If it were just one game I wouldn't worry too much. 3 fouls inside a minute.. with a bad call among them.. in a game and a season where Big Ten refs are allowing a lot of contact... that can throw a guy off. And his last TO.. that was on Hyatt as much as Paul.. who was likely shocked that Hyatt passed it backwards from midcourt.
But it is not just one game.
There is a reason I am about to bring up Cliff.. re: Paul.
If I were Pike.. I'd chat up the refs pregame about how Cliff is being held all over teh place. When he picks either his man or the man he picks will grab him so he cannot roll to the basket. That's a could every time and it is never called. And when teh ball goes up by someone else and Cliff is in the key.. someone grabs an arm of his... or his shoulder.. practically ALWAYS. They don't want him elevating before they do or using two hands. That, again, is a foul every time and is never called.
Now, I bring that up because it is the connection between Paul and Cliff that we need back.. and NOW. We need that for both their sakes but especially for Paul. The number of times I have seen paul dribble into the key keeping an eye out for Cliff or Rieber heading to the hoop.. and having no way to get them the ball is getting old. Paul has been turning down open threes in order to try to get Cliff the ball by driving and dishing. He needs to take that three shot again and again. OR.. he needs to start to drive in SOONER.. so he does not have to shoot some crap himself in traffic.. give him time to dish. WAY TOO MANY shot-clock violations.
Lastly.. he needs to stop trying for turnovers and GUARD HIS MAN/ZONE and BLOCK OPUT for boards. Way too many times he is looking for a double to steal or to intercept a pass and he loses his man.
Yes, unfortunately, Paul has been BAD on both sides of the ball and he has to know it.. has to feel it. I hope it is NOT the case that he is worn down late season from too many minutes. Well.. he is on two days rest not counting practice. Hope he seems fresh enough tonight.
Paul is a smart player. Nothing I have said is non-obvious. He can fix this.