Published: 2:17 PM, 11/19/2009

Last updated: 11:46 AM, 11/23/2009

By: Steve Behr Sports Editor

By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com
When Appalachian State takes on Arkansas Friday night in Fayetteville, they'll be playing a team that is reeling from suspensions handed down before the season.
The Razorbacks, which played Alcorn State last Friday and Louisville Tuesday, are down to nine players following the suspension of five players. Head coach John Pelphrey suspended top returning scorer Courtney Fortson and starter Steve Welsh indefinitely for unrelated incidents, while backup Marcus Britt was suspended for the first six games of the season for two separate violations of team rules.
Walk-on Nick Mason will not be allowed to play in the fall semester and freshman Glenn Bryant missed the first two games, but should return to the court Friday since the Razorbacks have played two games.
Fortson, a sophomore, led the Razorbacks (1-1) in scoring last year with 14.8 points per game.
The suspensions are for a variety of disciplinary problems, according to the  school's web site.
"In the course of this process, we analyzed each student-athlete's situation independently and made determinations based on each set of circumstances," Pelphrey said in a statement. "We will continue to address disciplinary matters in a straightforward manner and take action when players do not meet the expectations of conduct required of our student-athletes. Our program remains committed to representing the University of Arkansas, individually and collectively, in an appropriate manner."
Still, Appalachian State will likely go into the game as underdogs, even though the Mountaineers surprised Arkansas two years ago with a win in Little Rock. It's a fact that is not lost on ASU coach Buzz Peterson, who was not with the Mountaineers during that game.
"I told them in the locker room that Arkansas knows about you," Peterson said. "It was just two years ago, so they're not going to take you lightly. They're going to come after you."
Appalachian State beat the Razorbacks 74-67 on Dec. 22, 2007 away from the Arkansas campus in Little Rock. Current ASU guard Donald Sims scored 24 points and graduated forward Donte Minter added 20 in that game. Ike Butts came off the bench to score eight points.
It was Appalachian State's second victory over a Southeastern Conference foe in as many years. One year earlier, they beat Vanderbilt in the San Juan Classic.
"We want to go out there and we're anticipating to play a good game and win," Peterson said. "That's in our mind and they won't take you lightly for what you did to them."
Despite the suspensions, Arkansas hammered Alcorn State 130-68 last Friday. However, Louisville, ranked 20th, did the same to the Razorbacks, beating them 96-66 Tuesday night in St. Louis.
Rontel Clark feasted on Alcorn State by scoring 51 points, hitting 15-of-21 shots from the field. Clark, a 6-foot-0 sophomore guard, made 13-of-17 from beyond 3-point range in that game.
Jemal Farmer, a 6-5 guard/forward, added 28 points.
Appalachian State plays that same Louisville team that pounded Arkansas the following Monday. The last time the Mountaineers visited Freedom Hall was last year when they lost to Kentucky 93-69.
"The thing I talked about tonight is we've got to be worried about ourselves, stay focused on what we're trying to do and I'll throw them challenges at them during every time out or each half." Peterson said. " It's a building process. After that last game against Samford last year I want to make sure we're one of the better teams in the Southern Conference and get ready for that tournament in Charlotte."

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