Tag: xavier tillman

Michigan State Basketball vs. Maryland: 3 Things To Watch

Michigan State Basketball takes on the Maryland Terpins this upcoming Saturday. Here are 3 things to watch in this Big Ten basketball game.

The Spartans face off against the Maryland Terpins for the second time in less than two weeks. Michigan State just toppled Iowa, 78-70 at the Breslin Center. Maryland, on the other hand, just beat lost to Ohio State 79-72.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

1. MSU Playing With Confidence

Maryland bested Michigan State in their last meeting just about two weeks ago. The Spartans swung a lead late in the game but could not hold on. Instead, Maryland Guard Anthony Cowan Jr. went thermonuclear. He went on an 11-0 run against MSU, giving the Terpins a strong victory.

The Spartans did to Iowa what they could not do to Maryland. Now, MSU is playing with some confidence. Especially players like Malik Hall, Rocket Watts, & Aaron Henry. This game against the Terpins will be close, no doubt. Watch for Michigan State’s confidence levels to be at a season-high level.

2. Malik Hall Back In The Starting Lineup

Malik Hall has a lot of growing to do but has shown flashes of excellence so far. He hustles on the boards and on defense, even if the latter results in foul trouble. Hall only tallied up a total of two personal fouls against Iowa though. Remember, Hall got the start against Maryland the last time around. Watch for his return to the starting lineup against Maryland.

3. Xavier Tillman Sr. More Involved On Offense

Xavier Tillman Sr. did so much defensive against Iowa but struggled on offense. Against Iowa, Tillman scored a total of six points on 2/4 from the floor and 2/4 from the free-throw line. This won’t happen in back-to-back games. Instead, MSU will run a bevy of plays for Tillman including Winston pick and rolls. Watch for a stellar offensive performance from Xavier Tillman Sr.

Michigan State plays against Maryland this Saturday at 8 P.M. on ESPN.

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3 Key Takeaways: No. 24 Michigan State defeats No. 18 Iowa

Michigan State Basketball took down one of the best Big Ten teams in the Iowa Hawkeyes. Here are three key takeaways from this game.

Michigan State Basketball defeated arguably the best Big Ten team last night in the Iowa Hawkeyes. Cassius Winston led the Spartans to a 78-70 victory at the Breslin Center. In this same game, Xavier Tillman became MSU’s all-time leader in blocks.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Stop Sleeping On Cassius Winston

For some reason, I feel like Cassius Winston is underrated. There was so much hype on Luka Garza as the best Big Ten player. Some even put Garza onto the national stage as the best NCAA player this season. Cassius Winston’s performance last night obviously warrants a debate.

Luka Garza was locked down in the second half while Winston erupted for 19 second-half points. Cassius didn’t put up unimpressive 19 points either. Instead, he left Iowa defenders in his dust while driving to the basketball. At one point, Winston hit a fadeaway corner three-pointer. He took control of this game and made everything look so easy.

2. Xavier Tillman Sr. Is The Best Big Ten Defender

As mentioned earlier, Tillman became the all-time leader in blocks at Michigan State. He also completely locked up Luka Garza in the process. Tillman held Garza to only eight second-half points. Late in the game, Tillman had a critical block on Garza as well.

Let’s put this defensive performance against Garza into perspective. No other team has kept Garza to 20 points or less since Nebraska on January 1. Tillman deserves every single bit of praise available. Even Izzo spoke on Xavier being the best defender in the Big Ten.

3. Rocket Watts & Aaron Henry Provide Scoring Boost

Rocket Watts scored 21 points last night, matching his career-high total from the Illinois game a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, Aaron Henry put up a season-high of 17 points. Aaron Henry, Rocket Watts, Gabe Brown, & Kyle Ahrens are all incredibly important to a deep NCAA tournament. MSU needs two or more of these players contributing at least 15 points a game. Luckily, Watts & Henry stepped up to the plate against Iowa.

The Spartans are back in action again this upcoming Saturday at 8 P.M. on ESPN.

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Xavier Tillman is now Michigan State Basketball’s All-Time Leader in Career Blocks

Xavier Tillman set the new Michigan State career blocks record in the Spartans win against Iowa at home.

