ISU used 2 timeouts in the first half, and used all three (3) of their remaining timeouts in THE LAST 12 SECONDS of the game. That means ISU went 19 minutes and 48 seconds in the second half of a back and forth game without calling a single timeout.
ISU had the ball with 1 minute and 45 second left, up 3 points. Lucious turns the ball over with about 10 seconds left on the shot clock. Kabongo then throws up a 3 point shot very fast and misses, ISU gets the ball back, again up 3, with about 90 seconds left. No timeout called again, Fred lets them play. Safe to say if ISU scores on this play, it would be mighty hard for Texas to win it. If you can be up two possession with about 45 seconds left that is typically the case. So call a timeout, set up a play. Instead, we let the guys play, ISU completly milks the clock down, cant get anything going (again, no timeout is called at all during this possession), and Babb launches up a 3 as the shot clock is winding down, misses. Texas gets the rebound, drives to half court and calls a timeout. Barnes draws up a great play, Kabongo drives the lane and gets an easy layup. Texas immediately calls another timeout to draw up a defense. Clyburn gets fouled, makes both, ISU up by 3. Fred then finally calls a timeout to discuss if they should foul or not, and we all know what happens after that.
Point is, had ISU called a timeout earlier, and set up a decent play, especially in that possession that they couldn't get anything going and Babb threw up a 3 with 45 seconds left, we could of been up 5 points instead of 3, and you don't need to use the timeouts at the end of the game to discuss weather you should foul or not.
