Kenny Smith was absent from CBS’s morning coverage of the NCAA Tournament.
Renee Montgomery joined Adam Zucker and Charles Barkley at the desk instead.
Smith’s Absence Explained
Zucker noted that Smith was “under the weather”. Smith left the studio early the previous night, before the end of the Howard-Michigan game. The illness must have been significant to keep him at home overnight.
Barkley’s Take on Smith’s Whereabouts
Barkley joked that Smith was probably just taking the day off to have some fun on a beach somewhere.
“Keep your shirt on at the beach, Kenny,” Barkley said.
Speculation About the Real Reason
Some fans suggested that Smith might have been upset over his alma mater North Carolina’s loss. North Carolina fell to 11-seeded VCU and crashed out of the tournament.
“Is he under the weather or crying about the UNC loss?” one user joked.
“That’s funny. Kenny seemed fine when Siena was winning. What a pro!” another remarked.
“Rough. Kenny needs to get well from that UNC loss immediately.”
North Carolina’s Disappointing End to the Season
North Carolina ended the season on a three-game losing streak and finished with a 24-9 record. Their NCAA Tournament runner-up run in 2022 seems a long time ago.
That probably isn’t helping Smith through his health issues – whatever they are.