Since tennis is an individual sport, I would try to win matches on my own as an individual. So, coming into the game I [brought] those skills to [basketball]. And also tennis is a different game because you have to have footwork so some of my footwork that I used in tennis helped me in basketball.”
(On teammate Stephen Maxwell) “We’ve been playing with each other for four years now so I think we know each other’s game well... I always joke with him after the games about how he steals rebounds from me but I think playing with him is great because I know what he does best and he knows what I do best.”
(On 2014 BIg West Tournament title game) “Through the summer we were talking about getting back to that tournament championship so I think everyone was disappointed for a long time. I know I was disappointed and still thinking about the game for a week or two, still thinking about what the outcome was. I tried not to let that get to me, I started thinking I have one more year and this time I want to finish it.”
(On road to 2015 Big West Tournament) “It starts with practice,
but we have a big game this week with Fullerton and we’ve been preparing for that game since Monday so we’ve got to be focused and ready to play that game and once that game comes we need to have that energy and focus from start to finish. I don’t think we’re thinking about the big picture yet, we’re just thinking about what’s ahead of us.”
(On biggest accomplishment as a Matador so far) “I think the biggest thing is everything that I’ve done here, all of the accolades I’ve gotten because I think that’s huge. Before coming here I don’t think a lot of people knew I could play Division I basketball. All of those things show that I’m working hard and I believed in myself. I didn’t really let people tell me what I can and can’t do.”
(On something Hicks still wants to accomplish as a Matador) “Winning the Big West Tournament and getting to the big dance. I think that should be everyone’s goal and I think that should be everyone’s goal. That’s one thing, I want to get there for my last go-around.”
(On what he wasnts to show with his game) “Everything, not just one certain thing like scoring. I want to show everyone that I can do everything: rebounding, play defense, be a leader on the floor, try to do everything for my team.”
(On basketball) “It’s an outlet for me. When I’m having a bad day or something’s going on, I can come and escape in basketball. The dilemmas go away. So I think basketball keeps me sane.”