Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tough loss at Indiana

3 of 3

Michigan State Head Coach Tom Izzo applauds his team during the first half of the Indiana versus Michigan State men’s basketball game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023.Iu Msu Mbb 1h Izzo 1 /

1. Tom Izzo has to call timeouts during big runs

Twice during the game, Indiana was on a huge run and Tom Izzo did something that I’ve been frustrated with over the past couple of years: he avoided calling a timeout to stop the bleeding.

Izzo let Indiana go on a 21-4 run in the first half as his team’s nine-point lead evaporated and the Hoosiers went into the locker room with a five-point lead. And then in the second half, the Hall of Fame coach was passive with his timeouts yet again as the Hoosiers went from down 51-49 to leading by 10 in a matter of a couple of minutes.

That just can’t happen with timeouts in his back pocket.

Izzo has a tendency to let his team try and figure it out by themselves as a player-led team rather than calling a timeout to stop the bleeding and get his team focused.

This has been an issue for years and needs to change.

Next. 5 bold predictions for MSU basketball in January. dark

Home/Spartans Basketball