Mathieu got in foul trouble early which usually results in a disappointing game for most players. Going further, his strengths as a player were limited/neutralized by Louisville's athletes. Normally, Mathieu is the fastest and quickest player on the floor and can get wherever he wants to go. Against Louisville, he still may have been the fastest and quickest player on the floor but the difference wasn't significant between him and Jones/Rozier and Louisville had multiple athletes at 3,4,5 who could help and still recover. Even if Mathieu could get past a Louisville guard, he had to deal with big AND athletic big men in the lane...tough task for a 5'9 guard.[/QUOTE/]
All you say is true but UMD did not present those obstacles and Mathieu contributed a poor performance there too. He definitely
is playing different. I agree he was inconsistent last year but that was more within a game. You don't become team MVP having
very many inconsistent entire games. He now has three entire poor games in a row. That is cause for concern, not panic.
His wow plays, his energy plays, his plays with toughness and heart have been replaced by whining. Pretty sure he'll figure it out
though. But why make excuses? He's been lousy the three public appearances.