Oct. 26, 2009

Milwaukee - When the Utah Jazz open the regular season Wednesday night on national television (ESPN), Wesley Matthews will become the 43rd player in Marquette history to play in the National Basketball Association.

A free-agent invitee to training camp, Matthews has earned a spot on the opening-night roster and has been a regular starter during the preseason campaign. He concluded the eight-game slate averaging 8.1 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 44.4 percent from behind the 3-point line and 88.5 percent from the charity stripe.

Matthews' father, Wes, played nine seasons in the NBA and was a member of two championship squads with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980's.

Matthews' nervous days are over for the short term, having survived the preseason roster cutdown. After several days of seeing fellow teammates, including draft selections, get waived, it wasn't until he sat down for lunch late last week that he officially found out he had made the squad.

"I didn't know how long the process would last," Matthews said. "I was sitting at Subway eating lunch and my agent called to congratulate me. Obviously my status could change at any time, but I am grateful for the opportunity I have been presented."

Matthews' first call upon learning the news was to his mother, Pam Moore, who will be in Denver for the season opener. When he does take to the court, Matthews and his father, Wes, will become one of less than 30 father-son combos to play in the history of the NBA. The list also includes two names very familiar to Marquette fans - Al and Allie McGuire.

"It feels good," Matthews said. "I know I could be waived at any time, but I can't think like that. I feel like I have a lot to offer this team and I am going to make the most of it, just like I did this preseason."

Marquette fans hopefully won't have to wait long to see the familiar No. 23 jersey on national television, although now the name and number will be on a Utah uniform.

"I hopefully will be able to get some minutes in the opener," Matthews said. "I am going to prepare myself like I do every day and be ready if my name is called."

Matthews joins former MU players Travis Diener, Steve Novak and Dwyane Wade currently in the NBA. Utah hosts Novak's Clippers Friday night (Oct. 30) in the team's home opener.