[quote="MJDinkins" post=347161][quote="Redman#13" post=347149]Saw Bootsy on the bench in that game against Detroit in full warm up gear. Why didn't he play on that team?
Was barkley already red shirting that year?[/quote]
Thornton graduated from JUCO in December of that particular season, and Fraschilla didn't want Thornton to waste a half a season, and only have him for 1 1/2 seasons. So, he redshirted Thornton, as he'd have two full seasons. Unfortunately, for Fraschilla's sake, he never had the chance to coach Thornton, and Bootsy (like basically most of the roster) became a treasure for Jarvis.
Barkley never redshirted. Barkley was spending a prep season at MCI (Maine Central Institute), and came in as a freshman the following season (1998-1999 season).[/quote]
With Barkley not going to be academically eligible, Fran tried to steal Speedy Claxton, who had committed to Hofstra. To his credit, Claxton stuck to his commitment, but he would have made a big difference when Felipe was a senior. The documentary sort of skipped over his junior year, Fran's first year.
The documentary was really nostalgic and well done. One thing that seemed unfair is why, even when we are the higher seed, we still have to play, essentially, a road game. We were seven seed, Detroit, 10 seed, and we play in Chicago. With the Hardy - Kennedy team, we were sixth seed, Gonzaga an 11 seed, and we have to play in Denver, with a huge Gonzaga home crowd advantage.