Costello questionable with back injury
EAST LANSING - Michigan State freshman center Matt Costello sustained a bruised lower back and tailbone while taking a hard fall in practice today. He is questionable for Tuesday's exhibition season opener.
"It just looks like a bone bruise, and it was a nasty one," coach Tom Izzo said after practice. "Whether he will play tomorrow I don't know. So he is pretty upset, but it doesn't seem to be anything serious, just a bone bruise right on that tailbone. It will probably be a little bit sore tomorrow."
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The 6-foot-9, 245-pound Costello, who was named Mr. Basketball in the state of Michigan last year while starring at Bay City Western High School, has been competing for a role as a reserve big man.
Costello sustained the injury while being inadvertently undercut by one or two teammates as he was going up for a rebound. He fell hard to the floor from a considerable distance in the air. His back and head seemed to hit the court simultaneously.
He lay motionless on the court for almost a minute after the fall. Teammates gathered around him in support as he recuperated. He was helped off the court and was examined by team doctors in the locker room. He later returned to watch practice from the bench with ice strapped to his back and his wrist.
"They told me that it was 90 percent his back and the wrist will heal," Izzo said.
Michigan State will play host to Northwood (Fla.) at 7 p.m., Tuesday at Breslin Center. Northwood is coached by former Villanova head coach Rollie Massimino.