Michigan State University Athletics
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Xavier Tillman Selected to Watch List for Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award
10/18/2019 12:14:00 PM | Men's Basketball
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State junior forward Xavier Tillman (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) was one of 20 players selected to the watch list for the 2020 Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Named after Class of 2010 Hall of Famer and two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Karl Malone, the annual honor in its sixth year recognizes the top power forwards in Division I men's college basketball.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Tillman, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team at conference media day on October 3, finished the season fourth on the team in scoring with 10.0 points per game, was second on the team with 7.3 rebounds and led the team with 65 blocked shots. He was 10th in the Big Ten in rebounding, third in field goal percentage (60.5 percent) and was sixth in the league in blocked shots.
The 6-8 junior was named the Big Ten Conference Sixth Man of the Year and was selected to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 61.0 percent from the floor during the NCAA Tournament.
This is the third recognition for an MSU player by the Basketball Hall of Fame, as senior guard Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was selected to the Watch List for the 2020 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and classmate Joshua Langford (Huntsville, Ala./Madison Academy) was one of 20 players selected to the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Watch List.
Michigan State finished the 2018-19 season with a 32-7 overall record and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for a nation's-best eighth time in the last 21 years. The Spartans won a share of the Big Ten Regular Season title, captured the Big Ten Tournament title, beat rival Michigan three times and won the NCAA Tournament East Regional with a thrilling victory over No. 1 seed Duke.
The Spartans open the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, Oct. 29, hosting Albion College in an exhibition game at the Breslin Center. The matchup features Winston facing the team that includes his two brothers, sophomore guard Zach Winston and freshman guard Khy Winston.
The regular season starts on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with the Spartans playing Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic on ESPN. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
A national committee of top college basketball personnel determined the watch list of 20 candidates.
Tillman, who was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team at conference media day on October 3, finished the season fourth on the team in scoring with 10.0 points per game, was second on the team with 7.3 rebounds and led the team with 65 blocked shots. He was 10th in the Big Ten in rebounding, third in field goal percentage (60.5 percent) and was sixth in the league in blocked shots.
The 6-8 junior was named the Big Ten Conference Sixth Man of the Year and was selected to the NCAA East Regional All-Tournament Team. He averaged 13.6 points and 8.4 rebounds while shooting 61.0 percent from the floor during the NCAA Tournament.
This is the third recognition for an MSU player by the Basketball Hall of Fame, as senior guard Cassius Winston (Detroit, Mich./University of Detroit Jesuit) was selected to the Watch List for the 2020 Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and classmate Joshua Langford (Huntsville, Ala./Madison Academy) was one of 20 players selected to the 2020 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award Watch List.
Michigan State finished the 2018-19 season with a 32-7 overall record and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for a nation's-best eighth time in the last 21 years. The Spartans won a share of the Big Ten Regular Season title, captured the Big Ten Tournament title, beat rival Michigan three times and won the NCAA Tournament East Regional with a thrilling victory over No. 1 seed Duke.
The Spartans open the 2019-20 season on Tuesday, Oct. 29, hosting Albion College in an exhibition game at the Breslin Center. The matchup features Winston facing the team that includes his two brothers, sophomore guard Zach Winston and freshman guard Khy Winston.
The regular season starts on Tuesday, Nov. 5, with the Spartans playing Kentucky in the State Farm Champions Classic on ESPN. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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