SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — As UALR’s forwards continue to play their way into shape, big things are expected of them.

The UALR Trojans open the 2008-2009 season tonight against Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, and UALR would like to get a lot of production out of senior forward Mike Smith and junior forward Shane Edwards.

Smith, a 6-7 junior from Jacksonville, averaged 9. 2 points and 5. 4 rebounds last season, while Edwards, a 6-7 senior from Gilbert, Ariz., averaged 6. 2 points and 4 rebounds.

Smith and Edwards were effective in limited action during Sunday’s 72-64 exhibition victory over Harding at Hot Springs. And weight has been an issue for both — for different reasons.

Edwards bulked up more than 20 pounds through workouts in the off-season, taking his weight to 212 pounds. That should help him when the game gets physical on the inside. He had 6 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes of Sunday’s 74-62 exhibition victory over Harding at Hot Springs.

Smith put on more than 40 pounds over the summer, a disappointment to the coaching staff, as his weight increased to more than 300 pounds. They would like him closer to 260 pounds, but he’ll check in at about 285 for tonight’s game.

“He has good hands and feet and is continuing to play himself into shape,” UALR Coach Steve Shields said. “I think that’s what his minutes are going to be contingent on, how good of shape we can get him in and how quickly. That is going to be important to this basketball team.”

Harding seemed unsure of what to do with Smith. He spun to the basket, made short jump shots and rebounded his misses with authority against Harding’s undermatched front line. Smith finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in 20 minutes, making 7 of 11 shots and 3 of 5 free throws. And he did it playing only 20 minutes.

“Mike does a great job. He’s got great feet and great hands,” Harding Coach Jeff Morgan said. “I thought a few times we doubled him and we caused some problems, got some deflections.”

Smith has shown that when double-teamed he has to be able to pass the ball back out for a potential shot by a guard or to reset the play. When Harding didn’t double him, he made them pay.

“I expected them to double me from the get-go,” Smith said, adding the UALR assistant Joe Kleine encouraged him to “make a quick move of face up and see what you’ve got” as soon as the ball was passed to him. “Fortunately, I got to the basket.”

Newcomers Wayne Burton (6-8, junior ) and Courtney Jackson (6-6, freshman ) are also expected to see extended minutes tonight. Burton had 1 point and 1 rebound in 10 minutes Sunday, while Jackson had 5 points and 4 rebounds in 11 minutes.

“I thought Courtney gave good minutes. He ended up not playing as much as I would have liked. I thought he gave 11 very solid minutes,” Shields said. “He showed me he’s going to be able to score it and play in and out.”