Neitzel was a very good shooter and a better than average passer, but he was not a dominant player that could control a game at any point in his career. Did he have some big games, yes, did MSU have a lot of success in those games...not really.
There is a difference to the type of injury Lucas had and what Neitzel had. Neitzel missed a game or only played in part of it. Lucas had an achilles injury and will never be the same, period. No matter how advance science has come there are still two injuries, save a spinal injury, that end or limit careers: Achilles tendon tear and Dislocation/Fracture of ankle. Each injury takes years to come back from, no matter how soon that player is able to come back.
Lucas is a whole other subject, we can debate all day if he should have been POY as a sophomore. Comparing the injuries of the two is not exactly a real argument.
If Neitzel was that hurt and hurting his team or himself, the coaches should have pulled him until he was healthy, or as healthy as he could be, but instead it is always feel sorry for him and make excuses, he also led MSU in minutes played that year, so how hurt was he really? That is what ticks me off about any player, pull him if he is truly hurt, if not, don't cry and make excuses.
