Saturday's heart-breaking 66-61 loss to the University of Utah wasn't a farewell befitting the hardest working members of the UNM men's basketball team, but seniors Brian Smith and Wayland White were just glad they were there.
"Brian and Wayland are two of the best guys you could ever be around," head coach Fran Fraschilla said. "They're two very mature, serious, fun guys to have on your team. They're good leaders, and they've just been a joy to coach."
Smith Plays Through Pain
Arizona native Brian Smith was supposed to move on to a coaching career, staying involved in basketball from the sidelines, but something told him to return to this year's team.
After struggling with his injured left knee throughout most of the 1999-2000 season, Smith's basketball career was essentially over. The bothersome knee wasn't going to let him even run the floor consistently, let alone crash the boards, play defense and dive on the floor for loose balls.
He wasn't supposed to play much in Fraschilla's up-tempo style, but Smith figured he might be able to help the team out and be part of something special.
"It's the best decision I've ever made, and I'm just so glad that I came back because its been a great year," he said while fighting back tears.
Smith said that The Pit crowds and former Lobo and fellow Arizona native Lamont Long lured him from the University of San Diego.
"I have so many great memories, but I think any time you get the opportunity to get to walk down The Pit ramp it's special," he said. "That's what drew me here and that's a big part of what made my time here so special."
Smith will never be known for phenomenal shooting statistics or for breaking any UNM records, but he's he will be remembered for racking up the most floor burns, taking the most stitches and playing through the most pain.
He didn't practice all season, spending endless hours in the training room to stay in shape and get the most out of knees that failed his heart and will long ago.
Saturday's loss to Utah was not Smith's best outing of the season - he fouled out after 30 minutes of play, finishing withfour points and four rebounds. But Fraschilla said he could count on Smith doing what he does best and has done all season.
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"He plays within himself and makes very few errors," Fraschilla said. "He just plays fundamentally-sound basketball, has a big heart and I dare you to find anyone on the floor who works as hard and more selflessly."
While the loss left Smith with a bitter taste in his mouth, he, better than anyone on the team, understands that life on the basketball court isn't always fair.
"You never want to lose your last home game, especially to Utah," he said. "It's tough, but that's the way it goes."
White Rises to the Challenge
The day Wayland White started playing basketball, he started trying to dunk. His practice has paid off.
White, who stands six-feet six-inches tall, uses an incredible 41-foot vertical jump to rise above his opponents, frustrating them and amazing audiences with his spectacular dunks.
White turned up the heat for his final home performance, finishing with 18 points, six rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 30 minutes of play. He refused to end his home career on the same note he did last Thursday when he played just five minutes in a loss to Brigham Young University.
But his heroics that brought the 17,680 fans to their feet wasn't enough.
"I tried to go out and play hard every night," he said. "We played hard, but we just couldn't get the win, so now we have to focus on the Mountain West Tournament."
Fraschilla has called White the best defender in the Mountain West Conference because, despite his size, no one can lob the ball over him in the low post because he will steal it. He added that if opponents float a pass too high over White's head, his teammates have plenty of time to steal the ball from behind.
"He's a phenomenal player and he works so hard," Fraschilla said of White following Saturday's game. "I'm just glad his mom was here to see him play. I know it was a special day for him."
White said that while he will miss being on the team, he knows he's left it in good hands and will likely come back to see a few games.
He said that his fondest memory of UNM will be of the games he played in The Pit and the roar he got from the crowd every time he dunked.
"The fact we always have 18,000 screaming fans makes every night a good night in The Pit," he said. "I'm really going to miss it."
