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Moiso Has Become Double Trouble

Sophomore power forward Jerome Moiso has reached double figures in scoring and rebounding in five of the last eight games, a surge that began shortly after a conversation with assistant coach Jim Saia about not worrying so much about a potential jump to the NBA after this season.

Moiso is averaging 16.4 points and 9.9 rebounds in the eight games, the best stretch of his Bruin career, pushing his season numbers to 14.2 and eight. There also has been obvious improvement in his intensity.

“I think I’m more aggressive,” Moiso said. “I’m not letting calls or missed shots disturb me or take me out of the game.”

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Said Saia: “It’s the confidence. He always used to tell me he needs a psychologist, kiddingly. I’m not a sports psychologist, but one thing I know is that he had to stop worrying about tomorrow. Just get into the game and not worry about what may happen. He is a competitive player and he wants to be in the NBA. Those things were not happening for him [earlier in the season], and I think he was getting down on himself. Now, he just wants the ball.”

Befitting the new attitude, Moiso is avoiding anything more than general talk about the possibility of him leaving UCLA for the pros after this season.

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