Mid-Major Madness

Minot Flooding, A Break For Now

2011-06-26T20:21:54Z

For those of you who watch the national news you're probably aware of the devastating and record flooding that has been taking place in Minot, North Dakota. Thousands of people have lost their homes, more have been evacuated and the face of the city has been and will continue to be changed in ways that won't fully be realized for many months to come.

I am a sports reporter in Bismarck by trade but just received word a couple of hours ago that I am being sent north to provide additional coverage of the flood. Minot is located less than two hours away. The days will be long, spent seeking out new information, telling people's stories and staying on top of this ever-changing event as best as I and my co-workers can. This of course will mean little to no time to post here at Mid-Major Madness, something I feel even worse about given my recent vacation - but these are unique times.

I will do my best to provide at least some commentary when and if the time allows, but I currently don't even know how long my stay in Minot will be. I've been told it could be a couple of days, but have also been told to pack for at least a week. Until then though, I appreciate all of you reading the site and being understanding of the sometimes busy nature of my full-time job as a reporter. Please keep the people of Minot and the surrounding area in your prayers until then.

2011 NBA Draft: Rookie Scouting Reports

2011-06-26T15:44:39Z

In case you missed them over the last several weeks, or on our handy section off to the right side of the page, we at Mid-Major Madness have compiled a list of links to all of our player scouting reports released leading up to the 2011 NBA Draft. Interested is Charles Jenkins and Andrew Goudelock can jump from primary scorers to offensive facilitators? Does Kawhi Leonard have the necessary skill set to exist as a small forward? How will sharp shooting Justin Harper factor into Orlando's offense? Browse our write-ups that include visual analysis and advanced statistical breakdowns courtesy of data from Synergy Sports Technology.

No. 15 - Kawhi Leonard - Indiana Pacers (traded to San Antonio Spurs)

No. 22 - Kenneth Faried - Denver Nuggets

No. 28 - Norris Cole - Minnesota Timberwolves (traded to Miami Heat)

No. 32 - Justin Harper - Orlando Magic

No. 34 - Shelvin Mack - Washington Wizards

No. 44 - Charles Jenkins - Golden State Warriors

No. 46 - Andrew Goudelock - Los Angeles Lakers

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: Did J.J. Barea Prompt Miami To Select Norris Cole?

2011-06-26T12:00:52Z

NBA Draft delivers speed to roster that had lacked it in NBA Finals against Dallas Mavericks - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Speed in the form of Cleveland State's Norris Cole.

Jimmer Fredette: Sacramento is very excited for the young man who John Salmons will be stealing shots from | ProBasketballTalk
Leave it to the extremely talented and witty Matt Moore to draw parallels between Jimmer Fredette and "Snakes on a Plane".

Ex-Bulldog Smith not picked in NBA draft - fresnobee.com
Greg Smith's dream of being drafted by an NBA team shattered Thursday night and Daniel Lyght captured the grim details of the evening in this well written feature.

Defiantly Dutch: A Speedy bit of serendipity turns Jenkins' draft night memorable
Charles Jenkins didn't land in the first round light many thought/hoped, but seeing him in a Warriors uniform should be interesting to say the least.

Harper's selection shines light on UR hoops | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Finishing ranked in the Top 25 and playing well in the NCAA Tournament are sure ways of drawing attention as a college basketball program - especially with recruits. Sending your players to the NBA is the next step up.

Doug's European Diary, Day One; Team USA Arrives in Lithuania - GoCreighton.com
In his first entry from Lithuania, Creighton forward Doug McDermott discusses how long it takes to get from Colorado Springs to Lithuania, and flying with an NBA lottery pick.

Katin Reinhardt starts over after decommitment - CBSSports.com
The Mater Dei guard and former USC commit has Gonzaga on his radar now.

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: In Sacramento, Jimmer's Pressure Will Be Diminished

2011-06-25T12:00:44Z

Jimmer Fredette's NBA future is with the Sacramento Kings rather than the Utah Jazz, and that's good for this BYU phenom. - ESPN
Perhaps the best thing about draft night for Jimmer Fredette wasn't landing in Sacramento but rather not ending up with the Jazz.

Nuggets really rebound with pick of Faried - The Denver Post
Woody Paige is a big fan of the Nuggets selecting the rebound machine from Morehead State.

