Derrick Nix returns to the Spartans

Derrick Nix, a top 100 recruit in the class of 2009, appeared to be on his way out the door of the Michigan State basketball program.

Nix didn't travel with the team to Maui, citing personal reasons. Head coach Tom Izzo said it was a "mutual decision" for Nix not to travel with the team. It wasn't hard to decipher why Nix was unhappy. He had played just 19 minutes in the Spartans first two games, much less than fellow sophomore Garrick Sherman or freshman Adreian Payne.

Many believed a transfer was coming.

But Nix threw the Spartans a curve ball when they returned from Maui -- he wanted back in:

Derrick Nix sat in East Lansing on Tuesday night, watching the rest of the Michigan State men's basketball team lose to Connecticut in Maui.
Advertisement

Then the result of his actions finally hit him.

"I felt stupid," Nix said. "Like, 'Dang, I should be there.'"

After leaving the team Nov. 28 citing to personal reasons, Nix made his return to the court Sunday, going scoreless in five minutes of action in No. 2 MSU's 73-55 win over Tennessee Tech at Breslin Center.

Nix didn't shed any light on why he didn't make the trip to Maui, but did show remorse.

"All I can say is I let my team down in a big way," Nix said.

Nix played five minutes against Tennessee Tech on Sunday.

Who knows what kind of effect this will have on Michigan State. Nix, after all, appears to be buried on the Spartan bench. When you are playing five minutes against Tennessee Tech in a blow out win, odds are good that those minutes shrink -- not expand -- once conference play comes around.

But Nix is a talented kid. He's 6'9", 275 lb. And while his career 26% free throw shooting means he likely won't be spotting up for threes this season, at the very least he is five more fouls to throw at a guy like Jared Sullinger or Jon Leuer.

This isn't the first time Nix's emotions have helped him make headlines. At the vigil held in East Lansing to try and convince Tom Izzo to remain a Spartan, Nix was the player that was spotted tearing up.