Rob Miech's Take: A redshirt last season while recovering from knee surgery, Shaw developed some menace when he returned to practice. He's been asked to do more dirty work down low, at both ends of the court, and he has responded with zeal. His experience and tenacity will be beneficial.
Miech's Question: To play deep into March, the Rebels had better be meaner in the paint. Will others take Shaw's cue and become the bruising, physical rebounders that Kruger wants?

UNLV CAREER: Shaw begins his fourth season with the Runnin' Rebel program in 2009-10 ... missed the 2008-09 season after having knee surgery over the summer of 2008 and spent the year recovering and rehabilitating ... played in 56 career games, making seven starts over his first two seasons, averaging 4.8 points per game and 2.9 rebounds per game in his career ... before coming to UNLV as a freshman, he signed a national letter of intent to attend Temple, but opted out after a coaching staff change at the school.

SOPHOMORE - MEDICAL REDSHIRT (2008-09): The 2008-09 season was used as a medical redshirt year after having knee surgery.

SOPHOMORE (2007-08): Played in all 35 games, making seven starts ... averaged 6.9 points per game and 4.0 rebounds per game ... shot 40.2 percent from the field and 76.9 percent from the free-throw line ... scored in double figures in 10 games ... his 24 3-pointers were fourth on the team ... made his first career start in the second game of the season against Dixie State ... was in the starting lineup for the next six games ... scored a career-high 14 points twice ... named to the Duel in the Desert All-Tournament team.

FRESHMAN (2006-07): Appeared in 21 of UNLV's 37 games as a true freshman ... averaged 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds in 4.1 minutes played per contest ... shot 30.4 percent from the field and 72.2 percent from the free-throw line ... was sixth on the team in free-throw percentage ... played in each of the first seven games of the season.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2006 graduate of Fairfax High School in Los Angeles ... as a senior, he averaged 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game as the Lions went 24-3 ... Fairfax finished No. 16 in USA Today's final Super 25 boys basketball rankings ... selected to the 2006 Los Angeles All-City Third Team as his squad reached the CIF City Section semifinals ... as a junior, averaged 12.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game ... averaged 16.0 points and 8.0 rebounds as a sophomore and 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds as a freshman ... coached at Fairfax by Harvey Kitani ... played at Fairfax with current Runnin' Rebel Chace Stanback.

PERSONAL: Matthew Stephen Shaw was born Jan. 23, 1988, in Los Angeles, Calif. ... majoring in university studies ... the son of Valerie and Stephen Shaw ... has one sibling: Kaylen (16).

--Courtesy of UNLVrebels.com