Mack's draft day begins with calm, ends with emotion - CBSSports.com
Jeff Goodman spent draft day with Butler's Shelvin Mack on his way to being selected 34rd overall by the Washington Wizards.

How Gregg Popovich could trade his favorite player
Great read from 48 Minutes of Hell on the trade that sent George Hill to Indiana and landed the Spurs Kawhi Leonard on draft night.

Cowbell Kingdom.com - Tyreke Evans On Jimmer Fredette
Jonathan Santiago caught up with the Kings current backcourt star to get his take on the latest addition.

Hawks draft-pick Benson light on his feet, but slight in build | ajc.com
There must be a good reason why a 6-foot-11 prospect with athletic ability and a productive college stint slips slides deep into the second round of the NBA draft.

Miami Heat top pick Norris Cole impressed team during workouts - MiamiHerald.com
The Cleveland State star was much higher on Miami's board than most would expect.

New Orlando Magic forward Justin Harper wasn't always a great player - OrlandoSentinel.com
The journey to NBA rookie wasn't an easy one for the Richmond big man.

2011 NBA Draft: Winners And Losers

2011-06-24T17:54:08Z

The last major event in the NBA schedule before the inevitable lockout is in the books. The 2011 NBA Draft went off as expected with Kyrie Irving landing in Cleveland and Derrick Williams heading to Minnesota with the top two overall selections. From there, the the night boiled down to a flurry of trades with the occasional unexpected pick being announced - particularly in the second round.

In all, nine players from non-BCS conference teams heard their name called in Newark last night, most expected, at least one was a bit of a surprise. But who were the individual winners? Which players landed in ideal situations and who would have been better off going elsewhere? Here's a look at our winners and losers from last night.

Winners

Jimmer Fredette: This pick by the Sacramento Kings has drawn mixed reviews in the initial hours since it was made, as questions swirl around the ability for the BYU star to co-exist in the same backcourt as Tyreke Evans. So why is this a win for The Jimmer? His ability to succeed in the NBA is almost entirely predicated on the system he plays in. An offense that plays up-tempo, gives Fredette the green light and is willing to forgive his defensive transgressions could allow him to flourish in the same way that Steph Curry has done so far in Golden State. The Kings were the third fastest team in the NBA last season and with a dribble drive talent like Evans getting into the lane consistently, Fredette should have the luxury of being able to spot-up on the perimeter. Neither is a pure point guard, both will look for their shot, but both are more than capable of making the right pass. It might take some feeling out initially, but this could be a good fit in the long term.

More winners and losers after the jump.

Kawhi Leonard: At first glance it might seem like Leonard was one of the losers in last night's draft, after slipping to No. 15 when many had considered him a top ten prospect. That may be the case, but the benefits of being traded to the Spurs far outweigh the sting of slipping an extra seven or eight spots. Is San Antonio on the down slope of a decade long run as one of the elite teams in the NBA, of course, but Leonard now lands in a situation where he can learn from a group of experience veterans. More importantly, however, the San Diego State product isn't going to be asked to do more than he's capable of right away. As physically gifted as Leonard is, he isn't a very skilled offensive player and is still working on making the transition to being a full-time perimeter player. On the Spurs he won't be asked to score much, but can focus on being a defensive presence and making plays with his physical ability as the rest of his game develops.

Kenneth Faried: This is another case of a player landing on a team where he can focus on his strengths without being asked to go beyond himself. We know Faried can't score, we also know the Denver Nuggets have more than enough players on their roster presently that can. Denver landing a high energy, rebounding machine of Faried's level late in the first round is a real nice selection and his role shouldn't change all that much from what it was at Morehead State: rebound, hustle and play defense.

Shelvin Mack: The Butler star definitely leapfrogged a few picks higher than many though, landing at No. 34 overall with Washington. The Wizards had a great draft overall landing Jan Vesley and Chris Singleton as well, and while Mack isn't garnering nearly as many headlines as his two new rookie teammates, he finds himself in a pretty solid scenario backing up John Wall. Mack has a winning mentality, is a smart player and has shown that he can be a true point guard in doses. He will get that opportunity with the Wizards where his big game experience will be a valuable addition to a young, developing team.

