Fordham's Bryan Smith Enters Final Stage of His College Career

Fordham's final three regular-season games and however many more it ends up playing in the Atlantic 10 tournament are, for multiple reasons, critical to the development and psyche of the program.

First and foremost, the goal is always to win basketball games. Having won four of their last six, the Rams actually have something going right now.

But a big part of the final two weeks of the season will be about Bryan Smith, the only senior on the roster who plays significant minutes. 

Last year, Branden Frazier went through his own farewell tour that included two games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. He closed out his college career in the borough where he grew up.

Frazier had a memorable four-year stint at Fordham. He followed Tom Pecora to Rose Hill in 2010 when Pecora was named head coach of the Rams. He ended up finishing second in school history in assists (495) and ninth in points (1,642). In his senior season, he led the team in scoring and assists.

At the start of last season's A-10 tournament, there was an article on Frazier in The Wall Street Journal. People got to know his story—what he was all about and what he accomplished on the basketball court. On a team that lacked star power, he was the go-to guy.

Pecora talked a lot about Frazier throughout the course of last season, his comments picking up in intensity and emotion as Frazier got closer and closer to the end.

Smith, also from Brooklyn, didn't have the career Frazier had, but that doesn't mean he'll just ride off into the sunset without any accolades thrown his way. Next Wednesday, he'll play his final home game when Fordham hosts Duquesne at the Rose Hill Gym.

"I'm hoping we can sell this place out for him because he deserves it," Pecora said. "Bryan had an opportunity to go a lot of places, a lot of other really good schools. He chose to come here when it wasn't the popular thing to do; it was a hard thing to do.

"His dad's an alum. I just said to him, 'Your mom and dad have to be so happy and proud of you.'

"Next Wednesday, I want to have a great crowd here. It's going to be an emotional night for him."

2014-15 was supposed to be about Smith and Ryan Canty serving as the leaders on a team trying to begin a new era of Fordham basketball. Canty ended up missing the entire season after having back surgery last summer, and the young Rams struggled at the start of conference play, losing their first nine games. They've recovered this month, and Smith has played a big part in the turnaround.

"The way they're playing now, the way they're maturing, a lot of that has to do with Bryan and the job he's done as the lone senior," Pecora said. "Bryan's done a great job."

Though his senior season hasn't been your typical fairytale, the 6'2" guard may be saving his best for last.

In the Rams' win over La Salle Wednesday night, Smith had 15 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists. It was the fourth straight game where he's scored in double digits.

Heading into Saturday's game at UMass, Smith is averaging 5.7 points per game. More importantly, though, he's provided leadership on a team that includes seven freshmen, one sophomore and two juniors.

The Rams will be able to replace Smith's scoring next season. What they'll need is for Canty, Ryan Rhoomes and Mandell Thomas to provide the leadership.

For now, Smith is focused on one thing, though he can't help but think about his Fordham career coming to an end.

"I want to win, that's the most important thing to me," Smith said. "Of course it's in the back of my mind, but I want to get the win first."

Quotations in this article were obtained firsthand.

Charles Costello covers the Fordham Rams for Bleacher Report. A full archive of his articles can be found here. Follow him on Twitter: @CFCostello