Tom Izzo "confident" that Xavier Booker is going have a breakout

Just 18 games into his sophomore year, it feels like Xavier Booker is starting to turn a corner and figure himself out as a player. Michigan State basketball needs him to perk up -- and soon -- if it wants to make a deep run in March or win a Big Ten title.

It's not going to be easy, though.

The upcoming stretch of games won't be forgiving for guys who are still "trying to figure it out" and that's why some fans are hesitant to put any trust in the big man from Indianapolis. The former five-star hasn't quite lived up to the billing yet in 1.5 seasons in East Lansing, but his numbers this year have improved almost across the board.

Booker is averaging over 15 minutes per game (he was under 10 as a freshman) and he's putting up 6.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. Those numbers won't blow anyone away, but the improvement is evident. He just has to keep building and avoid the setbacks.

Frustration is easy to find when you expect so much out of the former five-star only for him to average 6.2 and 2.9 but he's working on getting better every day.

Tom Izzo spoke on a recent All-Access episode about Booker and his growth and said that he's been impressed with how much work he's put in and he's expecting a "breakout" to happen. He said it'll start with a breakout game and then it will turn into "games" plural. He also said that he's "comfortable" and "confident" that this will happen.

You can watch the five-minute clip here:

Booker has shown flashes like in games against North Carolina and Ohio State, but he needs to be more consistent. He needs to show more of a sense of urgency when he's out there. No more watching rebounds bounce to the other team or jogging after a loose ball. Booker needs to show that grit that Izzo loves from his players.

When he does this consistently, he's going to be a menace. And according to Izzo, it's a matter of "when" and not "if" it will happen.