NBA icon who vanished from CBS desk after March Madness upset suddenly absent in studio next day Following UNC’s stunning upset loss to VCU in the first round of March Madness, Kenny Smith left his CBS Sports desk—and the NBA icon was absent from Friday’s NCAA Tournament coverage. Smith was replaced by Renee Montgomery for Friday’s March Madness coverage. Smith’s absence from CBS and TNT Sports’ coverage of March Madness came just a day after he abruptly left his desk. On Thursday, Smith’s alma mater, UNC, fell 82-78 to VCU as the 11th-seeded Rams stormed back from a 19-point deficit to secure a shocking upset win in the NCAA Tournament. Terrence Hill Jr. led VCU with 34 points, including 20 in the second half. As he covered March Madness alongside Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg, Smith left his desk in frustration following UNC’s loss. The former UNC standout had earlier appeared in bracket segments with Barkley before the game and had even picked UNC to reach the Elite Eight. The Tar Heels were eliminated in the Round of 64 for the first time since 1985, the year Smith played on the team. During that season, he averaged 12.0 points and 6.2 assists for a UNC squad featuring future NBA players like Brad Daugherty, Joe Wolf, Jeff Lebo, Dave Popson, and Steve Bucknall. Speculation suggested Smith’s departure may have been triggered by the loss, though some questioned whether he was unwell. On Friday, Smith was replaced by Renee Montgomery at the main desk in New York as viewers tuned in for the Round of 64. Host Adam Zucker, joined by Montgomery, Kellogg, and Barkley, introduced the day’s coverage and noted that Smith was under the weather. Zucker shared a get-well message, while Barkley teased his longtime “Inside the NBA” partner with a quip about keeping his shirt on at the beach.#kenny_smith #charles_barkley #vcu #unc #rene_e_montgomery
CBS Analyst Kenny Smith Leaves Broadcast After UNC's Upset Loss to VCU The NCAA Tournament’s opening round delivered a dramatic twist as North Carolina’s historic upset loss to VCU left CBS analyst Kenny Smith abruptly exiting the broadcast. The defeat, which ended the Tar Heels’ season in the round of 64, prompted Smith to leave the studio shortly after the game, drawing immediate attention from viewers. The incident underscored the volatile nature of March Madness, where a single game can shift fortunes and spotlight the personal ties of analysts to their alma maters. Smith, a former UNC standout and longtime CBS/TNT commentator, had been part of the studio team alongside Charles Barkley and Clark Kellogg. The Tar Heels entered the game with a 39-28 halftime lead and a 18-point advantage in the second half, but the momentum shifted dramatically. VCU, led by Terrence Hill Jr.’s 34 points and a clutch stepback three-pointer in overtime, overcame a 19-point deficit to secure an 82-78 victory. UNC’s Henri Veesaar contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds, but his efforts proved insufficient as the Rams’ resilience proved decisive. Smith’s departure from the broadcast booth sparked widespread speculation. Some viewers questioned whether he had left due to illness, while others interpreted it as a reaction to the loss. Social media reactions ranged from amusement to accusations of “typical coward behavior,” with many fixating on the vacant seat. However, Smith’s exit carried added weight given his pre-tournament confidence in UNC’s prospects. He had predicted the Tar Heels would face Illinois before a potential Elite Eight clash with Houston, envisioning a national championship showdown between Michigan and Michigan State, with the Spartans emerging victorious.#kenny_smith #vcu #unc #terrence_hill_jr #henri_veesaar
Path to Phoenix: Local women’s teams take on tournament field The women’s NCAA Tournament will once again feature North Carolina as a central hub, with Duke and UNC hosting the first and second rounds. NC State and High Point, other local teams, will face challenges on the road this weekend as they navigate their paths to the Final Four in Phoenix. Each team’s journey promises historic matchups, opportunities for upsets, and a mix of familiar foes and new threats. Here’s a breakdown of their potential routes to the national championship. Duke, seeded third in the Sacramento 2 bracket, will face No. 14 Charleston in the second round. The Blue Devils aim to avenge a season-opening loss to Baylor, which ended with a 58-52 result. Taliah Scott’s 24-point performance and Duke’s 29% shooting from the floor were key factors in that defeat. If Duke advances, they could rematch LSU, which dominated them in the ACC/SEC Challenge with a 31-point second quarter. A deeper run might bring a showdown with UCLA, the tournament’s top seed, which handed Duke its worst loss of the season (89-59). Without star center Lauren Betts, UCLA’s Gabriela Jaquez and Charlisse Leger-Walker combined for 43 points. If Duke continues its payback mission, they could face a formidable Final Four group including No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Louisville, or No. 4 West Virginia. UNC, seeded fourth in the Fort Worth 1 bracket, will open against No. 13 Western Illinois. A win would set up a potential clash with No. 5 Maryland or No. 12 Murray State. The Tar Heels’ path intensifies in the Sweet 16, where they could face UConn, the tournament’s No. 1 seed. UConn, led by Sarah Strong (18.5 PPG) and Azzi Fudd (17.7 PPG), has dominated its recent games, winning six straight by at least 30 points. If UNC beats UConn, they might face No. 2 Vanderbilt, No. 3 Ohio State, or No.#duke #high_point #uconn #nc_state #unc
UNC Opens NCAA Tournament Without Caleb Wilson vs. Surging VCU North Carolina will face a challenge in the opening weekend of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, as the Tar Heels will play without star freshman Caleb Wilson. The No. 6 seed UNC (24-8) will take on No. 11 seed VCU (27-7) at 6:50 p.m. ET Thursday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. The South Region game will be broadcast on TNT. Wilson, an All-ACC first-team selection, is out for the season after breaking his right thumb. The injury occurred while he was recovering from a previous left hand fracture. His last game was on Feb. 20, and UNC is 5-3 in eight games without him. Coach Hubert Davis expressed disappointment over the injury, stating, “Our team will move forward,” after the regular-season finale against Duke on March 7. Davis also highlighted the emotional impact of the injury, noting, “There’s tremendous sadness for him. He’s a special player and teammate, and his passion for the team and the program is unmatched. It was a dream for him to play in the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament, and my heart is broken he won’t be able to do that.” The winner of the UNC-VCU matchup will face the winner of the Illinois-Penn game on Saturday in Greenville. The South Region includes other notable teams such as No. 1 seed Florida, No. 2 seed Houston, No. 4 seed Nebraska, No. 5 seed Vanderbilt, No. 7 seed Saint Mary’s, No. 8 seed Clemson, No. 9 seed Iowa, No. 10 seed Texas A&M, No. 12 seed McNeese, No. 13 seed Troy, No. 15 seed Idaho, and two No. 16 seeds, Lehigh and Prairie View A&M. UNC enters the tournament on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Duke in the regular-season finale and lost 80-79 to Clemson in the ACC quarterfinals. Meanwhile, VCU has dominated its recent schedule, winning 16 of its last 17 games.#bon_secours_wellness_arena #vcu #unc #caleb_wilson #keith_gill
