Derrick Nix has made strides to become a better person, basketball player and student-athlete. 

The Michigan State Spartans center wasn't the first player to be hit with disciplinary action from coach Tom Izzo, and he won't be the last. 

Sure, Nix has made his share of poor decisions—but what college student hasn't—in past years. He was pulled over this past spring due to a traffic violation, only for officers to discover marijuana in the vehicle. He contemplated leaving Michigan State prior to the 2010 Maui Classic due to a personal issue. 

Was the tweet-at a low blow or part of the job?

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Nix recently said that he felt that the now-No. 3-ranked Spartans were underrated, comparing himself and his teammates to those of the No. 1-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, who visit the Breslin Center on Tuesday night. 

He's vocal and, at times, unfiltered. To criticize him for making such comparisons is fair, but to throw a juvenile comment at him about his past on Twitter is unacceptable—especially when it comes from a "professional" ESPN radio host.

If you view Schenkel's Twitter feed, he defends his comments. However, he crossed a line with his social media assault on Nix because he sent the message to Nix. Had he posted the message without including Nix's Twitter handle, we may have a different issue all together. 

Apparently Schenkel felt he was simply carrying out the duties of his profession.

Getting ratings and "tweet-ats" at the expense of a college kid is beyond low. However, athletes are fair game in this day and age of instant information. Jokes are often made about a college player's misdeeds, but as mentioned above, publicly blasting a collegiate athlete by including him or her in the tweet borders on bad taste. 

 

Follow Bleacher Report's Michigan State Spartans basketball writer Adam Biggers on Twitter @AdamBiggers81