Rebels aim for MWC surprise

Shaw prefers the perimeter to the paint and has long-distance range with his jumper.

As he sizes up the Mountain West Conference season, which begins today, Shaw said anyone who thinks the Rebels are a long shot to win it must be wearing blinders.

Brigham Young was the preseason pick to win the conference, and the Cougars (10-3) still deserve that status, but Shaw ranks UNLV higher than most.

“A lot of people don’t look at us as one of the top teams, but I have faith,” Shaw said. “I look at it as we’re a top contender.

“They look at us, and we’re undersized, and they don’t think we’re going to do too much. But as long as we play with a lot of heart and play smart and play together, I’m confident in this team.”

The Rebels (11-3) open their Mountain West schedule against Colorado State (6-7) at 2 p.m. today at Moby Arena.

The Rams, who have lost to Northern Colorado and North Dakota State, might be the worst team in the league.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger couldn’t care less about predictions. Colorado State can be tough to beat at home, BYU is beatable on the road, and crazy things happen on a regular basis in college basketball.

A columnist for Rebel Nation, a publication promoting UNLV athletics, this week picked the Rebels fourth in the conference behind BYU, New Mexico and Utah.

“Everyone’s opinion doesn’t really matter. That’s the good thing about lining up and playing, because we’ll find out,” Kruger said.

“I think BYU, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah — and I put us in that same group — are probably the five teams that played most consistently during nonconference play. Not to shortchange the others, because anyone else can step up and win, too.”

UNLV’s most obvious shortcoming is its lack of size. The Rebels have no true center, with Shaw and 6-7 junior Joe Darger forced to play out of position and defend the middle.

Shaw has been the team’s most productive player off the bench, and he’ll be vital in conference play as UNLV sees more opponents with true centers, such as Rams 7-footer Stuart Creason. Because of a foot injury, however, Creason might not play today.

Shaw averages 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds, having made seven starts. He is shooting 43 percent from the field and has made 8 of 23 3-pointers.

In last week’s three-game Duel in the Desert tournament, Shaw compiled totals of 38 points and 24 rebounds.

“I thought Matt got big, strong rebounds, two-handed rebounds, and he obviously made shots,” Kruger said. “I thought he had his best stretch of play to this point.”

The next thing Kruger said he needs to see is more players coming off the bench to contribute quality minutes.

Junior guard Mareceo Rutledge started slowly but is showing progress. Rutledge had nine points in 11 minutes Sunday in a win against Minnesota and nine rebounds against Kennesaw State.

With sophomore forward Lamar Roberson’s decision to transfer, there should be more opportunities for Rutledge and freshman Troy Cage.

Backup point guards Marcus Lawrence and Kendall Wallace played sparingly against Minnesota. Lawrence got nine minutes, Wallace two.

“We’ve been playing a lot of people, but now we’ve got to get more production,” Kruger said. “We need to either shorten the bench, which we did a little bit against Minnesota, or get more production where we can keep a long bench, which we prefer.

“But it’s based on results at this point.”

Shaw, who has come off the bench in the past six games, said losing his starting spot to junior guard Rene Rougeau was no big deal.

“I don’t mind at all,” Shaw said. “I feel comfortable coming off the bench, because for a few minutes I get to watch the guys and see what they like to do. I feel it gives me an advantage.”

• NOTES — Colorado State freshman Andre McFarland, a former Durango standout, has started 12 games and made 8 of 10 3-pointers in the past three games. … The Rebels have won nine straight in the series, going 3-0 last season.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2907.