Mike McFadden and Stehpan Hawkins are struggling

It’s been an up and down year for Robert Morris as inconsistencies in all aspects have been frustrating to

watch. One specific area has been the play of the big men, particularly Mike McFadden and Stephan Hawkins. A lot of responsibilities are on these two men-- they’re the tallest players on the team and RMU simply needs production from them.

It does not feel like RMU has been getting a lot from these two. Here are the averages from the last five games:

McFadden- 27.6 minutes, 9.0 points (19-38 FG), 4.2 rebounds, 1 turnover

Hawkins- 10.4 minutes, 1.2 points (3-6 FG), 0.8 rebounds

Photo via the AP

McFadden’s numbers aren’t all too bad. In fact, I was surprised to see his points per game total through the past five games is his average from last year. So why doesn’t it feel like it? To begin with, expectations. Watching McFadden dominate towards the end of last year was incredible. He was the best big man on the floor in the Kentucky game. When there’s someone with so much talent and it’s their last year, we expect their play to be elevated, not plateaued.

Also, numbers can be a bit deceiving. McFadden might be averaging his same point total, but his shooting percentage is down ten percent from last years total. This five game mark of shooting at 50 percent has actually helped his field goal percentage. The biggest difference in his game from last year to this year is his jump shot. Last year, it was barely used. This year it’s been almost his primary way of scoring. 48.4 percent of all of his shots have been jump shots, but he’s only hitting at a mark of 36.4 percent. That speaks for itself. If McFadden worked that ratio closer to a 70-30 mark (meaning 70 percent of his shots are at the rim), it’d almost guarantee dramatic increases in efficiency.

There’s really not a whole lot to say about Hawkins. We knew he wasn’t a very polished offensive player. The problem is when he’s in there he’s contributing nothing. It’s okay if you’re not a scorer, this team has plenty of guys who can do that, but do something else. Is he rebounding? Is he creating shots for his teammates through passing? Is he playing defense? Is he taking care of the ball? It’s hard to say Hawkins is really doing any of those things.

Defense is its own problem. The big men are fouling at a ridiculous rate. Of course not all of this is their entire fault, especially earlier in the year. When RMU played primarily man-to-man defense, guards were getting blown by and putting the big guys in awful situations. Improved perimeter defense is half the battle. Even still, McFadden and Hawkins have the two worst fouls committed per 40 numbers on the team.

RMU has a tough stretch of games coming up. I’m sure no one expects wins at Oklahoma State and (probably) Alabama, but once conference play starts it’s go time. The play of the big men has to get better.

--Chris Cappella

-@C_Cappella