CBS analyst Kenny Smith has been absent from most of his duties for the past two days of March Madness’ studio coverage. On Friday, Smith was replaced by Renee Montgomery, a two-time WNBA champion who has now transitioned into broadcasting.
However, some have raised concerns about Smith’s mysterious absence on CBS. The former NBA star was expected to speak about his alma mater, North Carolina, after it lost to VCU in a major upset on Thursday. However, Smith was not on the broadcast, which featured Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg.
On Friday, CBS’s lead anchor Adam Zucker noted that Smith was feeling under the weather, which is why he was not on broadcast duties.
According to reports, Smith was present for Day 1 of CBS’s March Madness coverage. However, he left the show before No. 1 Michigan‘s win over No. 16 Howard. North Carolina’s game tipped off after the Wolverines’ win, but Smith was around for UNC’s pre-game coverage.
Smith was confident UNC would make a deep run in this year’s NCAA Tournament. He predicted that the Tar Heels would go all the way to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately for Smith, UNC suffered an 82-78 loss to VCU in the Round of 64. The Rams erased a 19-point second-half deficit to stun Hubert Davis’ team.
While many were hoping to catch Smith’s reaction to UNC’s shock exit from March Madness, the analyst’s health is more important. CBS has not announced whether Smith will return to the studio for March Madness.
Kenny Smith Won Two NBA Championships With Houston Rockets
Kenny Smith played at North Carolina for four years from 1983 to 1987. The Sacramento Kings drafted him with the No. 6 pick in 1987.
Smith went on to play in the NBA for 10 seasons with six different teams. Apart from the Kings, he played for the Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and Denver Nuggets.
Smith won two NBA championships with the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. He retired in 1997.
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