Andrew Goudelock: Let's break this one down. You're a deadly perimeter shooter with outstanding range, but also making the transition to being a full-time point guard at the NBA level. You're selected by a talented team, two years removed from winning a championship and with enough juice left conceivably to at least be in the discussion come playoff time. You get to learn the floor general life from one of the sage veterans of the NBA (Derek Fisher), while probably receiving a steady diet of open three's when on the floor thanks to the attention of the greatest pure scorers ever will draw from the defense (Kobe Bryant). Andrew Goudelock, welcome to the NBA.

Justin Harper: The Richmond big man is another player who was being discussed as a possible late first round selection, but landing in Orlando should make up for that. Ryan Anderson's days with the Magic could be numbered as Harper is cut from the same mold as a versatile power forward with range beyond the perimeter. He can be a real asset as a pick-and-pop player, who can rotate on the wing while Dwight Howard draws attention from the defense. We saw the kind of impact Anderson could have with Orlando, there's no reason to think Harper doesn't do the same if given the chance.

Lavoy Allen: Outside of the fact that he's a local product having played at Temple, I'm not sure what the 76ers were thinking with this one. I can't think of a single mock draft that had the forward being drafted, but there was Philly snagging him at No. 50 overall. So good for you Mr. Allen just for being selected.

Losers

Charles Jenkins: For a time it looked like the Hofstra star was a popular pick to be a late first round pick, possibly landing in Chicago. Instead, Jenkins slipped to the middle of the second round at No. 44, landing in an already crowded Golden State backcourt. Granted, Monta Ellis reportedly could be on his way out, but as it stands, the guard rotation includes the aforementioned star, burgeoning third-year pro Steph Curry and fellow rookie Klay Thompson. It's entirely possible and likely that Jenkins can slide into the back-up point guard role behind Curry in the depth chart, pushing aside Acie Law, but the fact remains that the CAA scoring machine slipped and is looking at being the fourth or fifth man on the totem pole in the backcourt.

Norris Cole: OK, the pro is that Cole stands a good chance to win an NBA Championship in his rookie season assuming he sticks on the Miami Heat roster. The cons? For starters, being under the glaring spotlight that is South Beach these days is an enormous weight to bear for anyone on the roster, let alone a rookie from Cleveland State. Furthermore, I don't know if Cole is even necessarily the second best point guard on this team right now. He's smaller than Mario Chalmers and not anywhere close to him as a defender. Then there's Mike Bibby, an aging veteran to be sure, but still savvy enough to run the show when called to. There are likely better situations that Cole could have landed in to be sure and the D-League certainly seems like a very plausible scenario at this point.

Malcolm Thomas and Greg Smith: Both were projected as mid-to-late second round picks and both failed to hear their name called last night. In most years I would say that Thomas's hustle and Smith's size and strength would go a long way to helping impress someone during summer league or training camp, giving them a fair shot to earn a roster spot. Instead, with the looming lockout, the road to the NBA is substantially more difficult and uncertain. In order to avoid unemployment, both may have to opt to the European route for a year now.

Could Go Either Way

Keith Benson: I'm still trying to decide which way I want to go with this one. I think the addition of Benson gives the Atlanta Hawks more depth in the frontcourt to be sure, but where does he fit within this roster? Al Horford and Zaza Pachulia are the only big men under contract for next season at this point, but it wouldn't be shocking if Jason Collins was resigned given the job he did in the playoffs this year. At the same time, Benson does need to continue developing his game and certainly needs to get stronger, so playing a more limited role early on could be very beneficial to the Oakland big man. Get back to me on this one in a year or so.

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: 2011 NBA Draft Redux

2011-06-24T11:02:55Z

Jimmer Fredette will be a Sacramento King - Ball Don't Lie
Jimmer Mania is off to the Pacific Northwest!

Report: Spurs trade George Hill for Kawhi Leonard - CBSSports.com
Leonard must have felt somewhat disappointed when he slipped out of the top ten, but the Spurs willingness to trade a young talent like Hill to acquire him says something.

NBA Draft 2011: Kenneth Faried goes to Denver Nuggets, pleasing Newark crowd | NJ.com
If Faried being drafted in his hometown doesn't make you smile, few things will.

