"I'm just the same person," Moe Hargrow said. "I'm basic. I just love to play and I enjoy being given as many minutes as coach will give me."

Moe Hargrow is the same guy he was a year ago. He's goofy, and, if you didn't notice, has a smile on his face about 90 percent of the time. That other 10 percent is usually a look of intensity and determination. The thing about Moe is that while in a year's time, he has done three very important things, in basketball terms - watch, listen and learn - in terms of personality, he is still the same old Moe. The major adjustments for Hargrow revolve around the development of his skills and an added level of responsibility.

Last season, Hargrow saw time in 28 games behind Travarus Bennett, the team's defensive stopper and Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He knew his role was simply to stay focused, learn and work hard. That same perspective is what is driving Hargrow to success this season.

"Last year, I knew I wasn't going to play as many minutes, but I still wanted to stay focused for however many minutes I played," he stated. "It's just the same thing this season. I need to stay focused for however many minutes coach gives me and work hard to win games."

In the first non-conference game of the 2002-03 season versus UNC Asheville, Hargrow showed how hard he has worked. He pulled in five new career-highs with 21 points, four rebounds, six field goals made, eight free throws made and two steals. As a sophomore, he has set himself up for an impressive future. And, the new role that has been placed upon him, will only help him build upon that future. It's just a matter of his desire to work hard, and, let's face it, that's why Moe is so fun to watch.

"I think my role has changed a whole lot because last year I played behind Travarus, who carried a heavy load for us and did a lot of things for us," Hargrow stated. "He was the defensive stopper. Like coach said, I have the ability to be the defensive stopper but it's up to me if I want to work hard. If I do those things, then I'll get those minutes and contribute a lot more in the games."

While he spent his freshman season in a learning role, it was that season and all the experiences that came with it that made Moe who he is now. The "inexperienced" freshman has been left by the wayside leaving a wiser more developed athlete in its place. Hargrow is no longer on the "roller coaster" he calls his freshman year; rather, he has found solid ground and is willing to accept the challenges in front of him with more grace and drive than ever before.

"Last season, I learned that it's a long season and because of that you'll go through a lot of ups and downs," Hargrow said. "You'll face a lot of adversity but you just have to become mentally tough enough to work through all of that. You have to stay strong and work for your goals. It was a roller coaster ride. There were a lot of different things going on mentally, physically and academically. There were a lot of things that challenged me, shaped me and molded me into who I am now."

Associate Head Coach Mike Petersen has also seen how Hargrow responds to challenges and feels that nothing could be more beneficial to a Division I athlete. He wants what any player in Division I basketball should want, a good challenge.

"He's a competitor and he wants those expectations and challenges," Coach Peterson stated. "Anybody that's playing basketball at this level wants to be challenged and Moe's no different than that; he wants to be challenged."

The 2002-03 season could span out to be one of the biggest challenges to Hargrow. He no longer has the long arms of Travaras Bennett to play behind. It is his year to come into his own and take hold of a new role.

From the perspective of Coach Mike Petersen, Moe has the abilities to fill his new role. However, one of the basic tools in the defensive stopper role is to develop a stance with such confidence that you are constantly thinking in the frame that no one can get past you, which is something that, over the past year, Moe has clung to.

"Physically he has the tools to be a good defender; he's long, active and athletic," Coach Petersen said. "And, over the last year he's developed that mindset. He has that individual pride of 'hey, this is a guy that I can stop.' At this level, there is just more responsibilities defending when every player on the court is a good player as opposed to high school when there's maybe just one or two good players. He's done a good job of stepping up his personal intensity level to match that defensive challenge."

Speaking of intensity level, that look of intensity mentioned earlier may not show but 10 percent of the time, but rest assured behind the dominant smile is someone who has been playing a game he loves for his entire life. Going out there and having fun is part of it, but stepping onto a court and playing hard night after night is what molds the expectations that feed the intensity, especially with Hargrow. But, that is also one aspect of Moe that simply hasn't changed.

"My expectations are just to come out and play hard every night," he said. "I've been playing basketball for 19 years so the game doesn't change. I'm still playing to win, the floor is still the same length, and the hoop is the same height. I just have to go out there and play hard night-in and night-out and hopefully that will get us some wins."

