Arkansas guard Anton Beard will have his welcome home and welcome back parties rolled into one when the Razorbacks play Mercer tonight at Verizon Arena.
Beard, a sophomore from North Little Rock, will make his season debut before a hometown crowd after missing the Razorbacks' first nine games because of a disciplinary suspension.
"I think Anton's in a good frame of mind," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "I'm sure the nerves will be going, having the opportunity to play back home.
"How much he'll play, we'll see. But he'll play."
Razorbacks junior guard Dusty Hannahs said he expects Beard to play well.