Anderson boots Thomas off team for rules violation

Dustin Thomas apparently can’t keep himself out of hot water.

This time, though, will likely be his last at Arkansas as Mike Anderson booted the senior forward off the team just ahead of the SEC Tournament, which starts Thursday for the Razorbacks.

“Senior forward Dustin Thomas has been dismissed from the team effective immediately for a violation of team rules,” Anderson said in a statement. “It is a privilege to represent the University of Arkansas as a student-athlete. We will continue to hold the student-athletes in our program to a high standard on and off the court.”

This has become a pattern with Thomas.

He was one of three Razorbacks arrested on counterfeiting charges in the summer of 2015, but was reinstated when the legal matter was resolved in December 2015.

At the beginning of this season, Thomas was suspended for Arkansas’ two exhibition games and first three regular-season games because of a “violation of team rules.”

Thomas started 17 of the 26 games he played in this season, averaging 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 19.2 minutes.

He had come on strong late in the season, starting the final seven games. During that stretch, he shot 58.3 percent from the floor and had an 11-point game against Alabama and a 10-rebound game against Kentucky.

His career started at Colorado before transferring to Arkansas in 2015. He sat out one season because of the NCAA’s transfer rules and then played on last season’s NCAA Tournament team.

Thomas’ dismissal likely means forwards Adrio Bailey, Arlando Cook and Gabe Osabuohien will receive extended minutes this postseason.