You might think that after 19 years of playing the same game, Hargrow has certain basketball events that haunt him, certain losses, certain mishaps. But, after 19 years, he has come to the realization that with winning comes losing and part of playing college basketball is being able to brush yourself off after the loses and simply keep going. When it comes to basketball, he fears nothing because its all about picking yourself up and getting back in the winning way.

"I don't fear anything. I hate to lose but if you are going to play this game, you are going to lose games and make mistakes. You have to be ready to dust it off and keep going. You have to have a short-term memory in order to be a good player at this level. So, I don't really have a fear in basketball."

With all honesty, it might not strike a good chord with Hargrow to reveal his true fears. Yet, how, in one interview, can someone notice that in terms of basketball, Moe is no longer an "inexperienced" freshman, yet in terms of personality, he's still the same old Moe. For instance, Moe contains the skills and confidence to defensively thrive, yet, you know those tiny, furry creatures that can fit through any crack, what are they called? Mice. Well, you know where this is going.

"I hate mice. I hate them with a passion," Hargrow stated. "I think now it's my second year of college so I've kind of grown up a little bit. I wouldn't say I fear them but they nag me. They are too fast, too quiet, too sneaky. They are in the cracks of everything. They are just annoying little rodents."

He'll be the first to admit that he is still the same old Moe, but a year's time has taught him not only that mice are not to be feared, but also that being goofy has its time and place. A year ago, jokes would have been dished out at any time and under any circumstance, but he has learned that maybe he should wait 'til they turn their backs before dishing it out.

"I'm still the same person. I think this year I kind of know when I can and when I can't be goofy," Hargrow said. "Last year, I was always a goofball. Coach just didn't understand why I was so goofy and he didn't think I was really ready for this level. But, this year, when he turns his back, I kind of have my chance to get my little jokes in here and there."

Same old, Same old? In some senses, yes, just look for that smile because it can almost be guaranteed that Moe is being same old goofy Moe. But in other ways, he is hardly the same old Moe because more weights have been added to his shoulders. Those new weights have brought greater challenges that the 'old Moe' may have backed away from. The 'new Moe' has taken a year to watch, listen and learn and isn't afraid of a measly little mouse.

Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Tarcy Thompson

"I'm just the same person," Moe Hargrow said. "I'm basic. I just love to play and I enjoy being given as many minutes as coach will give me."

Moe Hargrow is the same guy he was a year ago. He's goofy, and, if you didn't notice, has a smile on his face about 90 percent of the time. That other 10 percent is usually a look of intensity and determination. The thing about Moe is that while in a year's time, he has done three very important things, in basketball terms - watch, listen and learn - in terms of personality, he is still the same old Moe. The major adjustments for Hargrow revolve around the development of his skills and an added level of responsibility.

Last season, Hargrow saw time in 28 games behind Travarus Bennett, the team's defensive stopper and Co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He knew his role was simply to stay focused, learn and work hard. That same perspective is what is driving Hargrow to success this season.

"Last year, I knew I wasn't going to play as many minutes, but I still wanted to stay focused for however many minutes I played," he stated. "It's just the same thing this season. I need to stay focused for however many minutes coach gives me and work hard to win games."

In the first non-conference game of the 2002-03 season versus UNC Asheville, Hargrow showed how hard he has worked. He pulled in five new career-highs with 21 points, four rebounds, six field goals made, eight free throws made and two steals. As a sophomore, he has set himself up for an impressive future. And, the new role that has been placed upon him, will only help him build upon that future. It's just a matter of his desire to work hard, and, let's face it, that's why Moe is so fun to watch.

"I think my role has changed a whole lot because last year I played behind Travarus, who carried a heavy load for us and did a lot of things for us," Hargrow stated. "He was the defensive stopper. Like coach said, I have the ability to be the defensive stopper but it's up to me if I want to work hard. If I do those things, then I'll get those minutes and contribute a lot more in the games."

While he spent his freshman season in a learning role, it was that season and all the experiences that came with it that made Moe who he is now. The "inexperienced" freshman has been left by the wayside leaving a wiser more developed athlete in its place. Hargrow is no longer on the "roller coaster" he calls his freshman year; rather, he has found solid ground and is willing to accept the challenges in front of him with more grace and drive than ever before.