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In a game in which he shut down one of the best players in the country, Iowa’s Luka Garza in the second half, Xavier Tillman passed Matt Costello to become Michigan State basketball’s All-Time Leader in career blocks with 147 while helping lead the Spartans past the Hawkeyes 78-70.

Tillman had just recently passed a few other Spartans in Adreian Payne (141 blocks), Branden Dawson (142 blocks), and Nick Ward (143 blocks).

In this huge game against Iowa, Tillman only scored 6 points, but Izzo still pointed out his defense in the press conference and said he “was a man.” He had two blocks in the game and really just took Luka Garza out of the second half in one of the most impressive defensive performances of the year.

Fittingly, Tillman’s record-setting block came against Garza:

With 147 blocks Tillman is now number 40 in Big Ten history for career blocks.

It should also be noted that Tillman played this game with a new name on his back in “Tillman Sr.” after the birth of his son.

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Game Recap: Cassius Winston leads MSU basketball in comeback victory against Iowa 78-70

Michigan State Basketball beat Iowa at the Breslin Center, 78-70, in a wonderful comeback victory. Here is a quick game recap of this win.

Michigan State Basketball beat Iowa at home, 78-70. Michigan State put out a starting lineup of Cassius Winston, Rocket Watts, Aaron Henry, Marcus Bingham Jr., and Xavier Tillman. This was a physical matchup between two of the better Big Ten basketball teams. Rocket Watts and Cassius Winston led MSU in scoring with 21 and 20 points respectively.

Here is a recap of this game:

First Half

MSU started strong out of the gate with two defensive stops on Iowa Center Luka Garza. Both teams exchanged buckets in the first two minutes of this game. Rocket Watts hit a floater nearly three minutes into this game, tying up the score 7-7. Note, MSU turned the ball over three times in the first four minutes of this game. Meanwhile, Luka Garza was 0/4 from the floor.

Xavier Tillman picked up his second foul five minutes into the game, not good. Malik Hall scored on back-to-back possessions, keeping the score close. MSU moved the ball around well, finding Aaron Henry wide open for three. Iowa answered back with a bucket of their own. The Hawkeyes led the Spartans 18-14 halfway through the first half.

Michigan State played excellent defense for the next two minutes. Then, Winston found Kithier on an alley-oop layup. The Spartans went on a 7-0 run to take a 21-20 lead with 6:30 left in the first half. Michigan State then missed its next five shots. Meanwhile, Iowa pushed its lead to 31-25.

Iowa closed out the half with a lead of 33-27.

Second Half

Michigan State used its starting lineup at the beginning of the second half. This resulted in an immediate Cassius Winston three-pointer. Iowa extended the lead to seven points the largest lead of the game. Then, Ryan Kriener hit a three-pointer and Iowa led by 10.

The Spartans struggled against Luka Garza as do most teams. Rocket Watts hit a clutch three then Xavier Tillman netted a free throw. Cassius Winston then scored on a ridiculous, fade away corner three. This cut the deficit to only two points. Luka Garza was fouled down low and converted the and-one opportunity. MSU down 46-41 with 15 minutes left in the game.

Rocket Watts turned the ball over and left a three-point shooter wide open for three. Iowa now leading by eight points. Cassius Winston scored on three consecutive plays, including two three-pointers and a layup. A few plays later, Henry hit a mid-range jumper to tie the game, 51-51.

Winston found Tillman down low for an easy bucket. Thus, MSU enjoyed its first lead of the game since the close of the first half. Both teams traded buckets back and forth for the next five minutes. Aaron Henry hit two free throws with four minutes remaining to push MSU ahead 63-61.

Rocket Watts hit another clutch three-pointer but Iowa answered back. Henry scored down near the rim, putting MSU ahead 68-64. Then, Xavier Tillman stole the ball on a critical play. Rocket Watts scored on a fast break play. Xavier Tillman continued his stellar defense on Garza with another critical stop.

Cassius Winston hit both free throws. MSU now ahead 72-64 with one minute remaining in the game.

The Spartans closed out this game with more free throws, enjoying a 78-70 comeback victory at the Breslin Center.

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Five Most Important Players: MSU Basketball vs. Iowa

Michigan State basketball is facing another great Big Ten team in the Iowa Hawkeyes this week. Here are the 5 most important players.

