NOLAN Minessale Coming to MU

[NCMUFan]

I have never seen Nolan Minessale play.
But great to see a local product return home.
Immediate thought was the Jake Thomas transfer.
Former HS local star who transfers to MU from a smaller program University to help a struggling MU team.

[Billy Hoyle]

asked this in the transfer portal thread a while ago: who was the last MUHS scholarship player for MU Hoops? Did John Mueller eventually earn a scholarship after coming to MU as a walk-on, or does it go back even further?

It looks like Minnessale will be the first MUHS grad to play for MU since Mueller and Pat Duffy.

https://x.com/JordanLoppnow/status/2046353222835540384

[Uncle Rico]

I have never seen Nolan Minessale play.
But great to see a local product return home.
Immediate thought was the Jake Thomas transfer.
Former HS local star who transfers to MU from a smaller program University to help a struggling MU team.

Jake Thomas and Nolan Minessale have nothing in common as basketball players other than the color of their skin.

Jake Thomas transferred from a smaller school to help a team that hadn't missed the tournament in half a decade and was coming off a Sweet 16.

Other than that, sure.

[Jay Bee]

I have never seen Nolan Minessale play.
But great to see a local product return home.
Immediate thought was the Jake Thomas transfer.
Former HS local star who transfers to MU from a smaller program University to help a struggling MU team.

Ooofta. I hope not. Also, wat?

Struggling MU team? When Jake transferred, MU was on a run of six consecutive NCAA tourney appearances. The year he sat out in residency, MU again returned to the Big Dance, reaching the Sweet 16.

His first year playing for MU he barely played, shooting 42.9% eFG%. Yet, MU went dancing again and reached the Elite 8. In those tourney games, he logged 9 minutes total and his stat line was fairly bare: 0/1 from the field, and that's it.

His only year he played meaningful minutes, MU's streak of 8 straight tourney appearances was snapped.

WAT

[The Sultan]

I have never seen Nolan Minessale play.
But great to see a local product return home.
Immediate thought was the Jake Thomas transfer.
Former HS local star who transfers to MU from a smaller program University to help a struggling MU team.

Minessale is significantly better than Jake Thomas. Was first team Summit League and lead the conference in a number of advanced stat categories.

Thomas was basically a shooter...and that's about it. Never made an all conference team.

[Uncle Rico]

Minessale is significantly better than Jake Thomas. Was first team Summit League and lead the conference in a number of advanced stat categories.

Thomas was basically a shooter...and that's about it. Never made an all conference team.

They're both white, so basically the same player.  White people all look alike, so I get it.

[rgoode57]

I have no idea if Minnesale will help significantly or not. Hard to say how his success at a small time program like St. Thomas translates to playing in the BE. But, shooting is a skill that can translate easier than other skills. If he can shoot, he is a welcome addition. But, I caution against leaping to the conclusion that he and Fru suddenly make MU a single digit seed for next year's tournament as one poster said. That would be a massive leap. I am simply glad that Shaka may put a more competitive team on the floor than we saw this past season. At least Shaka is trying.

[Badgerhater]

I have no idea if Minnesale will help significantly or not. Hard to say how his success at a small time program like St. Thomas translates to playing in the BE. But, shooting is a skill that can translate easier than other skills. If he can shoot, he is a welcome addition. But, I caution against leaping to the conclusion that he and Fru suddenly make MU a single digit seed for next year's tournament as one poster said. That would be a massive leap. I am simply glad that Shaka may put a more competitive team on the floor than we saw this past season. At least Shaka is trying.

The two portal players serve as a reset that filled two glaring gaps.  MU will put a starting 5 out there that will compete well against most teams.  The key to a special season will be how the rest of the players develop into an effective bench.

[JakeBarnes]

I expect Minessale will spell Nigel at times and serve as ballhandler. Injury concerns me, but I also expected Nash to fill that role for like 5-10 this year.

AS will also be able to fill that as needed (and did a few instances this year).

With the 2 commits I am starting to feel like there is a bit of a minutes crunch developing. And right now, that's probably a good thing. Really excited about what Fru can teach Sheek (and hopefully the rest of the bigs). Sheek was a good drop coverage guy based on highlights but still quite mobile and a good shot blocker. Fru is a great model for where his game can go

[Galway Eagle]

I have never seen Nolan Minessale play.
But great to see a local product return home.
Immediate thought was the Jake Thomas transfer.
Former HS local star who transfers to MU from a smaller program University to help a struggling MU team.

