[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

3/3/06

Huggins to be at Senior Day

Hicks asked former UC coach to escort him on court

BY BILL KOCH | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Former University of Cincinnati basketball coach Bob Huggins is expected to be at Fifth Third Arena Saturday for pregame ceremonies honoring the Bearcats' five seniors.
And if it's up to senior forward Eric Hicks, Huggins, whose contract was terminated in August, will do more than sit in one of the luxury suites during the game against No. 16 West Virginia.
Hicks said Thursday he planned to walk onto the floor with Huggins, interim head coach Andy Kennedy and his family.
"I called him," Hicks said of Huggins. "I'm going to walk out with him. I want to go out like everybody else went out. I came here to play for him and AK, and that's who I intend to play for. If AK hadn't been the coach here (after Huggins left), I would have been gone."
Kennedy confirmed that Huggins plans to be at the game. He said Huggins called and asked if he had any objections if Huggins showed up. Kennedy said he didn't.
But he said he hadn't heard of any plans for Huggins to accompany Hicks on the floor before the game.
Hicks, though, was adamant in wanting Huggins to be part of the ceremony. He said he had called Huggins and asked if he would do it, and that Huggins agreed.
"I'm walking out with him," Hicks said. "I want to go out with him and AK. I want to go out with them and my family."
Like many of his predecessors at UC, Hicks had his share of battles with Huggins over the years, but he said they did not diminish the respect he has for his former coach.
"Those type of things, they're not fun at the time," Hicks said, "but afterward they build relationships."