Michigan State fans haven’t had to wait long between Big Ten defensive players of the year as Jaren Jackson Jr. won the award back in 2017-18 and now Xavier Tillman is your 2019-20 award winner.
Tillman was one of the most dominant post defenders in the country this season but was somehow left off the national ballot by the Naismith Committee for defensive player of the year. The Big Ten coaches, however, took notice and voted him No. 1 in the conference.
Josh Reaves of Penn State won the award last year, breaking up the two Spartan winners, but Tillman put up some solid numbers on defense in terms of blocked shots.