Spartan Avenue
Fansided

Michigan State Basketball: Position-by-position breakdown vs. Michigan

By Nate Rhoades

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 4: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Breslin Center on January 4, 2018 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 7
Next
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,)
PISCATAWAY, NJ – NOVEMBER 30: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts after a basket against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the second half of a college basketball game at the Rutgers Athletic Center on November 30, 2018 in Piscataway, New Jersey. Michigan State defeated Rutgers 78-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images,) /

Center

Xavier Tillman (8.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists)

Replacing Nick Ward in the starting lineup for the second straight game is Xavier Tillman. Losing Ward is a disappoint as the Spartans cannot have a major presence down low but they have another great guy down on the block for them.

Tillman will run the floor in order to get those fast-break points and he is also able to see the court in order to pass the ball out of a double-team. However, Tillman is only a sophomore and sometimes he can make some big mistakes when he is out on the floor.

Jon Teske (9.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists)

Jon Teske is a solid rim=protector for the Wolverines. He is also solid center who they can pass it down low to and come away with buckets. He has been told to shoot his open shots. Even if they are from deep, John Beilein wants him to take those shots and he’ll have open looks from deep because Tillman is not used to guarding a ton from the arc.

Teske will battle you for anything and he will not commit dumb fouls. He will press you to the brink and just play solid basketball.

Advantage: Teske

Home/Spartans Basketball