Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

REBELS BASKETBALL:

Shaw trying to rebound from summer injury

ACL tear has meant a new perspective from the bench

Click to enlarge photo

UNLV basketball players Matt Shaw, left, and René Rougeau prepare to plunge into the Coral Reef during the team's trip last summer to Australia. Shaw tore the ACL in his right knee just before the trip, and couldn't have surgery until he returned, as he waited for the swelling to go down.

Matt Shaw, junior forward

  • Ht./Wt.: 6-8/240
  • Age: 20
  • Hometown: Los Angeles
  • Family: mother, Valerie; father, Stephen; sister, Kaylen
  • At Fairfax High: Averaged 16 points and 8 rebounds as a senior, helping the Lions go 24-3 and finish 16th in the USA Today Super 25 poll. Was a prep teammate of current Rebels swingman Chace Stanback.
  • At UNLV: As a freshman, played in 21 of 37 games, including two of the Rebels’ three games in the NCAA tournament. Averaged 1.3 points and 4.1 minutes … last season, as a sophomore, played in all 35 games, starting seven. Averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds a game. Sank 24 5-pointers. Went 0-for-6 from the field, and 6-fot-8 at the line, against Kansas in the second round.

Since Wednesday, Matt Shaw has been wearing his red No. 34 jersey to UNLV basketball practices.

He had been wearing gray sweats and white long-sleeve UNLV basketball T-shirts or sweatshirts.

The wardrobe change represented the latest baby step he’s taken to becoming part of the team again after mid-summer knee surgery.

“I’ll help out in drills, shoot, pass,” Shaw said, “anything like that to keep my morale up and be more involved in practice.”

Before the Rebels left for Australia in late June, Shaw knew something was wrong as soon as he took a jab step and felt a pop in a pick-up game in the Cox Pavilion practice gym with teammates.

He looked devastated as he walked by the Cox Pavilion court after he was told he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

A bat terrified him with a dusk dive at his noggin one night in Australia. A flock of 4-foot fish freaked him out as they surfaced around him to snatch shrimp tossed by tourists from a boat.

But the biggest fear of Shaw’s life was tearing an ACL.

“As soon as I found out I broke down in tears,” he said. “My worst fear. After that, I pretty much don’t have anything else to fear. The worst happened to me.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was looking forward to having a pretty big year. It was so disappointing. One of the toughest things I’ve had to overcome.”

He still went to Australia, since the swelling had to reduce to allow for surgery.

Shaw got a bit too excited watching his teammates go 4-2 on their tour Down Under.

“Coaches had to tell me to calm down on the bench, I was so excited,” Shaw said. “I was so into the games. It was a fun experience, I just wish I could have played.”

The highlight of the trip for Shaw was snorkeling out on the Great Barrier Reef.

“I’m into science,” he said. “I’m always watching the Discovery Channel. To go in there and see all the coral and fish was great.”

Reality of major knee surgery awaited Shaw once he returned to Las Vegas.

For the first two weeks, he was bed-ridden, filled with enough pain-killing medication that he didn’t feel any pain.

He also couldn’t change his clothes, use the bathroom or shower.

“I was miserable during that time, being at home and not being able to get up off the bed or stand up,” Shaw said.

Rougeau, who shares an Anthem home with Shaw and fellow Rebels forward Rob Ketchum, and another student, felt for his close friend.

“I definitely felt sad for him,” Rougeau said. “Rob and I consoled him a lot. We took him around and helped him out. He’s taken it well since then and he’s working hard to get back.”

Shaw’s father, Stephen, and plenty of friends visited him.

“He had a lot of visitors,” Ketchum said. “A lot of people like him. Everyone came over and told him to get well soon and not to worry, that he’ll get bigger, stronger and better.

“He finally realized it wasn’t the end of the world for him. Once he got off the crutches he felt a lot better.”

Two days after the two-hour surgery, the drugs began to wear off. It was 4 a.m. It felt like someone had just smacked Shaw’s right knee with a sledgehammer.

“Agony,” Shaw said. “I searched for those pain pills … it hurt so much. The mental part was so difficult, going from being so active to not doing anything. I didn’t even want to eat.

“I’ve grown a lot from that. I have a whole new perspective on everything.”

Eventually, Ketchum and Rougeau shuttled daily Subway sandwiches and salads to Shaw.

“Stuck in bed, it’s easy to gain weight,” Ketchum said. “He actually lost pounds. I applaud him. It’s harder than it looks to cut out fast food. He showed a lot to me and Rene.”

Shaw can jog and shoot lightly, with no cutting. That’ll come in December, maybe January. By February, he expects to go full-speed in practice.

He’s trying to be patient.

“I feel like I can practice now,” Shaw said. “But I’ll take my time.”

Shaw often talks with Derrick Jasper, who is sitting out this season after transferring from Kentucky and allowing his own surgically repaired knee to mend, during practice.

They slip in layups and take turns shooting free throws and 3-pointers. When UNLV huddles, Shaw dribbles a ball to the periphery of the circle and listens.

“I’m doing great,” said Shaw, wearing his red jersey. “I feel I’ll come back better than before. I feel stronger already. I’ll be stronger mentally and physically.”

When he returns next season, he’ll be part of a stellar frontcourt that will include Darris Santee, Beas Hamga and Brice Massamba.

But there’s work to do this season – from the bench.

“Man, I’m seeing people getting after it,” Shaw said. “A lot of teams will have problems with the way we’ll guard them. We have so many players. We’ll take out five, and five will be ready to go.

“We’ll be real tough. I predict we’ll have a great season, like the past two seasons. I see that happening for years to come.”

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