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Michigan State Basketball: Xavier Tillman ranked Big Ten’s No. 1 center

By Connor Muldowney

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in 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)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates a basket against the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in 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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In just his second year with Michigan State basketball, Xavier Tillman impressed just about everyone. He’s been ranked the Big Ten’s No. 1 center for 2019-20.

Before the 2018-19 season, everyone was expecting big things from Xavier Tillman, especially after his body transformation hit social media.

Tillman had averaged just 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 8.7 minutes as a true freshman the season before but anyone with a pulse who watched Michigan State knew that he was on the verge of something great. He was sitting behind guys like Jaren Jackson Jr., Gavin Schilling, Nick Ward and Ben Carter in the post on a loaded team, but his opportunity would soon come.

As a sophomore, he saw his minutes increase immediately. He was the backup center to Ward and tripled his playing time per game — at over 24 minutes.

Not just that, but when Ward went down with a fractured hand, he stepped in and helped Michigan State to Big Ten regular season and tournament titles as well as a Final Four run. Sure, Ward returned by the Big Ten Tournament, but Tillman held that starting job for the remainder of the year because of his elite play.

Tillman was a critical piece to the Final Four puzzle and you could argue the Spartans wouldn’t have beaten Duke without a couple of clutch plays from him.

Now, he’s earning praise on a conference-wide level.

In fact, Josh Stirn of 247Sports has ranked Tillman the No. 1 center in the Big Ten heading into the 2019-20 season.

Here’s what he had to say about Tillman being No. 1:

"The reigning Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year, Tillman should move into Michigan State’s starting lineup with NIck Ward gone. He averaged 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.7 blocks in just 24.1 minutes per game last year."

Some might see it as controversial to have Tillman ahead of Kaleb Wesson or even Jon Teske, but the Spartans’ big man proved himself in the latter part of the 2018-19 season and won the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award.

Next. MSU Football: 10 post-spring bold predictions for 2019. dark

Michigan State fans knew they had something special in Tillman from day one, and now the rest of the country is getting a taste.

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