PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Michigan State's trip to Rutgers last season ended with an enduring image from Nick Ward's season: the Spartans forward sitting on a bench in front of his locker, hood over his head, passionately defending his play to reporters after being benched for nearly the entire second half while his coach questioned his effort.
That moment marked the nadir of Ward's season as he played the least he would play all year and a dispute between him and Tom Izzo spilled into public view.
Three hundred and sixty-two days later, Ward was back in the visitors' locker room at the Rutgers Athletic Center.