Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said a few minutes ago that freshman point guard Courtney Fortson would practice today. He also stated that if Fortson “does the correct things” between now and Wednesday night’s game against LSU, the 5-foot-11 floor general would start against the Tigers.

Pelphrey didn’t minizmize the impact of a potential Fortson return, saying it’d mean Arkansas would get back “the guy who’s first or second on our team in every category.”

Fortson, who Pelphrey suspended for Saturday’s loss to Kentucky because of a personal decision, not because of a violation of team rules, ranks first on Arkansas in assists (6.5), second in assists (6.5) and second in rebounds (5.0).

“I fully anticipate (Courtney) coming (to practice Monday) and having a phenomenal attitude,” Pelphrey said. “And again, Courtney’s been great 90 percent of the time, and that’s no different from the rest of (the players). I could make the same case about all of them.”

Pelphrey said Fortson needed to realize that he’d be help to a higher standard as Arkansas’ point guard and de-facto on-court leader.

“With whom much is given, much is to be expected, too,” Pelphrey said. “Needless to say, we treat all these guys fairly. We don’t treat them all the same. I don’t do that with my children.”

Throughout this whole ordeal, though Pelphrey having to punish his point guard for attitude issues, his feelings for Fortson haven’t changed.

“I love Courtney Fortson,” Pelphrey said. “There’s not another guard in the country I want leading our program from the point guard spot. Everything he has, we like. I guess when my kids screw up, I don’t get rid of them. They’re mine. (It’s the same) with him.”