Less than a week ago, the Naismith Committee put out a semifinalist list of 10 National Defensive Player of the Year award candidates. Xavier Tillman wasn’t on it.
In fact, only one Big Ten player made the list and it was Zavier Simpson of Michigan who has been a very good perimeter defender throughout his career but has taken a slight step back this season and Wolverines fans would tend to agree with that.
Tillman doesn’t care about personal accolades, though. But that doesn’t make his omission from the candidates list any less egregious.
So what has he done to prove himself since that faulty list was released a couple of days after holding Luka Garza in check?