Tag: xavier tillman

MSU Basketball earns share of Big Ten Championship with win over Ohio State

Michigan State basketball beat Ohio State, earning a share of the Big Ten Championship. Read a game recap of this game here.

Michigan State basketball thumped Ohio State 80-69, earning a share of the Big Ten Championship. This was an emotional Senior Day for Cassius Winston, Kyle Ahrens, and Conner George. Cassius led the Spartans with 27 points, six assists, and four rebounds.

Here is a game recap:

First Half

Michigan State scored the first four points of this game. Afterward, Ohio State went on a 7-0 run. The Spartans thundered right back with a 12-0 run of their own until an Ohio State free throw. This run involved back-to-back threes from Rocket Watts. Then, Xavier Tillman then hit a mid-range jumper, giving MSU an 18-10 lead with 13 minutes left in the first half.

Michigan State held an 11 point lead when Winston went to the bench. Ohio State junior Andre Wesson converted on an and-one opportunity down low in the paint. Rocket Watts hit another ridiculous three-pointer off the backboard. Both teams traded buckets back and forth. The Spartans remain ahead 31-21 with six minutes left in the first half.

In two minutes, Ohio State cut the Spartan’s 12-point lead in half. Both teams traded buckets again. Then, Xavier Tillman hit a buzzer-beater fade away to close the first half. Spartans led the Buckeyes 38-32.

Second Half

Ohio State pressed the Spartans hard in the first five minutes of the second half. Andre Wesson scored down low, tying the game at 42 points apiece. Both teams scored again, tying the game at 44-44 with 15 minutes left in the game.

Cassius Winston scored on back-to-back possessions, hitting a mid-range jumper then a three-pointer. This started a 9-2 run for Michigan State which included two layups from Aaron Henry. The Spartans ahead 53-46 with 12 minutes remaining.

Cassius Winston hit another three-pointer, making this his seventh 20-point game of the year. Rocket Watts was then fouled on a made three-point shot. His and-one conversion put the Spartans ahead by 11 points with less than 9 minutes in the game.

Malik Hall blocked a shot for an important defensive stop, keeping the Spartans ahead by double digits. Aaron Henry scored in transition to put MSU ahead by 12 points, matching their greatest lead of the game. The Spartans then pushed their lead to 16 points with five minutes remaining.

Winston hit a step-back three, giving Michigan State a 20 point lead. Ohio State cut the lead down by 11 points before the end of the game. The Spartans enjoyed a strong victory on Senior Day.

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3 Key Takeaways: Michigan State Basketball defeats Penn State on the road

Michigan State basketball beat Penn State on the road last night in a tightly contested Big Ten game. Here are 3 key takeaways.

Michigan State basketball beat Penn State last night, 79-71, in a tightly contested Big Ten road game. Xavier Tillman led the Spartans with a career-high 23 points and a dominant 15 rebounds. Michigan State won despite turnovers and a 19-point deficit in the first half.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Xavier Tillman Is The Best Defender in the Big Ten

Xavier Tillman is ridiculously talented on defense. Last night, he put on another defensive clinic against Penn State Forward Lamar Stevens. Note, Stevens will likely finish his career as one of the best Penn State basketball players of all time. Tillman still clamped him up, especially in the second half during crucial moments. No doubt Tillman will be Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year once this season wraps up.

2. Michigan State Winning Despite Sloppy Play

Cassius Winston has made some very sloppy plays as of late. For instance, he stepped out of bounds last night against Penn State. This turnover was followed by a Nittany Lions 10-2 run, including a flurry of three-pointers. Later in the game, Tillman threw the ball away to Penn State. Michigan State’s turnover problem is not going away and this spells trouble for Sparty in the NCAA tournament.

3. Starters Carry The Team Again

Last night, Penn State’s bench unit contributed 19 total points. In comparison, MSU’s bench unit contributed eight total points. Marcus Bingham Jr. and Thomas Kithier did not score any points. The Spartan’s bench does not need to score an absurd amount of points per game, however, they must contribute more than just eight. We’ll see how this performance plays out as we enter tournament season.

Michigan State plays against Ohio State this upcoming Sunday at 4:30 for a shot at the Big Ten title. The game broadcasts live on CBS.

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2020 NBA Draft Big Board: Latest updates after NCAA regular season

With the near conclusion of the 2019-20 NCAA Men’s Basketball Regular Season, it is worth taking another look at the 2020 NBA Draft prospects.

With the conclusion of the 2019-20 NCAA men’s basketball regular season fast approaching, it’s worth taking another look at the 2020 NBA Draft prospects.

