EAST LANSING — Most always, it's a good thing when ESPN's Dick Vitale is broadcasting from your school's campus.

Vitale, ESPN's college hoops hype man and a celebrated figure in the sport, helps the cable giant draw tremendous ratings and does a great deal of positive promotions at each college stop.

But that's not exactly how it worked out for No. 4 Michigan State in its 72-68 loss to No. 1 Indiana on Tuesday night.

Vitale accused Michigan State's Derrick Nix of dirty play against Hoosiers' All-American Cody Zeller with 2:22 left in the game at the Spartans up 66-63.

On Wednesday night, Vitale issued a statement on twitter:

"Spoke to writers that cover MSU about video on Nix/Zeller =INCONCLUSIVE -I was too tough on Nix-IU fans blame Nix-MSU Zeller-Refs were right"

But is that enough (see poll at bottom)?

After all, the referees viewed footage of the controversial play and did not call a foul on Nix.

But during the telecast, when play was stopped for review of the play, Vitale, guest commentator Earvin "Magic" Johnson and ESPN's Mike Tirico discussed what they suggested was a flagrant attempt at payback by Nix, who had been hit below the belt in the midsection by Zeller earlier in the game.

Earlier, play was not stopped to review Zeller's blow to Nix, nor was it discussed in great detail.

But after Nix's contact with Zeller, Nix was shown repeatedly on camera during the timeout as the commentators discussed their accusations.

Vitale's words landed in a Wednesday USA Today column, which in turn took comments made by Nix last week out of context.

USA Today columnist Scott Gleeson also delivered his interpretation of the television video, writing:

"The Spartans' Derrick Nix, who notoriously called Indiana players "overrated" last week, appeared to take a cheap shot below the belt against Indiana's Cody Zeller near the end of the second half with two minutes remaining."

Vitale had indeed suggested as much.

"There's no doubt about it, he catches him with the elbow," Vitale said on the broadcast. "See that, Magic? There's no place for that. No place for that in basketball. Play the game, play with good sportsmanship, play the game. Don't ruin it because of some stupidity, and some immature action."

A YouTube video of the play appeared on Wednesday that was taken from a different angle, and it seemed to show that Cody Zeller had actually pulled Nix's arm and hand into him, perhaps looking to draw a foul.

Zeller immediately turned to the referee after the contact and asked for a foul to be called.

Indiana coach Tom Crean can be seen talking to an official at sidecourt, asking him to stop play on account of Zeller -- which begs the question: How was Crean able to see what happened from where he was standing? Even assuming Crean had a clear vantage point, why would he be looking under the basket when the ball was 20 feet away?

The sidecourt official appeared to stop the play, after which Nix went over to another official to explain what Zeller had done, following him toward the Indiana bench.

The replay showed Nix's wrist was limp once Zeller -- who had ahold of Nix's arm -- appeared to swing Nix's arm into himself. Nix turned to Zeller after the contact with a look of bewilderment, as Zeller doubled over and grimaced.

Indiana made Zeller available to talk on Doug Gottlieb's CBS national radio show on Wednesday.

"I've gotten all kinds of stuff this morning on people saying I did it to myself,'' Zeller said on the CBS show. "But If you're a guy and you've ever been hit in that area, I don't think you're going to hit yourself in that area.

"I was just starting to work for post position and got hit. I don't' know whether he meant to or not.''

Zeller said he gets roughed up a great deal in the Big Ten because of his star status.

" It's a physical game, it's a physical league and I guess that stuff happens,'' Zeller said. "I kind of expect it because I'm kind of the marked guy, play in the Big Ten, especially with a lot riding on last night's game.

"Nothing came of it, of that play, because they went to the monitor and said there was nothing there. So It didn't affect the game that much.''

Vitale, in his post game breakdown, said the play did play a large role in the outcome.

"Michigan State had the crowd in it, momentum, the place was going nuts,'' Vitale said. "Nix scored inside, they got four quick points as far as lead, 67-63, (actually 66-63) and then all the sudden had that contact with that controversial play with Zeller.

"He (Nix) goes out of the game…(Michigan State coach) Tom Izzo takes him out, and I think that broke up the momentum,'' he said. "And it gave the edge to Indiana, because the crowd, they went to the monitor, it took time, and it just quieted everyone down.''

Vitale told the Detroit Free Press he doesn't believe Zeller initiated the contact with Nix, even after seeing the replays.