Arkansas sophomore guard Courtney Fortson says he regrets posting an insensitive comment on Twitter on Sept. 7, when three of his teammates were involved in a rape investigation on the UA campus.

Arkansas sophomore guard Courtney Fortson speaks during a press conference Thursday at Bud Walton Arena. (Northwest Arkansas Times/ANDY SHUPE)

No charges were filed and the case was closed by Washington County prosecutors, but Fortson’s tweet caught the attention of Arkansas officials. Fortson, who was not among those involved in the rape investigation, is still subject to discipline and may be suspended up to three games for violating the athletic department’s social networking policies, which were enacted this fall.

“I regret the tweet, but you live and you learn and you move on to better things,” Fortson said today. “I put that behind me.”

On Sept. 7, Fortson wrote: “Im gettin it at workouts like a dude who doesnt understand the word no from a drunk girl lol”

Coach John Pelphrey wouldn’t comment or expound on possible suspensions for Fortson or the players who were involved in the rape investigation. He also wouldn’t say whether the suspensions would start with the first game of the season.

As for Fortson’s situation, “We’ll probably get into more of that as we get closer to the season and stuff, but I think all of those guys need to be mindful, whether it’s Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, texting,” Pelphrey said. “There’s a standard there, too. You’re representing and what you say is important. It’s not just you it could affect. There’s a lot of people out there that may hold you accountable for your words.”

Pelphrey joined Twitter in August, saying he was “harassed” and “prodded” to join the social networking craze. He wouldn’t say who, but cited the successes of Kentucky coach John Calipari and Florida coach Billy Donovan’s foray into the Twittersphere in recent months.

“I think there is something to it to communicate between the school and fans, especially when you have a rabid fan base,” Pelphrey said.

Here are some more notes from the press conference, which appeared via our Twitter feed (@wholehogsports).

— Rotnei Clarke on the Hogs’ bad finish to season: “I believe and I know we’re going to come in and have a better start and better ending.”

— Why did F Michael Washington pull name out of NBA draft? “My family decided I should come back and finish school, so that’s what I did.”

— Rotnei Clarke on potential of season: “If we’re ready to go, I think this team has some special things in them.”

— John Pelphrey on progress of program: “We have an opportunity to be in a different place here in a year, from a talent standpoint.”

— Stephen Cox, who we thought was going to solely be a UA golfer, is back on basketball team as walk-on. “The golfer is back,” Pelphrey says.

— John Pelphrey: Players have transformed physically, especially newcomer Marshawn Powell, who lost 35 pounds. “He dropped half a person.”

For much more coverage from the Razorbacks’ basketball news conference, make sure to read the Northwest Arkansas Times, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and WholeHogSports.com on Friday.

— Brandon Marcello