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Arizona City Today
By the People, for the People
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Reveals Final Four Picks for March Madness
The sports commentator shared his predictions for the NCAA Tournament, including concerns over St. John's seeding.
Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:28am
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ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith shared his Final Four picks for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, selecting Duke, Houston, Arizona, and Iowa State to reach the national semifinals. However, Smith first expressed frustration over the low seeding of St. John's, the Big East regular season and tournament champions, who he felt deserved a higher seed.
Why it matters
Smith's March Madness predictions carry significant weight given his prominent role as a sports commentator, and his critique of St. John's seeding highlights ongoing debates around the fairness of the NCAA Tournament selection process.
The details
Smith believes St. John's, led by head coach Rick Pitino, deserved a higher seed than the No. 5 they received after winning both the Big East regular season and conference tournament titles. He called the Red Storm's placement "tough" and said they should have been seeded No. 4 or No. 3. For his Final Four picks, Smith selected the No. 1 seeds Duke and Arizona, along with the No. 2 seeds Houston and Iowa State, noting he is "not a believer" in the No. 1 seed Michigan Wolverines due to their recent struggles.
- On March 17, 2026, Stephen A. Smith shared his Final Four predictions on his ESPN radio show.
The players
Stephen A. Smith
A prominent ESPN personality and sports commentator known for his outspoken opinions and analysis of college basketball and the NCAA Tournament.
Rick Pitino
The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm, who led the team to the Big East regular season and tournament titles.
L.J. Cason
A guard for the Michigan Wolverines who suffered a season-ending injury, which Smith believes has contributed to the team's recent struggles.
Purdue
The team that defeated Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament final, further damaging the Wolverines' standing in Smith's eyes.
What they’re saying
“You know what I got a problem with? Why the hell does St. John's have it so tough?”
— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Personality
“I'm just not a believer in Michigan. I believe Michigan is too erratic.”
— Stephen A. Smith, ESPN Personality
What’s next
The 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament will begin on March 19, 2026, with the Final Four taking place on April 5-7, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The takeaway
Stephen A. Smith's March Madness predictions, including his criticism of St. John's seeding and doubts about Michigan, reflect the ongoing debates and controversies that surround the NCAA Tournament selection process and the ability of top teams to reach the Final Four.
