Michigan State's Tom Izzo Gambles with Jaxon Kohler's Foul Trouble

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Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo went against his usual strategy of sitting a player with two fouls in the first half during the Spartans' game against Ohio State. Izzo re-inserted forward Jaxon Kohler into the game with two fouls and 5:49 left in the first half, despite Kohler having picked up those two fouls in the first 3:02 of the game. Kohler responded with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit, but then quickly picked up his third foul while trying to defend a put-back, much to Izzo's dismay.

Why it matters

Izzo is known for his disciplined coaching style, often sitting players who pick up two fouls early in the game. His decision to keep Kohler in the game was a calculated risk that ultimately backfired, highlighting the delicate balance coaches must strike between being aggressive and avoiding foul trouble.

The details

With Michigan State trailing 20-14 and struggling offensively, Izzo decided to put Kohler back into the game despite his two early fouls. Kohler responded by hitting a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 20-17, but then picked up his third foul just a couple minutes later while trying to defend a put-back, forcing Izzo to take him out of the game.

• Kohler picked up his first two fouls in the first 3:02 of the game.
• Izzo re-inserted Kohler into the game with 5:49 left in the first half and Michigan State trailing 20-14.
• Kohler hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 20-17.
• Kohler picked up his third foul with 3:48 left in the first half.

What’s next

Izzo will likely re-evaluate his strategy for handling players with early foul trouble, especially in close games where the team's offense is struggling.