Freshman forward Xavier Tillman (23) addresses the media after the game against Syracuse on March 18, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Spartans fell to the Orange, 55-53 ending their NCAA journey.
No. 10 Michigan State men’s basketball is set to open its 1-game exhibition stint against Northern Michigan Tuesday night. With the new season, however, there is always something that seems to take fans by surprise. This year, coach Tom Izzo insists that surprise will be in the form of sophomore forward Xavier Tillman.
“Xavier might be, you know, a guy that’s improved enormously, and could be a guy you say ‘wow,'" Izzo said at MSU's Media Day Thursday.
Tillman turned some heads in his brief appearances last season, shooting 65 percent from the floor and averaging 0.7 blocks and 2.4 rebounds in just over eight minutes per game, capitalizing on on-court opportunities and garnering more playing time as the season went on.
A number of players moved forward this offseason, including a much-leaner Nick Ward, who showed off his new-and-improved ball-handling skills in this summer’s Moneyball tournament. However, Izzo insists none made greater strides than Tillman.
“It sounds like everybody’s made progress, but nobody, nobody on our whole team has made more progress than Xavier Tillman,” Izzo said. “He fits right in there with Josh and Quaido [Matt McQuaid] in that he’s a gym rat, he’s one of the more tenacious workers.”
Tillman is rocking a trimmer look coming into this season, weighing in at 245 pounds, which is down 15 pounds from what he weighed last year. According to Tillman, his lighter frame will help him take his game to new heights.
“He’s worked to change his body. He’s worked to change his mind, his approach to school,” Izzo said. “He’s worked to change his shot. You watch him now, he definitely can shoot threes. He’s just a tenacious rebounder, and I think the loss of weight has made him a better athlete.”
And Tillman’s “tenacious” rebounding efforts should come in handy, as the Spartans will look for help in that area after losing three of their top four rebounders from last year in Jackson Jr., Bridges and Gavin Schilling.
Tillman is not known for being a shooter despite proving to be an efficient scorer. In fact, he has yet to attempt a 3-point shot in his young collegiate career. However, his new-found athleticism and quickness could help his perimeter game.
“I’m shooting a lot on the outside compared to last year,” Tillman said. “Overall, my scoring ability and my confidence has just gone through the roof.”
If Tillman’s newfound shooting ability can translate onto the court, he has a chance to become another offensive threat on a team that ranked second in the Big Ten in 3-point field goal percentage last season at 40 percent.
Not only has Tillman improved his on-court skills, but his work ethic and vocalism are quickly propelling him into a leadership position amongst his teammates.
“This kid could go down as one of the poster boy examples of if you put your mind to something and it’s important enough,” Izzo said. “He’s been a tenacious worker; he’s getting to be a good leader. I think he’s going to be a great captain someday.”
The glimpses of potential shown through his limited playing time have put him in consideration for a spot in the Spartan starting five that is expected to also consist of guards Cassius Winston, McQuaid, Joshua Langford and Ward.
However, Tillman may have more to offer coming in the second rotation according to Izzo.
“Xavier might start, but I think that he gives us more off the bench,” Izzo said. “So I’m going to have to look at that.”
Even if Tillman doesn’t find his way into Izzo’s starting five, signs are surely pointing to him getting his fair share of playing time off the bench.
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