Michigan State basketball: 3 takeaways from tough loss at Indiana
![Jan 22, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks with guard Jaden Akins (3) in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports Jan 22, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo talks with guard Jaden Akins (3) in the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/6859bc2a4f8f71bcecf6ece48dcb6087d8ff276d60e655b84f2bb109efc9cbe4.jpg)
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