While quite a bit will change on big boards and mock drafts following the conference tournaments and March Madness, some of the top players have already convinced NBA teams that they deserve serious consideration when the draft rolls around on June 25, 2020.

Others still have plenty of time to improve their draft stock on the floor and in workouts and interviews. For what it is worth, former top prospects coming into their freshman campaigns who could go back to school for their sophomore campaigns (for example, Florida’s Scottie Lewis and Duke’s Wendell Moore) were not included on this list.

Note that statistics are pulled from Synergy Sports Tech, Bart-Torvik.com, KenPom.com, RealGM or Sports-Reference.

1. LaMelo Ball, USA

(Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Guard, 6-foot-7, 18 years old

The main reason to believe in Ball as the top player in the 2020 NBA Draft is because of his ridiculously high upside. With his unique size, he can put up a triple-double on any given night. Even when Ball was playing against much older professional competition in Australia’s NBL, Ball nearly averaged a triple-double per 36 minutes. Meanwhile, his defensive stats were also much better than expected, and his basketball instincts are strong. It is difficult to find an accurate read on Ball, given how many different teams he has played for in recent years. However, there should be enough to like about him for a team to select him with one of the first few picks.

2. Onyeka Okongwu, USC

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Big, 6-foot-9, 19 years old

While he’s a bit undersized at 6-9, he can play bigger than his height, given his 7-foot-2 wingspan. For example, his block percentage (10.0%) ranks among the top five of all freshmen this season. He is more celebrated for his defensive ability, but the offense is there, too. Okongwu is averaging 1.14 points per possession as an offensive finisher, per Synergy, which ranks in the 98th percentile among all NCAA players. Put it all together, and the USC big man currently has the best box plus-minus in college basketball. Even if there might not be as much star potential as a player such as Georgia’s Anthony Edwards, he feels much closer to a sure thing in the NBA.

3. Anthony Edwards, Georgia

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Wing, 6-foot-5, 18 years old

Under head coach Tom Crean, the University of Georgia freshman has been a revelation in transition offense. Edwards ranks among the top five nationally in total scoring on these plays, per Synergy, averaging 5.7 points per game. He looks his best when his shot attempts come closer to the rim, especially considering his 6-foot-9 wingspan. Farther from the basket, meanwhile, more than half of his 3-pointers have been unassisted. This shows he is capable of creating his own shot. Edwards, however, is shooting just 30.3% from beyond the arc on the season. But the reason to like him as a top-three pick is more about flashes of greatness, and he is averaging 21.8 points per game in February.

4. Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State

Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 6-foot-5, 20 years old

Haliburton is a skinny, lengthy guard measured with a 7-foot wingspan though and 170-pound frame. But most important is his valuable 3-and-D skill set. Before his injury, his 3-point percentage (41.9%) and steal percentage (3.8%) were both among the best in the NCAA. As a distributor and lead ballhandler, despite an unusually low usage rate, his assist rate still ranks in the top 10 among all underclassmen at high-major programs. Haliburton has been productive enough to suggest he can take over as the starting point guard in the NBA as soon as next season. There may be a low ceiling, but there is also a very high floor.

5. Killian Hayes, Ratiopharm Ulm

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Guard, 6-foot-5, 18 years old

Much like Ball, there is a lot to like about Hayes due to his size and overall upside. He can be a lead ballhandler and has been measured with a 6-foot-7 wingspan. Hayes led France to the silver medal in 2018 at the U17 World Cup, averaging 21.4 points and 4.4 assists with 3.6 steals per 36 minutes. He is shooting 39.0% from beyond the arc in Eurocup action and has been able to produce well as a scorer as he has grown into a bigger role.

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Michigan State basketball overcomes 19-point deficit in 79-71 victory over Penn State

Michigan State basketball overcomes a 19-point deficit vs. Penn State on the road tonight. Read more details about this game in this recap.

Michigan State basketball beat the Penn State Nittany Lions tonight, 79-71. The Spartans trailed Penn State by as many as 19 points in this game. This did not matter. MSU mounted a ridiculously impressive comeback in a tough, road atmosphere.

Here is a quick recap of this game:

First Half

Penn State won the opening tip-off which resulted in a Mike Watkins alley-oop. On the next play, Penn State Guard Jamari Wheeler hit a wide-open corner three. Then, Cassius Winston stepped out of bounds. The Nittany Lions started this game with a 10-2 run. Luckily, Michigan State answered back with two straight buckets. Spartans trailed Penn State 10-6 with 15 minutes left in the first half.

