Michigan State Basketball: It’s Xavier Tillman time after Nick Ward injury
Nick Ward suffered a hand fracture meaning it’s time for Xavier Tillman to step up and show he’s the future of Michigan State basketball.
In the now-famous words of Kenny Goins: “It’s time to nut up or shut up.”
Michigan State just lost a huge piece to its national title — and Big Ten title — puzzle on Sunday afternoon as Nick Ward went down with what has since been diagnosed as a hairline fracture in his left hand. He didn’t play much in the second half as he tried to tough it out, but was clearly wincing in pain.
Tom Izzo knew something was wrong, the trainer checked on him as he returned to the bench and he never made it back in.
In the post-game presser, Izzo said that they thought it might be a dislocated finger, but shortly after, it was revealed he had a fracture and would be out indefinitely. How long? The timetable is uncertain, but there’s a decent chance he could miss the rest of the year although MSU is hopeful he returns by the end of the season.
What does this mean for the Spartans? It’s Xavier Tillman time.
The sophomore big man is already considered the heir apparent to Ward in the post and if Nick did decide to leave for the NBA after this season, Tillman would be the man to replace him down low.
It’s not like Tillman can’t take over, but the sophomore has had his issues in the post from foul trouble to missing layups to trying to find that confidence he had in the middle of the season. He has the potential to be a star for the Spartans, but this is his time to grow up — and he must do it quickly.
Losing Ward’s production is going to hurt but if Tillman can average around 10 points and eight rebounds until the end of the Big Ten Tournament and the junior returns by the start of the NCAA Tournament in a month, the Spartans could still be in good shape with a 2-3 seed and a potential regular season conference title in their pockets.
Michigan State is set to face Rutgers on Wednesday as a prep for Michigan on Sunday and that’ll be a nice test to see just how ready this team is to play without Ward.
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It’s Tillman time in East Lansing and the sophomore needs to be prepared to be a focal point in the offense like Ward was — and expect more Thomas Kithier, too.