It was one of the season's most uplifting moments.
On Jan. 23, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo subbed out 6'9" senior forward Matt Costello with four seconds remaining in a win over Maryland. Three days before, Costello had suffered a badly sprained ankle toward the end of a home loss to Nebraska. He had not practiced and did not expect to play. Yet play he did, with enormous energy and devastating effectiveness, contributing 15 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and two steals in a season-turning win. As the sellout crowd at the Breslin Center rose to its feet, Costello sprinted to the sidelines, wrapped his arms around Izzo's waist, lifted his coach off his feet, and twirled him around.