FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas basketball team is playing an exhibition game today in Spain, but it may feel real to Dustin Thomas.
When Arkansas takes the court in Madrid at 1 p.m. today against Euro Colegio Casvi to tip off the Razorbacks' four-game tour, it will be the first time for Thomas to play another team since the end of the 2014-2015 season.
"He's hungry right now," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said.
Thomas, a 6-8 junior forward from Texarkana, Texas, redshirted last season after transferring to Arkansas from Colorado.
"I'm ready to play, because it's been a while," Thomas said. "I feel like I've gotten better the last year, so I'm ready to showcase my new abilities."
Thomas, who averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 16.7 minutes in 32 games at Colorado as a sophomore, said he's a better fit for Anderson's system.
"Coach A is letting me explore my game a lot more than I was able to do at Colorado," Thomas said. "We're playing a faster tempo here, and he's letting me put the ball on the floor and take advantage of mismatches.
"He's really just letting me play my whole game."
Thomas' teammates said he has an impressive all-around game.
"Dustin is a backdown player and a face-up guy," junior forward Arlando Cook said. "He can dribble, shoot, play defense.
"If you ask me, you could put him anywhere on the court. He's got an amazing game."
Freshman forward Brachen Hazen said Thomas has been helping him make the adjustment from high school to Arkansas.
"We work together and he's taken me under his wing," Hazen said. "He's a lot stronger and quicker than me right now, but I'm learning from him each practice.
"He's able to get to the basket with ease and then finishes right away. He's got a great shot, too. It keeps you guessing how to defend him."
Thomas said he's confident he can defend any opponent in Arkansas' switching defense and that he's comfortable playing around the basket or on the perimeter.
"If I've got a big man on me, I like to take him out and put the ball on the floor and make him move his feet," Thomas said. "I can shoot the three. If I've got a smaller guy on me, I like playing with my back to the basket and taking advantage of my size."
Thomas was not eligible to play last season, per NCAA transfer rule, but he was suspended by Anderson for 4½ months as a result of being arrested for passing counterfeit money after arriving on campus last summer.
He was reinstated for practice and other team activities Dec. 11 after his legal issues were resolved.
The suspension was lifted after Thomas pleaded guilty in Washington County Circuit Court to having a $20 counterfeit bill and was sentenced to a one-year probation, fined $500 and court costs and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.
Thomas called last year "a learning process" and said it was relief to be back with the team.
"Coach A was there behind me the whole time," he said. "It was good to practice with the team and just keep getting better throughout the year."
Anderson said he's expecting Thomas to be an impact player.
"I'm looking for a guy that can be a stretch forward for us and can bring us some toughness," Anderson said. "I want a guy that can fix some things and rebound the basketball. Get out in the passing lanes.
"Dustin's a pretty good passer, too."
Thomas said he's about 230 pounds, 5 more than his weight at Colorado, but that it's better distributed.
"I've got a lot more muscle mass," he said. "I actually feel lighter and a lot more explosive.
"I like the way I can play at this weight."
Anderson said Thomas may be overly eager early in today's game.
"He's probably going to do everything wrong initially because of want-to," Anderson said. "He's going to have some nervous energy.
"But I think as time goes on, he'll settle down."
Sports on 08/09/2016