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Another Big Ten matchup is here. This time, Michigan State basketball plays against the Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa is ranked no. 20 in the nation and features one of the best Big Ten players in Luka Garza. Michigan State must play their best game this year to beat the Hawkeyes.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Cassius Winston

Normally, I do not include Cassius Winston on my 5 most important player lists but this game is really important. Thus, Cassius must lead the Spartans to victory against Iowa. MSU needs at least 23 points from Winston. Furthermore, he must trim down the turnovers. He averages 3.2 so far this season and must turn the ball over less than three times against the Hawkeyes.

2. Marcus Bingham Jr.

As I’ve said before, Iowa boasts an elite talent in Luka Garza. Garza is 6’11”, the same height as Marcus Bingham Jr. So Izzo will likely put Bingham Jr. on Garza during this game. Bingham has faired well against Big Ten big men including Kofi Cockburn. Garza is a different kind of animal though. Bingham’s defensive performance will dictate the outcome of this game.

3. Xavier Tillman

Luka Garza is not just an offensive monster, he is a really good rebounder. So naturally, Xavier Tillman is also one of the most important MSU players in this game. Tillman is a defensive anchor who can help out against Garza in the post. Furthermore, Tillman swallows up rebounds at an impressive rate. He will have to play aggressively and intelligently against Iowa.

4. Aaron Henry

I will never ever take Aaron Henry off this list. He can swing just about any game with an efficient offensive performance. Likewise, his good defensive performances go a long way for the Spartans. 15-plus points from Henry can do a lot for Michigan State against the Hawkeyes. Especially if another key Spartan player shows up…

5. Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown went crazy against Nebraska with 17 points, shooting 63% from three-point land. Can Brown do this again on Tuesday against Iowa? Yes, he certainly can. Will Gabe Brown score 17 points or more? Only time will tell. One fact remains, he is immensely important to Michigan State’s success.

Watch the game live on ESPN2 this Tuesday, on Feb. 25 at 7 P.M.

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3 Key Takeaways: Michigan State Basketball vs. Maryland

Michigan State Basketball suffered a brutal loss at the hands of the Maryland Terpins. Here are 3 key takeaways from this game.

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Michigan State Spartans basketball suffered a dispiriting loss last night to Maryland, 67-60. The Terpins stood tall at the Breslin Center against a surging MSU team in the second half. Mostly thanks to Anthony Cowan Jr. and his 24 points. Now, the Spartans are 17-9 overall and 9-6 in Big Ten Conference games.

Here are three key takeaways from this game:

1. Starting Forward Spot Up For Grabs

Tom Izzo inserted Malik Hall back into the starting lineup in place of Marcus Bingham Jr. Unfortunately, this did not go well for the Spartans. Instead, Malik Hall made poor defensive decisions while shooting 0/2 from the floor. All in all, Hall only played a total of seven minutes in this game.

Marcus Bingham Jr. only played seven minutes as well. Thomas Kithier ended up being the primary Forward for Michigan State. Kithier played 22 total minutes, scoring six points. He also grabbed three boards and blocked one shot. We might get another heavy dose of Kithier against Nebraska.

2. Anthony Cowan Jr. Cooked MSU

Anthony Cowan Jr. went off against Michigan State. Cowan ended the game with 24 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Furthermore, Cowan went on a 10-0 run all by himself to close out the game for his team. No one could stop him from hitting outside shots nor getting to the basket. MSU must strategize better against a dynamic talent like Cowan Jr.

3. Offensive Woes Becoming Worriesome

The Spartans shot 21% from beyond the three-point line as a team. Even worse, only Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman scored in double digits, combining for 32 points. This offense looked really bleak throughout large portions of this game. Especially when MSU pulled ahead and could not sustain their lead.

The rest of Michigan State’s starters scored a total of 14 points. All of the Spartan’s bench scored a total of 14 points. In ten minutes, Gabe Brown did not score any points. That’s hard times. Hopefully, these hard times won’t last.

The Spartans are back in action against Nebraska this Thursday on Feb. 20. The game starts at 8:30 P.M. and broadcasts live on FS1.

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Michigan State Basketball loses to Maryland 67-60: Game Recap

Michigan State Basketball lost to Maryland at the Breslin Center, 67-60, in heartbreaking fashion. Read a complete game recap here.

