It can be hard to remember after a Big Ten Championship and Elite Eight appearance, but there was a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Michigan basketball program heading into the 2020-21 season. Losing a three-year starter at point guard was a big part of that, as the Wolverines had limited options to fill the huge gap left behind by Zavier Simpson.
In came Mike Smith, a graduate transfer from Columbia who finished the 2019-20 season sixth in the nation at 22.8 PPG. Despite playing four years against Ivy League competition, Smith was decently regarded upon arriving in Ann Arbor — ESPN ranked him 17th among transfers — but he was far from a sure thing.