Sometimes, even the most well-maintained Jet needs unplanned maintenance.
And so it was Friday on the March Madness television set, as Kenny “The Jet” Smith was absent from the second day of 2026 NCAA Tournament coverage. The former North Carolina and NBA great took ill Thursday night during the Michigan-Howard game and was replaced Friday on set by two-time WNBA champ Renee Montgomery.
It didn’t take long for frequent Jet foil Charles Barkley to poke fun at Smith’s absence Friday, remarking to the camera, “Keep your shirt on at the beach, Kenny”.
Kenny Smith went home after the Howard-Michigan on Thursday night after feeling under the weather. #MarchMadness #NCAATournament pic.twitter.com/bIqBBlv85S
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2026Montgomery, who won two WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx after a stellar collegiate career at UConn, was right at home on the TBS/CBS/TNT/TruTV set beside Adam Zucker, Clark Kellogg and Barkley – diving right into analysis of Friday’s first-round matchups. Montgomery is a studio analyst for CBS’s WNBA coverage and is also an activist and part-owner of the Atlanta Dream.
Smith’s absence is the second broadcasting illness so far in this NCAA Tournament. Play-by-play voice Brian Anderson, who was noticeably hoarse during Tuesday’s First Four game in Dayton between NC State and Texas that he called alongside Barkley and Dick Vitale, was replaced Thursday for a quartet of games by Jason Benetti on CBS and TNT.
Prediction Markets 2026 College Basketball Champion? Learn more about Prediction Markets Kalshi Arizona 19% Michigan 18% Duke 17% Florida 9% Houston 7% Iowa St. 5% Purdue 5% Illinois 5% UConn 3% Kansas 2% PredictCharles Barkley teases Kenny Smith over absence from March Madness studio coverage Saturday Down South.
Hence then, the article about charles barkley teases kenny smith over absence from march madness studio coverage was published today ( ) and is available on SATURDAY DOWN SOUTH ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Charles Barkley teases Kenny Smith over absence from March Madness studio coverage )
Also on site :
- U.S. accuses Iran’s government of operating hacktivist group that hacked Stryker
- King Alfred evacuated as fire crews battle blaze
- ‘The Comeback’ Incited Public Confusion While Recreating 2023 Strikes Outside WB Lot: “Cars Were Honking”