Moiso Might Return to Lineup

UCLA hopes to get Jerome Moiso back today after two games on the bench because of sore arches.

The freshman forward-center probably could have played against California and USC, but the Bruins hoped the rest might eliminate or at least greatly reduce the soreness in time for the NCAA tournament.

Moiso will come off the bench today and be used on a limited basis.

“I think I’m going to have to see in real game conditions, but I think it’s going to be OK,” Moiso said. “I’m going to think about it. But I’m not going to play [all the time]. I’m going to be smart.”

Then he added with his typical self-deprecating humor: “That’s something new for me.”

Moiso has only missed two games, but the arches have been bothering him for weeks. In the last three appearances before the layoff, he averaged 6.3 points and two rebounds and shot 24%, capped by the one-for-12 showing at Stanford.

Coming up: Thursday versus Washington State, Saturday versus Washington.

Today vs. Syracuse, 12:30

Channel 7

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 18-7, Orangemen 18-8.

* Update--This is the first meeting ever between No. 16 UCLA of the Pacific 10 Conference and No. 21 Syracuse of the Big East. Swingman Rico Hines, a key Bruin reserve, might play for the first time since Jan. 4. He was averaging 16.1 minutes before being sidelined because of a broken right foot.

* Tickets--Sold out.