Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

UNLV BASKETBALL:

Shaw earns starting role with production, voice

Junior forward will start again as Rebels host Weber State

UNLV vs. Louisville Basketball

Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun

UNLV’s Steve Jones, left, and Matt Shaw cheer with the rest of the bench as the Rebels pull away from Louisville during the second half of a Nov. 28 game at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels upset the 16th-ranked Cardinals, 76-71.

UNLV vs. Weber State

  • No. 18 UNLV Rebels (8-1) vs. Weber State Wildcats (5-4)

  • Where: Thomas & Mack Center

  • When: 7 p.m.

  • Coaches: Lon Kruger is 120-54 in his six seasons at UNLV and 438-287 in 24 overall seasons; Randy Rahe is 61-40 in his third season at WSU, which is his first head coaching job.

  • Series: WSU leads, 2-1

  • Last time: The Rebels won, 82-64, in Las Vegas on Nov. 24, 1998

  • Line: UNLV by 16

  • TV/Radio: None/ESPN Radio 1100-AM

  • THE REBELS

  • G Oscar Bellfield (6-2, 180) 10.9 ppg, 3.6 apg, 3.4 rpg

  • G Derrick Jasper (6-6, 215) 7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.4 apg

  • G Kendall Wallace (6-4, 190) 6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg

  • F Chace Stanback (6-8, 210) 8.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg

  • F Matt Shaw (6-8, 240) 5.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg

  • Bench: G Tre'Von Willis (6-4, 195) 16.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 3.7 apg; F Darris Santee (6-8, 225) 6.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg; G Justin Hawkins (6-3, 190) 4.6 ppg; F Brice Massamba (6-10, 240) 5.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg; G Anthony Marshall (6-3, 200) 5.4 ppg; G Steve Jones (6-1, 220) 2.1 ppg.

  • What to watch: The Rebels apparently got rid of the bitter taste from their first loss in the second half at Southern Utah. Still, Lon Kruger wants to see more bite out of his team in the first half of games. No better time than the present, right?

  • THE WILDCATS

  • G Damian Lillard (6-2, 185) 19.6 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.7 rpg

  • G Nick Hansen (6-4, 200) 9.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg

  • G Franklin Session (6-2, 175) 10.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg

  • F Kyle Bullinger (6-6, 215) 8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg

  • F Steve Panos (6-8, 240) 11.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg

  • Bench: G Lindsey Hughey (6-3, 200) 6.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg; F Trevor Morris (6-9, 240) 4.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg; F Matt Washington (6-7, 210) 4.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg; F Darin Mahoney (6-8, 225) 2.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg.

  • What to watch: The Wildcats certainly won't be opposed to turning this one into a shootout. They average just over 75 points per game, and surrender almost as many. Steve Panos will be a true challenge inside, too, for the Rebels.

A number of UNLV players have cited a lack of communication as a reason the team has gotten off to a lot of slow starts this season.

It's no surprise, then, that UNLV coach Lon Kruger has thrust junior forward Matt Shaw into a starting role.

"He's probably one of the better talkers on the team," Kruger said.

Shaw made his first start of the season in Tuesday's 77-59 victory over Southern Utah, and Kruger said he would be back in the lineup when UNLV takes on Weber State at 7 p.m. tonight at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Following the National Finals Rodeo departing the Mack, this will be UNLV's first game back on its home floor since a Nov. 28 victory against Louisville.

Kruger said he was pleased with how Shaw played against the Thunderbirds. In 17 minutes of action, Shaw scored eight points with five rebounds and a block.

"I played all right," Shaw said. "I took a nice step. I need to concentrate on rebounding, more defensive rebounding and stronger post moves."

Shaw helped the Rebels prolong a few possessions against the Thunderbirds with three offensive rebounds. He also stood his ground defensively as Southern Utah only scored 12 points in the paint.

Kruger said Shaw's jump-shooting ability and defensive awareness were what separated him from the other Rebels big men. Tuesday's game was the first time this season that sophomore center Brice Massamba came off of the bench.

Kruger said he had seen Shaw progress more than Massamba over the first month of the season.

"Brice, I think at times, has been productive," Kruger said. "But we need more good possessions from him."

Statistically, senior forward Darris Santee has been the most productive Rebel big man. He's averaging nearly five rebounds and seven points per game.

But Kruger said that he liked the spark Santee had provided off of the bench, so it made sense to have Shaw in games at the beginning.

"I think (Santee) has been the most consistent of the big guys," Kruger said. "We could throw him in there to start, but why change what has been a good thing for him?"

Shaw said he was fine with whatever role Kruger wanted him in. He said he feels well enough to play as many minutes as needed.

Shaw sat out all of last season while he recovered from knee surgery. But he said he hasn't felt any soreness in his knee this year.

In fact, Shaw said he thinks this might be the best he's felt in a long time.

"I'm just ready to go," Shaw said. "I feel comfortable starting or coming off of the bench; it doesn't matter. But when I start, I feel like we get the talking going earlier on the floor."

One player who won't be starting against Weber State is junior guard Tre'Von Willis, who sat out most of Tuesday's practice with a sore back. Although Willis will play, his minutes may be limited.

If Willis plays less than normal, look for other Rebels to pick up the slack in the scoring department. Maybe even Shaw.

Shaw said he more consistently has had solid practices lately and was constantly improving. Like Kruger, Shaw thinks he's valuable to the team as a starter because he makes sure the talking starts immediately.

"That way, we can get an early jump on things instead of waiting to get popped and having to respond to it," Shaw said. "When we're out there talking early, we can pick up things earlier instead of waiting until later on."

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