Branden Frazier has been a major contributor for the Fordham basketball team ever since arriving on campus as a fresh
Frazier is currently one of only two seniors on the Fordham basketball team, one of the youngest teams in the conference. (Photo by Drew Dipane/The Ram)
man in 2010. A communications major from Brooklyn, he averaged at least 11 points and 34 minutes per game in each of his first three seasons with the Rams. This season he is averaging career-highs in points and rebounds per game. The Ram caught up with Branden last week before Fordham’s game against Dayton.
The Fordham Ram: Why did you choose to come to Fordham?
Branden Frazier: I guess I chose to come here because of the coaching staff, really. Overall, because it was just home. Plus, it’s a good academic school, so that was the main reason why. But, I think it was mostly because I wanted to stay close to home and the coaching staff we have.
TFR: You’re really having a breakout season this year. How do you think your game has changed?
BF: I’m just developing. Each year I’m getting older and knowing what to expect on the floor. It’s just being more calm and more poised on the court, just knowing when I can attack and do other things for my team. I think the years since I’ve been a freshman have helped me a lot.
TFR: How does playing with a scorer like Jon Severe help your game?
BF: It helps a lot, because most of the time the other team is focused on him. It gives me a chance to do what I do. Over the years, it was kind of like I was the main guy, or I was the focus of the team. Now, to have a guy like that that can score at any moment, it’s good to take some of the weight off your shoulders.
TFR: You guys are running a lot with a four-guard lineup this year. How do you like that style?
BF: I like it really well. We play really fast, and I like that type of game. I like to get up the court. I don’t really like to run plays. We can drive against big guys and really go hard on defense if we want, if we want to move fast and trap guys a little bit. I think we’re just trying to make it a fast-paced game and that’s what we like. That’s what we’re best at.
TFR: Coach Pecora really pushes you to be a leader. What do you do to fill that role?
BF: Just by coming in every day of practice and learning each day. I just want my coaches and my teammates to help me become a better leader, and I feel like they’ve done that so far. That’s the main focus. I just try to come in every day and learn something new. I try to be a coach on the floor like coach wants me to.
TFR: With Chris Gaston missing so much time last year [with a knee injury], did that help you sort of ease into that role?
BF: Yeah, of course. It was because I had to. Since Chris was out, he wasn’t really at some of the games, so my teammates put it on my back to be that guy. I think I took the chance and gained the respect from them.
TFR: You guys have already played two games [against Duquesne and Richmond] in the A-10, and conference play is heating up. What are your goals for A-10 play?
BF: Just to have more numbers in the winning column than in the losing column. We kind of let two games slip away from us — one on the road and one at home. I feel like our team is just getting better each game. Those games like Duquesne and Richmond are the games that we’re going to win later in the year.
TFR: What are your plans for after graduation?
BF: Hopefully I can still play basketball. I love this game a lot, and hopefully I can be good enough that someone wants me to take my talents to wherever they coach. But it’s good to have a degree from Fordham, and hopefully basketball takes me somewhere.