Xavier Tillman threw down an impressive putback dunk, bringing Penn State’s lead to only one point. Both teams traded buckets for the next five minutes. The Nittany Lions were 6-9 from deep in the first ten minutes of this game. Penn State led the Spartans 25-13 with 10 minutes left in the first half.

Aaron Henry scored and then set up teammate Rocket Watts for a three-pointer. Penn State answered right back with two three-pointers, bringing the lead to 15 points with seven minutes left in the first half.  Over the next seven minutes, Penn State hit more shots from deep and did not let up the offensive end.

The Spartans trailed Penn State 46-31 at the half.

Second Half

Aaron Henry splashed a three-pointer to start the second half. Rocket Watts scored on back-to-back possessions, cutting the lead down to just eight points. The Spartans continued their offensive flurry with, shooting 6/6 from the floor in the first four minutes of the second half.

Aaron Henry scored on back-to-back possessions, including a three-pointer, to tie the game at 49 apiece. Then, Xavier Tillman gave MSU its first lead of the game thanks to a beautiful Cassius Winston assist. Penn State had no choice but to call a timeout after buckets from both Winston & Watts.

Rocket Watts and Cassius Winston scored back-to-back three-pointers, stretching the MSU lead to 10 points. Penn State would not go away. Lamar Stevens converted two consecutive and-one plays. One play came as the result of an eight-second backcourt violation from Michigan State.

Winston drew a foul and hit one free-throw, boosting MSU’s lead to six points with 5:30 left in the game. Penn State cut into this lead but the Spartans pushed back. Tillman scored down low, giving MSU a 72-67 lead with less than three minutes remaining.

Aaron Henry scored in the lane. Then, Cassius Winston scored on a drive to the lane, converting on an and-one opportunity. Kyle Ahrens hit two free-throws in the last 30 seconds of this game.

Michigan State was victorious over Penn State in a tough road game. Xavier Tillman had a career-high 23 points and he snagged 14 rebounds.

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Michigan State F Xavier Tillman sets new career-high in scoring in comeback win over Penn State

MSU Basketball big man Xavier Tillman set a new career-high in scoring in the Spartans’ huge comeback win over Penn State.

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Last week, Xavier Tillman became Michigan State Basketball’s All-Time Leader in Blocked Shots and on Tuesday, in the Spartans’ big win against Penn State, he set a new career-high in scoring when he hit 23 points against the Nittany Lions. His previous career-high was 21 points.

Tillman shined in this game for MSU, leading the team in points with 23, rebounds with 15, and minutes with 38. He also had an impact on the game that you can’t exactly pinpoint on a box score. Tillman’s defensive impact was stellar in this one and Tillman really lived up to Izzo’s assertion that he is the best defender in the conference.

Tillman held Penn State star forward, Lamar Stevens to 0 made field goals until deep in the second half while he did his scoring damage on the other end. This was an exciting game that featured one of the biggest, and fastest comebacks I have ever seen in a Michigan State victory and it culminated in a major win for the Spartans, and Xavier Tillman was a giant part of that victory.

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Five Most Important Players: Michigan State Basketball faces Penn State

Michigan State basketball plays against Penn State tomorrow night on ESPN. Here are the 5 most important players in this game.

Michigan State Spartans basketball travels to the Bryce Jordan Center for a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. MSU is currently 20-9 overall and 12-6 in Big Ten Conference play. Penn State is currently 21-8 overall and 11-7 in Big Ten Conference play.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Cassius Winston

Cassius Winston is the most important player for Michigan State basketball in every single game. He can swing a game in less than five possessions with quick transition threes and long-distance three-point shots. All the while, Winston finds wide-open teammates for relatively easy buckets. As a result, he is number one on this particular list of the five most important MSU players.

2. Xavier Tillman Sr.

Another Big Ten matchup against a stellar Forward in Penn State senior Lamar Stevens. Xavier Tillman has been a juggernaut on defense all throughout the year. As of late, he is nothing short of a brick wall near the rim. Tillman stops defenders in their tracks and swats away shots from the best Big Ten players in the conference. He will be vital to Michigan State’s success in this game.

3. Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown is really struggling as of late. He has scored 17 points in the past four games. All 17 points came in just one game against Nebraska. Brown scored zero points in the three other games. Gabe provides energy and spaces the floor for Michigan State. He is crucial to a deep tournament run and must play better against the Nittany Lions.

4. Malik Hall

Well, it looks like Malik Hall is the starting four for MSU now. Furthermore, he is eating up minutes at the position with Thomas Kithier as the backup. Marcus Bignham Jr. has played fewer and fewer minutes as the season comes to an end. Therefore, it only makes sense for Malik Hall to be on this list.

