Michigan State Basketball: 3 takeaways from avoidable loss at Wisconsin

MADISON, WISCONSIN - FEBRUARY 01: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans dribbles the ball while being guarded by Nate Reuvers #35 and D'Mitrik Trice #0 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half at the Kohl Center on February 01, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – FEBRUARY 01: Xavier Tillman #23 of the Michigan State Spartans grabs a rebound between Micah Potter #11 and Aleem Ford #2 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the first half at the Kohl Center on February 01, 2020 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. Xavier Tillman needs a wake-up call

Anyone who watched or followed the game on Saturday knows that what they saw from Xavier Tillman was nothing short of aggravating. He was missing layups, turning the ball over and just playing an overall sloppy game which led to the worst of his career.

There’s no debating it, this was Tillman’s worst game as a Spartan and he needs to wake up if Michigan State wants to make a run in March or even at a Big Ten title.

If Tillman makes even half of his layups, Michigan State wins this game. He needs to go up stronger to the basket and he has to stop going away from the hoop when he plays with his back to the basket. His back-down games needs a ton of work and that should be the reason he comes back for another season in East Lansing.

Tillman has the potential to be a great Big Ten big, but he was in his own head on Saturday and it led to mistake after mistake and for a team that was attempting to pull off a comeback, that killed the Spartans down the stretch.

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