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Michigan State Basketball: 5 bold predictions for January 2019

By Connor Muldowney

LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Izzo the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans gives instructions to Cassius Winston #5 against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - NOVEMBER 27: Tom Izzo the head coach of the Michigan State Spartans gives instructions to Cassius Winston #5 against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on November 27, 2018 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts to drive to the basket as Mamadou Doucoure #11 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the first half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans attempts to drive to the basket as Mamadou Doucoure #11 of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defends during the first half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /

3. Xavier Tillman averages a double-double

Call me crazy. Go ahead, do it — I dare you.

Xavier Tillman is one of the best bigs in the conference and may just be the top bench player in the league. He’s improved drastically since the first six games of the year when he was adjusting to a bigger role and he’s averaged 10.4 points per game over the past nine contests.

Expect a continuation of that in the coming month as Tillman will mold even more into a fan favorite, averaging 11 points per game and even recording a career-high in points against Purdue and reaching double figures in the scoring column four more times. He’ll finish the month with a solid rebounding average as well, cracking 10 boards per game.

Related Story. 5 bold predictions for Michigan State vs. Purdue. light

Tillman’s aggression has been growing with each week and he has approached 10 boards essentially each time out. He’s up to about 21 minutes per game off the bench and he’s putting up 8.5 points and 7.9 rebounds but expect more of an 11 points and 11-rebound average in January.

Through two games, he’s already averaging 11 points and 6.5 boards, but you’ll see this kid eat up on the glass, especially offensively, as the month progresses.

Fan favorite? Absolutely.

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