For all of Dick Vitale’s “showtime baby!” and Gus Johnson’s “the slipper still fits,” March Madness’ cherry on top broadcasting may have just tasted sour this season. CBS teams’ ill chemistry or Steve Lappas’ insufficient effort, broadcasting has been a pebble in the show for the college hoops community. So, when the NCAA roped in Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley for March Madness, there were doubts about their college basketball knowledge and potential alma mater bias. Smith did himself no favors when he referred to Cooper Flagg as a “possible NBA lottery pick” during the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Needless to say, it didn’t go down well with Duke fans, especially coming from a former UNC man.

Okay, let’s be honest– Chuck and Kenny did not help get Inside the NBA to its heights without being the entertaining analysts they are. College basketball fans have loved a share of it, too, in Rick Majerus, Doug Gottlieb, and more. But that is where they will be drawing the line. March Madness is a separate beast where rivalries run deep, and fan devotion is even deeper. So, during the Final Four, Smith came in the firing line, and his colleague didn’t escape the wrath of the fans either.

During the Auburn vs Florida half-time show, Charles Barkley addressed his alma mater with heavy bias, using the word ‘we’ as an analyst. After Barkley’s alma mater, Auburn, suffered a defeat, Barkley was visibly upset and made no secret of his emotions. “The best team won,” Barkley said on the CBS broadcast after the game. “Our guys played valiantly. It was a heck of a game. I’m so proud of our team and coach Pearl, and those kids. I’m disappointed, but Florida was the better team.”  Needless to say, fans didn’t react well. But truth be told, no professional basketball player ever loses their college loyalties. And Chuck has been at it throughout the season, proud of the heights Auburn has reached under Bruce Pearl.

“You know, it got to the point Bruce did such a good job. People have been disappointed the last couple of years. Can you imagine? Think about that,” he said during his appearance on The Next Round last week. While starring in CBS’s studio coverage of the game at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, Barkley expressed confidence in his Auburn Tigers as they headed into the locker room with a 46-38 halftime lead. He was even seen celebrating as the Tigers were dominating at one point. But later, as Florida turned the tables, Barkley was seen going through a wide range of emotions and was seen burying his head in his hands in disgust.

Yet again, fans were quick to double down on “Why Barkley looks like he in shambles.”  What added to the day was that Kenny Smith was no different than Barkley, but it’s a lot more subtle.

During the Duke vs Houston clash in the Final Four, fans were keen to point out Smith’s disinterest in games that didn’t involve UNC. During Duke games, the UNC alum appeared to be uninterested and always rooted against the Blue Devils. He’s a Tar Heel if there ever was one, having his jersey retired by the program. But broadcasting is a profession in which loyalties are tested for sure.

However, college basketball fans are not happy with the analysis from Chuck and Smith. The TNT crew has not had a positive response from the public during this March Madness tournament, and the experience has been soured to a great extent during the Final Four.

Fans tear down CBS and Kenny Smith for biased coverage

We know the Tobacco Road rivalry is losing its charm, but it hasn’t completely fizzled out. However, fans wish it were not brought into broadcasting while calling the game. As expected, social media didn’t respond well to Smith’s antics during Duke’s Final Four game against Houston

Top Comment by Shari Ann

No!! I’m a gator and I appreciate plus understand how he feels. There’s no harm in an analyst expressing his...more

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“Kenny Smith is awful to listen to when the topic is Duke. Dude is so damn bias against them,” a user wrote on X, calling out the Tar Heels alum. The 2x NBA champion has been in the broadcasting business for nearly 3 decades now. All-Stars, playoffs, or even the Division I college basketball games back in 2008. Clearly, he is no rookie. So, watching him bring little to the table during these games, fans had no kind words.

“Kenny Smith adds nothing to the broadcast,” blurted one of the users. During the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Smith got on the nerves of Duke fans for his comments on Cooper Flagg. “I wouldn’t say Duke is the most physically-imposing team, but I’d say they’re the most skilled team in college basketball. The luxury Cooper Flagg has as a freshman and being a highly-touted freshman and possible NBA lottery pick is that he doesn’t have to play well.” 

Labelling one of the best, if not the best, players in college basketball as a lottery pick when many expect him to be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft didn’t go down well with Duke fans, who even called for his firing. One fan in response to Smith’s comment wrote, “Insufferable analysis from a clear biased UNC fan, sports analysts are truly becoming a lost cause.”

The CBS coverage of the game has changed over the past few years. We have new show hosts, new studio hosts, and new analysts all around. Not to mention, games are broadcast across CBS and Turner networks, shifting away from a pay-per-view model. However, one fan wants it all to roll back. “I’m happy every game is broadcast across CBS and the Turner networks, but having Chuck and Kenny there is the price we pay. I’d rather go back to PPV and have CBS’ regular crew there. Seth Davis, Jon Rothstein, etc.”

There was a lot of pushback that the broadcasting company got for including Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Candace Parker into the NCAA Tournament crew, and it has only gotten worse.

“Kenny is just so uninterested lol can’t stand him,” came another jab from a fan. Smith has adorned the Duke colors for all four years before he was drafted as the 6th overall pick in the NBA draft in 1987. No Tar Heel or Blue Devil ever forgets the rivalry, and it was stingingly visible for the fans, and not just in his commentary. “He couldn’t wait to wear that shade of blue either he so uncomfortable tonight lol,” a fan said on X, pointing out the shade that Smith wore to Duke’s Final Four matchup. 

One fan questioned why Smith was given March Madness duties in the first place. They wrote, “It’s wild to me that Kenny Smith gets March Madness coverage, but clearly does not watch college basketball. Dude up there winging it every time.”

The CBS broadcasting lineup left a bitter taste in people’s mouths when it was announced, and you can see why.