One of the biggest names in sports media, ESPN’s outspoken Stephen A. Smith, did something on Monday’s edition of his ESPN show First Take that he doesn’t do all that often — he admitted he was wrong.
Shortly before the start of this year’s NCAA Tournament, Smith took a stance on the Wolverines (also on First Take), casting doubt about how far they could make it. He boldly declared Michigan would be the first No. 1-seed eliminated from the tournament.
“I’ve only seen a lot of these teams on one or
two occasions,” Smith said, “Unfortunately for Michigan, I saw both of their losses to Wisconsin and Duke. I’m not enamored with this team. I’m not enamored with this team as a No. 1 seed. I’m just not — I’m of the mindset that when it really, really counts, Michigan is going to let you down.”
Smith cited Michigan’s guard play and “erratic” nature as reasons to cast doubt on the Wolverines, especially in the absence of backup point guard L.J. Cason, who tore his ACL in February. At the time, he was complimentary of Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg, albeit mistakenly calling him “Londonborg.”
Clearly Smith wasn’t well-acquainted with the Wolverines at the time he made his original take, but he reversed course on Monday by telling Jay Williams that he owed Michigan an apology, even going so far as to say Michigan can win it all.
“I’m ashamed of my position, Jay (Williams), on Michigan. I owe the Michigan Wolverines an apology,” Smith said. “They’ve ran roughshod over the competition. They’ve been head and shoulders over anybody they’ve gone against – They can beat anybody. They can win a national title.”
It’s perhaps alright to give Smith some grace for not believing Michigan could make it to the Final Four. Entering the NCAA Tournament, Michigan had a shaky performance in the Big Ten Tournament, including the loss to Purdue in the championship game.
Now, though, Michigan is back to looking like its old self by beating all four of its tournament opponents by at least 13 points, with the it’s 32-point thumping of Tennessee in the Elite Eight being the most impressive. And while many pundits like Smith now believe the Wolverines have the ability to walk out of Indianapolis with a trophy, they’ll first have to get past their biggest test of the season on Saturday when they take on fellow No. 1-seed Arizona — a matchup that’s sure to have the sports world buzzing all week.
