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Big Ten Basketball: Cassius Winston, Tyler Cook lead All-NCAA Tournament team

By Anthony Brown

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: The Virginia Cavaliers celebrate their teams 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders to win the the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: The Virginia Cavaliers celebrate their teams 85-77 win over the Texas Tech Red Raiders to win the the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/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)
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) /

Xavier Tillman – Michigan State

2019 NCAA Tournament Stats: 13.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG
2018-19 Season Stats: 10 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 60.5 percent shooter from the field

Tillman is a guy that the Spartans could count on when they needed a play made whether it was a score or rebound. He just finished his sophomore season and I believe he can get even better with another year or two under Tom Izzo. According to Bleacher Report’s David Gardner, Tillman has proven that he is a tireless worker. He dropped 30 pounds to get in better basketball shape over the summer, his coaches wanted him to work on his shooting and he did that and then some. He also focused on his defense and being able to guard every position.

He went from averaging 2.8 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game playing nine minutes to contributing big minutes off the bench this season. He was thrust into the starting lineup after Nick Ward fractured his left hand. Tillman came up big against the Duke Blue Devils with 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting (67 percent) and nine rebounds. Tillman’s rise in such a short time isn’t just about basketball. He became a father to his now two-year-old daughter Yanni and is getting married in May. He is playing for more than just himself.

He has the potential to breakout as an upperclassman next season and if the stars align, have Winston and Ward by his side as they have impending NBA Draft decisions to make. Players have until April 21 to declare for the draft and May 29 is the deadline for withdrawal to retain college eligibility.

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