He's more like Jake Thomas, Luke Fischer, Matt Heldt, Henry Ellenson, Jim MacIlvaine, & Sam & Joey Hauser in a blender.

In that he's a white basketball player from Wisconsin.

[wadesworld]

Ooofta. I hope not. Also, wat?

Struggling MU team? When Jake transferred, MU was on a run of six consecutive NCAA tourney appearances. The year he sat out in residency, MU again returned to the Big Dance, reaching the Sweet 16.

His first year playing for MU he barely played, shooting 42.9% eFG%. Yet, MU went dancing again and reached the Elite 8. In those tourney games, he logged 9 minutes total and his stat line was fairly bare: 0/1 from the field, and that's it.

His only year he played meaningful minutes, MU's streak of 8 straight tourney appearances was snapped.

WAT

Yet if Davidson doesn't have a defender hugging Jake Thomas in the corner on Vander Blue's drive, Marquette might be out of the Tournament in round one.

#NCMUwasright

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-EdfwyLvZk

[wadesworld]

He's more like Jake Thomas, Luke Fischer, Matt Heldt, Henry Ellenson, Jim MacIlvaine, & Sam & Joey Hauser in a blender.

In that he's a white basketball player from Wisconsin.

To be fair, Minessale is closer to Jake Thomas than Fru is to Matt Heldt.  So it wasn't the worst player comp Scoop has had for one of our incoming transfers at least.

[The Sultan]

Yet if Davidson doesn't have a defender hugging Jake Thomas in the corner on Vander Blue's drive, Marquette might be out of the Tournament in round one.

#NCMUwasright

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-EdfwyLvZk

It still boggles the mind that McKillop would rather have someone closely guard Jake Thomas, who played a grand total of four minutes and went 0-1 that game, versus sagging that guy into the lane to help on Marquette's leading scorer.

[Jockey]

They're both white, so basically the same player.  White people all look alike, so I get it.

Yeah, I don't think so. Otherwise he would be headed to Madison. They collect white guys.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Every minute he is used in mopup is a minute that doesn't go to Clark, who has potential. Hamilton has no potential.

Agree. Hamilton should be sent packing.

[Galway Eagle]

It still boggles the mind that McKillop would rather have someone closely guard Jake Thomas, who played a grand total of four minutes and went 0-1 that game, versus sagging that guy into the lane to help on Marquette's leading scorer.

Buzz claiming he's a lights out shooter that whole season worked

[brewcity77]

As far as comparing Jake Thomas to Nolan Minessale, it's a perfect comp with a few exceptions. Minessale is basically Jake Thomas but 2 inches taller, has a 7-foot wingspan, is a much better defender, is far more athletic, is better attacking, finishing, and drawing contact at the rim, plays above the rim, is a better rebounder, is a better passer, and a better ball-handler.

Jake did have a better three point shot. But other than that, very similar.

[jfp61]

I genuinely think this is one of the worst player comparison discussions I have seen on Scoop.

[The Sultan]

I genuinely think this is one of the worst player comparison discussions I have seen on Scoop.

We had a poster comparing Fru to Matt Heldt just last week.

[Uncle Rico]

Agree. Hamilton should be sent packing.

He grew 4" since the season ended.  He's now 7' 1"

[willie warrior]

He's more like Jake Thomas, Luke Fischer, Matt Heldt, Henry Ellenson, Jim MacIlvaine, & Sam & Joey Hauser in a blender.

In that he's a white basketball player from Wisconsin.

Take a McIlvane type any day. A great rim protector

[Jay Bee]

Take a McIlvane type any day. A great rim protector

McIlvaine would be even better.

[willie warrior]

McIlvaine would be even better.

yes he would, but alas, his eligibility has expired.

[TallTitan34]

Jake Thomas is Rob Hanley with a better three point shot.

[MU82]

Y'all are missing the fact that Jake's last name is THOMAS, and Nolan played at St. THOMAS.

Practically twinsies!

Also, it continues to be "fun" to witness the level of hatred some have for one of the players on the bottom of our roster.