Ever since he got in trouble, Marshall Moses has noticed subtle differences in the way people approach him.
Those that used to offer a polite greeting are more likely to turn away from him. Small gestures like a friendly wave don't come as often for the Oklahoma State forward.
And Moses can't blame those who don't know him. He was suspended for one game after being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license last month.
But Moses is on a mission now, to prove to everyone that he's not a ``bad guy'' and to get the Cowboys (16-7, 4-5 Big 12) into the NCAA tournament for the second straight year.
He says he has a new respect for players who overcome adversity and believes he's tough enough to do the same.
``I'm working every day to get better at basketball, to be a better person, to clear my name for whoever thinks I'm a bad guy,'' Moses said as the Cowboys prepared to face rival Oklahoma (13-10, 4-5) on Saturday.
``It may not seem like a lot, but it's tough to deal with, especially when you're a college athlete and a student. But that's no excuse. When it's time to play ball, I've got to play ball. I plan on picking my play up and doing whatever it takes to help my team win from this point on.''
Moses was arrested shortly after midnight on Jan. 4 when a Stillwater police officer said he spotted marijuana in his car during a traffic stop. It was the second time in under two months that he had been ticketed for driving with a suspended license, and coach Travis Ford made the middle of the night trip to get him out of jail.
Since then, he's been trying to restore his image and get back on his game - a process that hit a snag when he and teammate Matt Pilgrim got into a sideline scuffle in a loss to Texas last week. Moses was dropped from the starting lineup Saturday at Texas Tech, when Oklahoma State lost its third game in a row.
``I don't isolate myself from it at all. I look it right in the face every day,'' Moses said. ``I get up and face it every morning with no fear because I put myself in this position. I'm going to get myself out of it. That's how I feel.''
Moses admits he's been surprised at how the distractions have affected him, even if his production hasn't dropped off much. He was averaging 11.2 points and a team-high 10.2 rebounds at the time of his arrest, and is down about two points and one rebound since then.
``I just never knew what it would feel like,'' Moses said. ``I've always seen guys go through it. Now, I know what it feels like. The guys who make it through, I've got a different kind of respect for them. You've got to be tough to make it through, and I'm tough, so I'm going to get through it.
``I know it, but I don't like it. I don't like it at all.''
The Cowboys need Moses to be a steady contributor, as he had been during the stretch of the season when he was averaging a double-double.
``Marshall just needs to quit worrying and just needs to play hard and do all the little things, intangible things, and be a guy that just goes out every night trying to prove himself and don't worry about the other things,'' Ford said. ``He's a very talented individual. He's got a lot of strengths he can bring to this basketball team.''
Moses said he received some inspiration from the presence of Byron Eaton, Oklahoma State's senior point guard from last season who was at practice this week. While Eaton has spent most of his time helping to mentor his young replacements, Moses has been learning from him, too.
``It's my role on this team, I've been forced to be a leader,'' said Moses, a junior. ``I know how to lead and tell guys the right things but I'm still young myself and I still need some guidance in leadership. That's something that Byron definitely brought to the team last year and has been helping me with now that he's been back.''
Behind Eaton, the Cowboys won six of their last seven Big 12 games last season to return to the NCAA tournament after a three-year drought. Saturday marks the beginning of the team's final seven-game stretch this year, with OSU once again under .500 in conference play.
The Cowboys lost six of the last seven Bedlam games against Oklahoma, including the last two in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
``Our back is against the wall. We want to make the NCAA tournament more than anything,'' Moses said. ``Right now, we've got to make some moves, make some plays and win some games or we won't be playing in the tournament.''