5. Aaron Henry

Aaron Henry did so much more than the box score suggests. He was magnificent on defense, guarding both bigs and perimeter players. He even had a ridiculously impressive block in a crucial moment down the stretch. Henry can raise MSU’s ceiling with his athleticism and shooting. He is easily one of the five most important players in every Spartan basketball game.

Michigan State plays against Penn State tomorrow night at 7 P.M. on ESPN.

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Xavier Tillman, Cassius Winston listed as second round picks in latest RookieWire Big Board

Xavier Tillman and Cassius Winston are both projected as second-round picks according to RookieWire’s latest Big Board.

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Our sister site RookieWire recently put out a final NBA Draft Big Board to mark the final week of the NCAA Men’s Basketball regular season and they have two Spartans ranked in range to be drafted in the second round. Michigan State big man was listed at No. 47 while point guard Cassius Winston was up at No. 39.

Here is what they had to say about both players.

Cassius Winston:

“During his four seasons at Michigan State, Cassius Winston averaged 13.1 assists per 40 minutes. His career assist-rate (43.1%) ranks sixth-best among all NCAA players since 2009-10. While a bit undersized, he has been incredibly productive.”

Xavier Tillman:

“Michigan State junior Xavier Tillman is averaging 13.3 points and 10.2 rebounds with 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. He has been among the most prolific pick-and-roll finishers in the NCAA this season, per Synergy. His block percentage (7.0%) ranks Top-15 among all players as well.”

No Aaron Henry on the list, which went all the way up to 75 players. This was a little surprising to me, but good to at least see two Spartans listed.

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3 Things To Watch: Michigan State Basketball vs. Penn State

Michigan State basketball prepares for a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Here are three things to watch in this upcoming game.

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Michigan State basketball prepares for the penultimate game of this season against the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Spartans just beat Maryland 78-66 in a crucial road game. Penn State, on the other hand, just lost to Iowa 77-68.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

1. Michigan State On A Winning Streak

MSU has won its past three games against Nebraska, Iowa, & Maryland. Penn State has lost 3 of its last 4 games to Illinois, Indiana, & Iowa. Right now, the Spartans are absolutely red hot, beating two of the best teams in the Big Ten. Both teams are trending in the opposite direction. This is the perfect storm for another Michigan State road win. Watch for another strong start from the Spartans on the road.

2. Lamar Stevens vs. Xavier Tillman Sr.

Penn State Forward Lamar Stevens is a beast. He averages 17.7 points per game on 44% shooting, along with 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Likewise, MSU Forward Xavier Tillman Sr. is a monster on defense. Tillman recently clamped up Iowa Forward and Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Luka Garza. Watch for Tillman to lock up Lamar Stevens in a similar fashion.

3. Cassius Winston Puts On Another Show

As of late, Cassius Winston is going off. He currently averages 18.5 points per game on 43% shooting from the floor. He also dishes out 5.8 assists per game. Most importantly, Winston can flip a game upside down in just a handful of possessions. Cassius can push the pace for a quick transition bucket and hits pull up threes with ease.

Cassius Winston has scored a total of 77 points in the last four games and dished out 26 assists as well. His performance on the court is nothing short of stellar. Watch for another high-level game from Winston against Penn State.

MSU takes on Penn State this Tuesday at 7 P.M. on ESPN.

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3 Key Takeaways: No. 24 Michigan State Basketball defeats No. 9 Maryland

Michigan State basketball enjoyed a strong victory over the Maryland Terpins last night, 78-66. Here are three key takeaways from this game.

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Michigan State won an absolutely impressive road game last night against the Maryland Terpins, 78-66. At one point, the Spartans led the Terpins by nearly 16 points. Cassius Winston scored a team-high 20 points in this Big Ten matchup.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. MSU Showcases Dynamic Defense

For the most part, Michigan State clamped up Maryland last night. Forward Jalen Smith led the Terpins in points with 20 points on the night. The Spartans primarily focused on Maryland Guard Anthony Cowan Jr., to great effect.

Cowan Jr. only scored 13 points on 6/15 shooting from the floor. Rocket Watts played excellent defense against Cowan Jr. throughout large portions of this game. Aaron Henry also helped out with stellar perimeter defense, contributing one block and one steal. Meanwhile, Tillman blocked two shots and ended the game with a steal as well.