Michigan State Basketball lost to Maryland, 67-60, in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Maryland led for large portions of this game but MSU gained a lead late in the game. Unfortunately, the Spartans could not sustain this lead nor stop Terpins Guard Anthony Cowan Jr.

Here is a quick recap of this game:

Michigan State scored twice early on and then forced a Maryland turnover on the other end. Then, the Spartans missed their next five shots from the floor. Anthony Cowan Jr. scored all of the Terpin’s first 8 points for an 8-5 lead over Maryland with 15 minutes left in the first half.

Both teams pushed the pace, using very little of their respective shot clocks. Aaron Henry stole the ball and was fouled coming down on a fastbreak. Henry hit one free-throw, cutting the Maryland lead down to 13-10. Xavier Tillman was on fire early on with 10 points and four rebounds in the first ten minutes. MSU trailed Maryland 20-14 halfway through the first half.

Michigan State looked out of sorts down the stretch of the first half. Meanwhile, Maryland got everything and anything on the offensive end. MSU went on a 7-0 to close the half, cutting the deficit to double-digits. The Terpins led the Spartans at halftime, 39-31.

MSU forced a Maryland turnover right out of the halftime break. On the next play, Aaron Henry threw down a mean dunk and Cassius Winston scored on a tough layup. Then, the Spartans forced a shot clock violation on defense. Terpins led the Spartans 41-35 with 16 minutes left in the game.

Rocket Watts came back in and immediately hit a tough mid-range jumper. On the next play, Watts hit a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to one point. Note, Maryland led by as much as 15 points earlier in this game.

Michigan State and Maryland traded buckets for the next five minutes. Kyle Ahrens tied the game with a three-pointer. Finally, Cassius Winston gave MSU the lead with a pull-up three in transition. Xavier Tillman added to this lead with two free-throws. MSU now in front 56-53 with five minutes remaining.

Michigan State pushed the lead even further with buckets on three-consecutive possessions. Then, Anthony Cowan Jr. scored ten straight points, giving Maryland a five-point lead. The Terpins closed this game out with two Anthony Cowan Jr. free-throws for a 67-60 victory at the Breslin Center.

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Michigan State Basketball vs. Maryland: 5 Most Important Players

Michigan State Spartans basketball welcomes the Maryland Terpins to the Breslin Center. Here are the 5 most important players in this game.

The Breslin Center hosts a Big Ten matchup featuring Michigan State and Maryland. The Maryland Terpins have won their last seven Big Ten games against good competition. The Spartans have a tough assignment in this nationally televised game.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Cassius Winston

Cassius Winston scored 12 points against Illinois, shooting 3/6 from the floor. This was not a poor performance from Cassius but rather, MSU needs more from the senior Guard. Especially given the current scoring slump amongst Spartan perimeter players. 25 points or more from Winston can lift Michigan State to victory.

2. Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman ended the game against Illinois with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Another quite double-double from the beloved MSU big man. Another double-double will be incredibly helpful against Maryland. Especially given Maryland Forward Jalen Smith’s tremendous rebounding ability. Tillman must battle hard in the trenches for each and every rebound in this Big Ten matchup against the Terpins.

3. Rocket Watts

Rocket Watts was on fire against Illinois, scoring a career-high 21 points. Most importantly, these points were incredibly meaningful. Watts scored bucket after bucket in crunch time during key moments. He is a crucial part of MSU’s success in this final stretch of games before the NCAA tournament. Let’s see if he can go for another 20-point game against an impressive Maryland defense.

4. Aaron Henry

Maryland has an absolutely elite perimeter player named Anthony Cowan Jr. Aaron Henry is arguably the best perimeter defender on MSU’s roster. As a result, he will likely matchup against Cowan more often than not. Henry must defend at the highest level possible. Cowan scoring more than 25 points is a recipe for disaster.

5. Malik Hall

Malik Hall is still a very young player and it shows on the court. He hustles hard and plays with energy but is still putting his game together. I think Malik Hall can certainly contribute significantly off the bench. Even if this contribution is just 10 points and five rebounds. Hopefully, Hall can ignite the Spartans with some high effort plays on the court!

Michigan State and Maryland play at 6 P.M. on ESPN tomorrow. Stay locked on SpartansWire for more plenty more coverage to come.

