Michigan State Basketball: Final player grades for 2018-19 season

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Kenny Goins #25, Xavier Tillman #23 and Aaron Henry #11 of the Michigan State Spartans huddle up prior to the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans reacts in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

B+. . F/C. Sophomore. XAVIER TILLMAN

We move on to one of the fan favorites for Michigan State and a guy who assumed two different roles throughout the season and excelled at both.

Xavier Tillman began the year as a bench player and sixth man, playing well but not quite breaking out consistently like everyone expected. He had some rough games and then started to heat up midway through non-conference play.

The sophomore and former Mr. Basketball runner-up finished the season by averaging 10.0 points and 7.3 rebounds and he was clutch in the NCAA Tournament, averaging 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds.

Michigan State needed someone to step up in Nick Ward’s absence and assume the role of the No. 1 big man on the team and Tillman did just that. He exceeded expectations near the end of the season, won Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and showed off some NBA-caliber talent.

Enjoy Tillman while you can because he may be in the NBA sooner rather than later.

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