2. Freshmen Playing With Confidence

Malik Hall and Rocket Watts really stepped up in this game against the Terpins. Most importantly, the freshmen carried themselves with confidence which is critical in away game situations. Malik Hall scored 16 points on 5/5 shooting from the floor. Rocket Watts scored 13 points on 5/13 shooting from the floor along with two rebounds and three assists.

I’ve mentioned before that Michigan State really needs thirty points or so from anyone but Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman. Malik Hall and Rocket Watts both have the talent necessary for this contribution. Hopefully, both freshmen continue this high level of play to close out the season.

3. Room For Growth

MSU’s starting five played a total of 158 minutes. The Spartan bench played a total of 42 minutes. MSU’s starting rotation scored a total of 72 points. The Spartan bench contributed a total of six points, all from Kyle Ahrens. The trend is pretty obvious.

Gabe Brown saw the floor for only five minutes in this game. Marcus Bingham Jr. played no more than three minutes. MSU has a very thin margin for error in the Big Ten Tournament. Brown must score more than 0 points for a Championship run.

Michigan State is back in action this upcoming Tuesday on Feb. 3. The Spartans face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions on ESPN at 7 P.M.

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Game Recap: Michigan State Basketball topples Maryland 78-66

Michigan State Basketball blew out Maryland at the Xfinity Center, 78-66, in a critical Big Ten game. Here is a game recap.

Michigan State basketball handled Maryland at the Xfinity Center in a strong 78-66 victory. Malik Hall scored sixteen points, shooting 5/5 from the floor. Rocket Watts played excellent defense against Anthony Cowan Jr. and delivered clutch buckets. This was a quality road win for Michigan State.

First Half

Aaron Henry scored the first points of this game. Malik Hall followed up with a tightly contested layup. Xavier Tillman blocked a shot which led to a Cassius Winston dime to Hall. Another defensive stop leads to a Rocket Watts corner three. What do you know, the Spartans are off to a strong start on the road.

Malik Hall hit another jumper, putting up six points in less than three minutes. Then, Hall found a wide-open Aaron Henry for a three-point shot. Jalen Smith hit a three, injecting life into the Maryland crowd. Cassius Winston answered right back with a three-pointer of his own. The Spartans led the Terpins 17-5 in the first five minutes.

Maryland scored seven points in the next three minutes, cutting the deficit to five. Luckily, Cassius hit two free-throws to give MSU some space. Both teams exchanged buckets until Maryland tied the game with a three. Xavier Tillman grabbed a tough offensive rebound and scored down low, putting MSU back ahead 25-23 with nine minutes left in the first half.

Cassius Winston scored five points in three possessions, building the lead to seven points. Neither team scored for the next four minutes. Finally, Tillman converted on a low post opportunity. The Spartans scored on consecutive possessions, bringing the lead back out to eight points. Then, Winston hit a crazy, half-court shot to close the half.

Michigan State closed the half ahead 40-29, holding Anthony Cowan Jr. to only six points.

Second Half

Rocket Watts hit a mid-range jumper to start the half. Cassius Winston found Xavier Tillman for a bucket at the rim. Aaron Henry converted on an and-one opportunity. Then, Rocket Watts found Tillman for another easy layup. Michigan State now ahead by 16 points with 17 minutes remaining.

Winston found plenty of space and hit a three-pointer. Maryland answered right back with a bucket from deep. Winston then threw a successful alley-oop to Tillman. The Spartans went 7/7 to start the second half.

Maryland freshman Hakim Hart hit a corner three, cutting the lead to 13 points. Xavier Tillman grabbed an offensive board and found Hall for a three-pointer. Michigan State maintained its lead through exceptional defense.

Gabe Brown grabbed an offensive board and found Rocket Watts all alone beyond the arc. One play later, Tillman scored down in the paint. MSU ahead 66-49 with less than ten minutes left in the game.

Jalen Smith scored in the post on Thomas Kithier, drawing a foul in the process. Marcus Bingham Jr. made his way into the game and took it to Smith after a heated defensive play. This resulted in double technicals for both Bingham Jr. & Smith.

Rocket Watts ended an 8-0 Maryland run with a wide-open three-point shot. He then scored on mid-range pull-up, hushing all Terpins fans in the crowd. Maryland cut the Spartan lead down to 11 points with five minutes left in the game.

Cassius Winston hit a corner three and was fouled on the play. This extended MSU’s lead to thirteen. Hakim Hart scored on a transition layup, cutting the Spartan lead down to 10 yet again with less than three minutes remaining.

Aaron Henry had a huge block down low. Unfortunately, Cassius Winston turned the ball over for the second consecutive possession. Henry then clamped up Anthony Cowan Jr. in a clutch moment.

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