The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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APRIL 2021 THE WOLVERINE 11 INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Michigan graduate transfer point guard Mike Smith has been everything he was expected to be and more this year, finishing second in the Big Ten in assists during the regular season (5.0 per game). He answered several ques- tions prior to the start of the Big Ten Tournament about his season so far after transferring from Columbia. The Wolverine: Coach Juwan How- ard told you about the family atmo- sphere and how hard it would be when you signed up to play for him. Has it met your expectations? Smith: "I knew what I was getting into. Everything Coach told me while I was being recruited has been the same — there haven't been any set- backs. He's the same person every day; he's always energetic and isn't ever in a bad mood. He practices what he preaches. "I made a great decision coming here, and I'm glad Coach reached out to me and recruited me." The Wolverine: Everyone talks about him being a 'player's coach.' What does that mean, exactly? Smith: "He gets angry when we don't do things right, but it's more along the lines of, 'I told you once, so let's not let it happen again.' He is a player's coach. "… He understands. He's been there; he's done that. I think most coaches have not played or they haven't played recently … he understands how some days you don't want to come in and don't want to do this, but it's a neces- sity. You need to be able to come in and want to practice and do the right things all the time — 'Every time, all the time,' is what he always says." The Wolverine: Senior forward Isaiah Livers said it took you some time to adapt defensively, but you've come a long way. What did it take? Smith: "It's competitive. The coaches always challenged me to be better, when I first stepped on campus, on the defensive end. I've tried to accept that role and tried to be that player, and I think I've done that. "Obviously, the job's not done, and I have a lot more areas to grow in, but I for sure look up to [my teammates] and how they pride themselves on defense. I've been trying to do that, as well." The Wolverine: You came in with Wake Forest transfer Chaundee Brown Jr., and he's adapted well, too. What have you seen from him? Smith: "He's like a weapon off the bench. He's the sixth man of the year and should win that award. Chaundee is a character and the type of person who wants what's best for the team. "He always changes the game when- ever he comes in … we're both new here, so we've kind of stuck with each other. I've told him to be aggressive and to just play his game whenever he comes in." The Wolverine: Juwan Howard said he envisioned you being a key part of a championship team, and it's hap- pened. How much did you believe in that message? Smith: "It was definitely one of the things I knew this team was capable of doing when he first recruited me. I looked at the roster and I knew this roster had a lot of pieces. I looked at the freshmen and I knew they were going to make an impact right away. "Chaundee came a little later and I thought, 'Man, this team is going to be really dangerous.' But this is only one step of the goal … we've got to finish out strong [in] the NCAA Tournament." — Chris Balas Sitting Down With Graduate Transfer Point Guard Mike Smith Smith, who transferred in to Michigan from Columbia, finished second in the Big Ten in assists during the regular season, averaging 5.0 per game. PHOTO BY LON HORWEDEL