UCLA coach DeShaun Foster stands on the sideline during a loss to Indiana on Sept. 14.

(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)

Foster said his team’s execution issues have been tied to players being overly excited and trying to do too much, especially early in the game. UCLA has been outscored by a combined 34-7 in the first half. Coaches have tried to get players to relax.

“Let the game come to you,” Foster said of his advice. “Don’t play out of character, you know what I mean? That’s basically what we’re trying to get the guys to just settle down ‘cause once we settle down, we’re able to execute.”

Havili Kaufusi said part of the problem has been making each moment bigger than it needs to be.

“These guys, they know how important, how big every game is and they don’t want to mess it up for their teammates, they don’t want to mess it up for the coaching staff because we know how much work we’ve put in,” Havili Kaufusi said. “That’s why we have to as players do a better job of encouraging each other, that each game, we really dreamed about this stuff as a kid and just use that, like go out there and have fun and just execute, man, just play for each other, I think that’s the biggest thing.”