Tyler Smith's decision to transfer from Iowa in the offseason and the NCAA's subsequent ruling that granted him a hardship waiver to play this season eased Vols fans' anxiety about the void left by Dane Bradshaw's graduation.

Looking back, Smith's decision and the NCAA's ruling may have also changed the face of Tennessee basketball forever.

Bradshaw's intensity and hustle set the tone for the way basketball would be played at the University of Tennessee under Bruce Pearl. While some fans were glad to see Bradshaw and his shooting woes move on, everyone knew what he had meant to the resurgence of the program.

He was the "glue guy" on Pearl's first two NCAA tournament teams at Tennessee, so despite being the only player to graduate from last year's sweet sixteen team Bradshaw's departure raised questions about how the team would respond without his leadership.

Not only had the Vols lost their senior leader, but also their toughest competitor, best passer, and clutch defensive playmaker.

Little did Tennessee fans know that Smith would turn out to be much more than just Bradshaw's replacement. In his first season as a Volunteer, Smith has arguably become Tennessee's best all around player, while exceeding Bradshaw in almost every statistical category other than assists.

Smith's versatility has raised the Vols' potential from that of a dangerous perimeter oriented team, to that of a serious juggernaut with Final Four written all over it.

Smith's versatility has raised the Vols' potential from that of a dangerous perimeter oriented team, to that of a serious juggernaut with Final Four written all over it. The former Giles Co. high school star has led the Vols in rebounding (6.1 rpg) and assists (3.7 apg), he's second in field goal percentage (54.6%) and steals (1.7 spg), and third in scoring (13.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (72.4%).

His contributions have varied game to game, but always seem to make the Vols better. In his first SEC game at home against then undefeated Ole Miss he led the team in scoring with 21 points and scored two critical baskets in the last minute, one of which was a game winner with 4.2 seconds left.

 Smith's heroics continued with a near triple-double against Georgia, which he followed up a couple weeks later with 21 second half points as the Vols ran away from defending national champion Florida.

As his team has risen into the top five in the national rankings, Smith's game has risen to the occasion. During the Vols' recent seven-game winning streak following their loss at Kentucky, Smith has only once shot below fifty percent from the floor in a game and has posted a double-double in tough road wins at Alabama and at Georgia.

Smith's arsenal of low post moves and solid mid-range game have complimented Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith's lethal three point shooting, and have given Pearl the luxury of a third legitimate scoring threat that he didn't have last season.

Professional scouts have been impressed with Smith's athleticism, but it's his passing skills and uncanny ability to create his own shot that have caused his NBA draft stock to skyrocket into the first round. If current projections are accurate, Smith would be the first Tennessee player since Marcus Haislip in 2002 to be drafted in the first round of the NBA draft.

The presence of a versatile NBA-caliber forward should not be underestimated on a team looking to make a run deep into March. It's been since the last millennium since a team has won the national title game without a forward bound for the NBA.

Dane Bradshaw helped put Tennessee basketball back on the map, but the guy thought to be Bradshaw's replacement has the opportunity to take the Vols to the top of the college basketball world.

At this rate, I'm not betting against him.