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Mike Moser’s playing on the wing, but don’t expect fewer rebounds

spt-120806-moser-AP

Mike Miller

Mike Moser’s UNLV’s best player and rebounder. But the newly loaded frontcourt – transfers Khem Birch and Roscoe Smith, freshman Anthony Bennett bolster a lineup with Qunitrell Thomas and Carlos Lopez – means he’ll see more time on the wing this season. The thought of an aggressive, quick 6-foot-8 guy on the wing must give opposing coaches a pit in their stomach.

Even more foreboding? Don’t expect Moser to attack the boards with any less ferocity.

“I’m not really thinking, ‘Oh, we’ve got big guys so I can stay on the perimeter and not rebound,’” Moser told the Las Vegas Sun. “I’m still trying to go get 12 to 20 rebounds a game.

“When it comes to rebounding, Coach hasn’t really changed anything with me.”

That’s not surprising. Moser already found a way to grab rebounds – especially on the offensive glass – last season despite spending extensive time on the perimeter. The bigger question will be if Moser allows those big guys to hit the glass. That’d be the smart thing to do.

Rather than grab every rebound in sight, Moser could conserve some energy and potentially not see a drop in production at season’s end. After all, was it a coincidence that the Rebs dropped five of their last nine last in the season when he faded a bit? A more active, more energetic Moser (and improving on his 33 percent shooting from beyond the arc) would be a considerable antidote to failing UNLV health.

You also can follow me on Twitter @MikeMillerNBC.