Miami Heat trades up in NBA Draft, picks Norris Cole - MiamiHerald.com
The Heat made a surprise move, trading into the first round for the 28th overall pick, Norris Cole.

2011 NBA Draft Grades: Round 1 - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball
Jimmer and Kawhi Leonard get A's but Norris Cole gets an F (though I don't think this one was seen all the way through to the Miami trade).

2011 NBA Draft Grades: Round 2 - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball
More solid grades for non-BCS stars as Justin Harper lands an A as does Andrew Goudelock. Charles Jenkins and Shelvin Mack earn B's.

More after the jump.

2011 NBA Draft: Philadelphia Sixers Select Lavoy Allen - Liberty Ballers
The Sixers selected local big man Lavoy Allen with the 50th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He was a poor pick according to SB Nation's Sixers blog.

Oakland center Benson drafted by Atlanta to add front-line power, help Horford - The Washington Post

Benson makes history for Oakland and the Hawks add depth to their frontcourt.

Atlanta Hawks: NBA draft live blog (Update: Hawks select Oakland U. center Keith Benson) | Atlanta Hawks
A couple of questions with Benson following his selection.

Lakers select Andrew Goudelock with the 46th pick - ESPN Los Angeles
The Charleston scoring machine lands with a contender and in a position where he can learn from a slew of veterans.

2011 NBA draft: Hofstra's Charles Jenkins picked by Golden State Warriors, new coach Mark Jackson
It's been 11 years since Hofstra had a player selected in the NBA Draft, but last night Charles Jenkins ended the 11-year drought for the Pride when Jenkins was plucked by the Golden State Warriors with the 44th overall pick.

Wizards draft Jan Vesely, Chris Singleton, Shelvin Mack - The Washington Post
Washington makes a solid pick landing Mack in the second round to serve as a possible back-up for John Wall.

Cowbell Kingdom.com - Jimmer-mania Comes To Sacramento
Yup, it's happening people.

Freedom graduate Cam Long prepares for NBA Draft | InsideNova
No, George Mason's Cam Long wasn't drafted last night, but this feature is still worth a read.

Roundball Mining Company " Nuggets select Faried, my life is now complete
Denver had a very, very good draft - Kenneth Faried is a big reason why.

Heat Find Keeper In Norris Cole | Hot Hot Hoops
We saw a handful of different faces try to run Miami's offense this season - the Cleveland State star is next.

Orlando Magic Acquire Justin Harper's Draft Rights - Orlando Pinstriped Post
Does the mean Ryan Anderson's days in Orlando are numbered?

Cavaliers pick Harper in 2nd round then trade him to Magic | Richmond Times-Dispatch
More on Harper.

2011 NBA Draft: Hoopspeak Draft Banter Round-up

2011-06-23T15:37:17Z

2011 NBA Draft: Hoopspeak Draft Banter Round-up

Over at Hoopspeak (part of the ESPN TrueHoop Network) I contributed scouting reports on a handful of prospects for some of the more intriguing draft scenarios tonight. Included in that mix are Jimmer Fredette, Kenneth Faried and Norris Cole.

Mid-Major Morning Mashups: 2011 NBA Draft Edition

2011-06-23T11:00:56Z

*Note: Vacation time is over and Mid-Major Madness will be back with daily news, analysis and features! We'll kick it off with one of my favorite days of the year, the NBA Draft.

2011 NBA draft: Jimmer Fredette's visit to NY fuels New York Knicks speculation - ESPN New York
Jimmer Fredette was in New York, creating a buzz over the prospect of the Knicks drafting the BYU product.

Jimmer Fredette wishes for best, hopes for lottery | The Salt Lake Tribune
The Jimmer Saga begins another big chapter tonight, not surprisingly Fredette is ready for the media storm to end for now.

NBA Draft 2011 Media Day: Jimmer Fredette Emphatically States He's A Point Guard - SBNation.com
Just in case you were curious about what position he'll be playing at the next level.

2011 NBA draft: Wizards will have to wait and see with the sixth pick - The Washington Post
Washington could go a lot of different directions tonight as it tries to build around John Wall. One possible avenue is Kawhi Leonard.

The Pistons have their guy... whoever that is - CBSSports.com
Of course, Leonard canceled his remaining draft workouts after visiting the Pistons. Hmmm....