2. Xavier Tillman averages a double-double
If you’re looking for one player who has stepped up, and then some, over the past month or so, Xavier Tillman has to be the first to come to mind.
The sophomore big man has gone from Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year to valuable starter, averaging in double figures in the scoring column while grabbing around 6-7 rebounds per game. He needs to be more aggressive on the glass, but he has the look of a future All-Big Ten first-teamer.
This tournament run has been a coming out party for him and it’s not going to stop just yet.
With two games remaining, Tillman is going to put together back-to-back double-doubles and finish the Final Four with a 15-point, 11-rebound average. To top it all off, he’s going to average 2.5 blocks.
If Michigan State is going to bring home some hardware, it’ll be due, in large part, too Tillman’s breakout.