Michigan State Basketball: 5 reasons Spartans will beat Michigan for title

2 of 5

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 24: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts while playing the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on February 24, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan State won the game 77-70. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

4. Xavier Tillman matches up well with Michigan’s bigs

Michigan fans want Nick Ward to play, and while that seems a bit crazy, it makes sense. Offensively, Ward might dominate in the post — or at least give Jon Teske all he has — but on defense, he doesn’t match up well with the Wolverines who like to play around the perimeter for a majority of their offensive sets.

Ward is not comfortable defending the perimeter and everyone remembers the Mo Wagner crossover that led to the most commonly-used Michigan rivalry fodder GIF where he tumbled to the floor. He just can’t keep up with athletic bigs who can play inside-out as well as Xavier Tillman can.

We still don’t know officially what’s going to happen with Ward on Saturday night, but Tillman will likely get the bulk of minutes regardless.

No, Teske isn’t going to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket and make Ward look silly with an insane crossover to leave him planted on the ground, but when switches happen, he’ll be out of place with a mismatch.

Tillman matches up well with the Wolverines’ 3-point shooting bigs such as Teske and Isaiah Livers.

Home/Spartans Basketball