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Michigan State Basketball vs. Illinois: 5 Most Important Players

Michigan State Basketball plays against Illinois this Tuesday in another Big Ten road game. Here are the 5 most important players.

Michigan State Basketball travels to the State Farm Center for a game against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are 3-2 in their last five games whereas MSU is 2-3 in their last five games. Another tough away game environment for the Spartans in this matchup.

Here are the five most important players in this game:

1. Aaron Henry

Aaron Henry sits atop my list of the five most important MSU players yet again. Henry did score in double digits against Michigan but he still struggles on the floor. The Sophomore Forward can still improve over the next month but the window of opportunity grows smaller and smaller with each game. Aaron Henry is the most important Spartan in this game against Illinois.

2. Gabe Brown

Gabe Brown failed to score against Michigan this past Saturday, shooting 0/5 from the floor. Keep in mind, MSU only lost by nine points against their interstate rival. So even just ten points from Gabe Brown swings this game in Michigan State’s favor. Watch for Brown to have an explosive bounce-back game against Illinois.

3. Xavier Tillman

Xavier Tillman put up a sneaky 17 points and 12 rebounds against Michigan. I think Tillman should be more aggressive as a scorer. Sometimes, he gets the ball down low and looks to pass to a perimeter teammate. Instead, Tillman should put his body against the defender and score or draw contact. He is a reliable source of high-quality shots more often than not.

4. Rocket Watts

Rocket Watts had a quiet game against the Wolverines with seven points off the bench. Watts gives Michigan State a great scoring spark when Cassius Winston rests on the bench. More importantly, he allows Winston to play off-ball when paired together in the backcourt. Rocket Watts scoring ability is critical for Michigan State’s success during the final stretch of the season.

5. Kyle Ahrens

Kyle Ahrens is the furthest thing from a flashy player. Instead, he is a grit and grind type of guy. Ahrens’ energy and hustle are inspirational. Plus, he can hit three-point shots when open. Kyle can easily swing an MSU game with three or four shots from beyond the arc. As a result, I think he is pretty important in this intense road game situation.

Michigan State and Illinois play at 9 P.M. this Tuesday on ESPN. Cheer on the Spartans and stay with us on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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3 Things to Watch: Michigan State Basketball takes on Illinois

Michigan State Basketball plays against Illinois at the State Farm Center in a Big Ten matchup. Here are three things to watch in this game.

Big Ten Conference basketball continues on as Michigan State takes on Illinois at the State Farm Center. The Spartans are currently 16-8 overall this year and 8-5 in Big Ten Conference play after a loss to Michigan. Illinois, on the other hand, is 16-7 overall and 8-4 in Big Ten Conference play.

Here are three things to watch in this game:

1. Ayo Dosunmu & Kofi Cockburn

Illinois boasts a lethal Guard/Center duo in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn. Dosunmu scores 15.8 points per game which ranks him sixth in Big Ten points per game. Cockburn averages 13.8 points per game which ranks him 14th in Big Ten points per game. Both players score in bunches and contribute greatly to Illinois’ offense.

All in all, Illinois is currently fifth in Big Ten points per game as a team, averaging 73.8 points per game. Kofi Cockburn also grabs nine rebounds per game which ranks him sixth in the Big Ten in rebounds per game. Watch for an offensive battle between MSU and the fighting Illini.

2. Rebounding Battle

MSU and Illinois are two of the top three best rebounding teams in the Big Ten. The Spartans are first in rebounds per game and total rebounds with 41.4 and 995 respectively. Illinois is currently third in rebounds per game and total rebounds with 40.3 and 928 respectively. This game will be an absolute battle near the rim for each and every board. Xavier Tillman, Marcus Bingham Jr., & Malik Hall have serious work to do on the glass against the Fighting Illini.

3.Β  Illinois Turnovers

Michigan State and Illinois are also two of the top five Big Ten teams in turnovers per game. Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten with 12.78 in TOPG (turnovers per game). The Spartans rank fifth in TOPG with 12.54. MSU can potentially capitalize on this high turnover rate with easy transition buckets.

Michigan State and Illinois square off this Tuesday at 9 P.M. This game broadcasts live on ESPN. Stay locked on SpartansWire for more coverage to come.

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