By Bill Koch
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Freshman forward Eric Hicks returned to Cincinnati on Friday and is expected to rejoin the University of Cincinnati basketball team today.

Hicks, a 6-foot-6 freshman forward from Greensboro, N.C., did not return to the team when it reassembled Christmas night after a two-day break.

He talked to UC coach Bob Huggins by telephone from his home in Greensboro late Thursday night, then caught a 5 p.m. flight for Cincinnati on Friday.

"He just had to get his mind right," said Derrick Hicks, Eric's older brother. "He talked to Coach Huggins and he's going to do a little bit of disciplinary action after this week, maybe a little extra running. Then it will all be over with."

Eric Hicks did not arrive in time for Friday's practice. UC plays Miami tonight at U.S. Bank Arena.

"He said he wanted to come back," Huggins said before practice. "We'll deal with it when he comes back. I'm concerned about these guys. I'm not worried about guys who aren't here. Guys who aren't here don't want to be here and don't want to beat Miami. I'm worried about beating Miami and getting these guys ready."

Derrick Hicks said Eric did not return to the team immediately after Christmas because he didn't understand why he wasn't playing more.

But Huggins said Hicks has had his chances.

"He's had plenty of opportunities," Huggins said. "He's had more than most."

Andy Kennedy, the UC assistant coach who recruited Hicks, a top-50 prospect out of Dudley High School, received a call from Derrick Hicks at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Derrick then had Eric call about 20 minutes later. It was the first time the UC coaching staff had heard from Hicks since Sunday's loss at Clemson.

"He's like a lot of kids," Kennedy said. "He's confused. He understands that he didn't handle this the right way. He said he'd like to come back if we'd have him back. He knows there's going to be repercussions for his actions, but he wants to come back and try to make this work.

"He said he just kind of got home and started feeling sorry for himself and wasn't ready to come back. He needed to clear his head and be away from people for a few days."

Hicks, who averaged 30.7 points as a senior in high school, has played just 44 minutes in UC's first eight games. He has scored six points.

STOKES NEARS 1,000: Forward Leonard Stokes needs 17 points to become the 40th member of UC's 1,000-point club.

"It means a lot to me," Stokes said, "especially because when I came here my freshman year, a lot of people said I would never play. That whole next summer I was in the gym shooting constantly every day. It inspired me to work harder.

"Just to be mentioned with guys like (Steve Logan) and Oscar (Robertson) , it's big when you look at it that way."

The senior from Buffalo, N.Y., who has earned his degree in social sciences, has averaged 9.1 points at UC. This year he's leading UC in scoring with 14.9 points a game.

"He's going to go down as one of the better players here," Huggins said. "He's certainly one of the best people that's ever been here. I'm more proud of Lenny for what he's accomplished off the floor than for what he's accomplished on the floor."

ARENA BALL: U.S. Bank Arena officials hope to make a UC game an annual event in their building.

Another game against Miami is tentatively scheduled for next season.

"It's not a done deal as of yet," general manager Jim Moehring said. "We have a preliminary date for next year, but everybody wants to see how everything goes."

Moehring expects a crowd of between 13,000 and 14,000 for tonight's game. U.S. Bank Arena, which hosted the Conference USA Tournament last season and will host it again next season, seats 16,000 for basketball.

Tickets are $28 and $32.

HOLLMAN TO START: Junior Derek Hollman is expected to start tonight at center in place of Kareem Johnson.

The 6-8 Hollman started UC's first two games before losing the job.

"He's played better than everybody else in practice," Huggins said.

Hollman has scored just four points in seven games. He's averaging 6.3 minutes a game.

Forward Eugene Land, who twisted his knee in practice this week, is doubtful for tonight.

E-mail bkoch@enquirer.com