Anderson hints at lineup moves

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson has started the same lineup in his team’s first seven games, but that could change tonight when Colorado State visits Walton Arena.

“There might be some shakeups in the lineup,” Anderson said. “We’ll see.”

Anderson is looking to shake up his team after Houston beat the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville 9165 on Saturday night in the Razorbacks’ first road game.

The Cougars shot 51.8 percent from the field (29 of 56) and hit 10 of 21 three-pointers.

“The road was not very good to the Razorbacks,” Anderson said. “One of the things I found out about our

team is we’ve got to be more defensive.”

The previous week at the Phil Knight Invitational in Portland, Ore., the Razorbacks beat Oklahoma 9283 and Connecticut 102-67 while losing to North Carolina 87-68.

“We’re trying to outscore people, and the last few games you could see that,” Anderson said. “I always say we’re going to hang our hats on our defense. We’ve got to get defensive-minded.”

One possible lineup

change for Arkansas (5-2) could be inserting senior forward Dustin Thomas, who is averaging 5.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 22.0 minutes since coming off a suspension that caused him to miss the first three games.

Thomas had 9 points and 6 rebounds in 28 minutes against Houston and started the second half in place of sophomore Adrio Bailey.

“I thought he was fighting,” Anderson said of Thomas. “I thought he was playing the right way, playing hard. He was active.”

It’s also possible senior forward Arlando Cook might play tonight. He dressed out for the Houston game, but didn’t play, after being suspended by Anderson.

“I think he’s ready now that we’ve reinstated him,” Anderson said. “He’s a guy that we need on our team.”

Anderson said he’ll have nine or 10 starters this season.

“Sometimes as a coach, you’re trying to juggle that lineup to find out that mixture,” he said. “The biggest key is getting playing time and what you do with that time. That has to be the mindset of guys when they go out there.

“They can’t assume, ‘I’m going to be starting,’ because we have the capability of having multiple guys out there on the floor and doing a good job.”

Arkansas and Colorado State (4-4) are playing for the first time, but tonight’s game will be the fourth time Anderson has faced Rams Coach Larry Eustachy.

Anderson’s Alabama-Birmingham teams were 3-0 against Eustachy’s Southern Mississippi teams in Conference USA matchups during the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 seasons.

Eustachy is in his sixth season at Colorado State and has led the Rams to a 115-64 record. Colorado State beat Colorado 72-63 at home Saturday night.

“His teams are scrappy,” Anderson said. “They’re very physical. They pack the paint defensively. They guard you and they rebound the basketball.”

Colorado State redshirt sophomore forward Lorenzo Jenkins, who transferred from Arkansas, is averaging 5.3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 13.4 minutes off the bench. He had 14 points and 6 rebounds against Florida State and 8 points and 6 rebounds against Colorado.