"Last season, I learned that it's a long season and because of that you'll go through a lot of ups and downs," Hargrow said. "You'll face a lot of adversity but you just have to become mentally tough enough to work through all of that. You have to stay strong and work for your goals. It was a roller coaster ride. There were a lot of different things going on mentally, physically and academically. There were a lot of things that challenged me, shaped me and molded me into who I am now."

Associate Head Coach Mike Petersen has also seen how Hargrow responds to challenges and feels that nothing could be more beneficial to a Division I athlete. He wants what any player in Division I basketball should want, a good challenge.

"He's a competitor and he wants those expectations and challenges," Coach Peterson stated. "Anybody that's playing basketball at this level wants to be challenged and Moe's no different than that; he wants to be challenged."

The 2002-03 season could span out to be one of the biggest challenges to Hargrow. He no longer has the long arms of Travaras Bennett to play behind. It is his year to come into his own and take hold of a new role.

From the perspective of Coach Mike Petersen, Moe has the abilities to fill his new role. However, one of the basic tools in the defensive stopper role is to develop a stance with such confidence that you are constantly thinking in the frame that no one can get past you, which is something that, over the past year, Moe has clung to.

"Physically he has the tools to be a good defender; he's long, active and athletic," Coach Petersen said. "And, over the last year he's developed that mindset. He has that individual pride of 'hey, this is a guy that I can stop.' At this level, there is just more responsibilities defending when every player on the court is a good player as opposed to high school when there's maybe just one or two good players. He's done a good job of stepping up his personal intensity level to match that defensive challenge."

Speaking of intensity level, that look of intensity mentioned earlier may not show but 10 percent of the time, but rest assured behind the dominant smile is someone who has been playing a game he loves for his entire life. Going out there and having fun is part of it, but stepping onto a court and playing hard night after night is what molds the expectations that feed the intensity, especially with Hargrow. But, that is also one aspect of Moe that simply hasn't changed.

"My expectations are just to come out and play hard every night," he said. "I've been playing basketball for 19 years so the game doesn't change. I'm still playing to win, the floor is still the same length, and the hoop is the same height. I just have to go out there and play hard night-in and night-out and hopefully that will get us some wins."

You might think that after 19 years of playing the same game, Hargrow has certain basketball events that haunt him, certain losses, certain mishaps. But, after 19 years, he has come to the realization that with winning comes losing and part of playing college basketball is being able to brush yourself off after the loses and simply keep going. When it comes to basketball, he fears nothing because its all about picking yourself up and getting back in the winning way.

"I don't fear anything. I hate to lose but if you are going to play this game, you are going to lose games and make mistakes. You have to be ready to dust it off and keep going. You have to have a short-term memory in order to be a good player at this level. So, I don't really have a fear in basketball."

With all honesty, it might not strike a good chord with Hargrow to reveal his true fears. Yet, how, in one interview, can someone notice that in terms of basketball, Moe is no longer an "inexperienced" freshman, yet in terms of personality, he's still the same old Moe. For instance, Moe contains the skills and confidence to defensively thrive, yet, you know those tiny, furry creatures that can fit through any crack, what are they called? Mice. Well, you know where this is going.

"I hate mice. I hate them with a passion," Hargrow stated. "I think now it's my second year of college so I've kind of grown up a little bit. I wouldn't say I fear them but they nag me. They are too fast, too quiet, too sneaky. They are in the cracks of everything. They are just annoying little rodents."

He'll be the first to admit that he is still the same old Moe, but a year's time has taught him not only that mice are not to be feared, but also that being goofy has its time and place. A year ago, jokes would have been dished out at any time and under any circumstance, but he has learned that maybe he should wait 'til they turn their backs before dishing it out.

"I'm still the same person. I think this year I kind of know when I can and when I can't be goofy," Hargrow said. "Last year, I was always a goofball. Coach just didn't understand why I was so goofy and he didn't think I was really ready for this level. But, this year, when he turns his back, I kind of have my chance to get my little jokes in here and there."

Same old, Same old? In some senses, yes, just look for that smile because it can almost be guaranteed that Moe is being same old goofy Moe. But in other ways, he is hardly the same old Moe because more weights have been added to his shoulders. Those new weights have brought greater challenges that the 'old Moe' may have backed away from. The 'new Moe' has taken a year to watch, listen and learn and isn't afraid of a measly little mouse.

Written by Athletics Media Relations Student Assistant Tarcy Thompson