Bobby Frasor: A Tale of Determination

Frasor was set to be "the man" in Chapel Hill at one point. Then Ty Lawson came along. As UNC's biggest weekend in years draws close, Frasor is still ready to do whatever it takes.

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Frasor's been through a lot in Chapel Hill, including the taunting of Dookies.

Brother Rice High School basketball coach Pat Richardson has always told Bobby Frasor he questions his decision-making ability.

It's not because he tries to throw full-court passes or attempts to dribble through triple-teams: Richardson actually loves Frasor's game. No, Richardson has always doubted Bobby Frasor's competence because of his loyalty to the Chicago White Sox instead of the Chicago Cubs.

Yet as a Chicago South Sider, Frasor, not Richardson, is the norm. And like most Sox fans from the South Side, Frasor can rehash nearly every inning of the 2005 World Series, which incites Richardson more. Among those cherished memories is the 14th inning of Game 3. With the Sox tied at 5-5 with the Houston Astros and the game nearly entering its sixth hour, role player Geoff Blum stepped up to the plate for the first time in the Series and delivered the biggest hit of his life as he smashed a two-run homer, bringing the Sox one game closer to history.

As North Carolina prepares to make its own run at history this weekend in the Final Four, Frasor knows his own Geoff Blum moment may be on the horizon.

"If a big shot comes my way, I want to hit it," said Frasor, who along with Ed Davis is one of North Carolina's most used backups. "I'm ready for it. I'll be mentally prepared."

His dad, Bob Frasor, a former high school coach, has even discussed that possibility in detail.

"We've talked about that," Bob said. "The message I tell him is expect to take it, expect to make it, whether it's a free throw, drive or jump shot."

It's what everyone who knows Frasor wants for him. It wouldn't entirely fix what has been a frustrating four years at North Carolina for Frasor, but it would help.

"I hope he gets an opportunity to make an impact in the Final Four," Richardson said. "He deserves it."

Frasor came to Chapel Hill as a highly-recruited McDonald's All-American from Richardson's Brother Rice program. As a Tar Heel freshman, he lived up to that hype. He started every game, finished fourth in the ACC in assists and was named to the conference's all-freshman team. He had 10 points, five assists, two steals and two clutch free throws to help the Tar Heels stun Duke in the final home game for Shelden Williams and J.J. Redick. He still lists that game as one of his favorite UNC memories.

From there, it's been a bumpy ride.

A year later, Ty Lawson arrived to North Carolina. At first, Frasor was able to hold on to his starting spot. Looking back, Frasor believes he was playing his best basketball ever. In December, that changed with a foot injury. It forced him to miss 10 games and when he returned to the court he wasn't the same player. He played a total of 17 minutes in four games in the NCAA Tournament.

His right foot injury lingered over to the summer, and he was only starting to feel like his old self as play entered December of his junior season. But then again, another injury derailed him. Against Nevada on Dec. 27, he went for a steal and his left knee buckled. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament, requiring surgery and forcing him to miss the Tar Heels' final 27 games, which included their run to the Final Four.

"It hasn't been the ideal career," Frasor said.

"It hasn't been the ideal career."

The road to recovery for his knee was long. But even more than the rehab, Frasor found himself having trouble regaining the comfort level he once had on the court. Even now as he's almost through his entire senior season, he's not sure he has it.

"Being away from the game so long, you lose that instinct," Frasor said. "It is tough. I don't know what I can do to get it back. To say that I'm the same basketball player would be a stretch. In practice and in pick-up games, I'm fine. I can still do everything that I once did. In games, it's different."

He has shown at times this season he can be the Bobby Frasor who starred as a freshman. He played 27 minutes and hit three big threes as North Carolina beat Duke on Feb. 11. When Lawson was out with an injury during the ACC Tournament and opening round of the NCAAs, Frasor stepped into the starting lineup and ran the offense with no trouble. Against Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, he came off the bench and contributed 20 minutes to help end Jeremy Pargo's college career. Strangely, Frasor also ended Pargo's high school career as Brother Rice defeated Pargo's team in the postseason during their senior seasons.

Most of this season, though, Frasor has come in and done what's asked of him. He handles the ball some, passes it to open teammates, shoots occasionally and aggressively defends.

"The bottom line to him is he does whatever it takes to win," his father said.

That's what this weekend will be about. While his career has had more ups than downs, a national championship is what he ultimately desires. It's why he came to North Carolina.

Tyler Hansbrough, Frasor's roommate of four years, knows exactly what playing in the Final Four means to his close friend.

"He's had a rough path there for a couple years," Hansbrough said. "Coming back strong and finishing strong, I think that's the way to go out for him."

Of course, a game-winning winning three-pointer at the buzzer wouldn't be a bad way to go out as well.

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