Menu

'I’m on the Road to Recovery:' Collapse of NCAA Tourney Ref Bert Smith Caused by Blood Clot


Bert Smith just now finished returning the text messages. There were 500 of them. There were ones from coaches, ones from colleagues, ones from family. We’re praying for you. We’re rooting for you. Get better. They poured into Smith’s phone after he collapsed on national television during Gonzaga’s eventual win over USC in a men's Elite Eight game. (Sports Illustrated)

Related:

Big East basketball preview: Projected order of finish, preseason predictions, top players to watch
Two of the top five teams in the preseason AP Top 25 poll (UConn and St. John's) belong to the league and a third (Creighton)...

Takeaways from Week 10 of College Football: Miami’s collapse; Julian Sayin for Heisman?
Miami is the biggest disappointment of the second half of the season. And we’re just one day into the month of November. It’s all collapsed...

68 men's college basketball predictions: Cinderella isn’t dead but she’s in danger
Cinderella isn’t dead but she’s in danger. The disparity between high-majors and the rest of college basketball will continue to grow wider this season. Between...

SEC basketball preview: Projected order of finish, preseason predictions, top players to watch
After 13 SEC players were taken in the 2025 NBA Draft and three coaching jobs changed hands, the conference has a new feel entering 2025-26...

'I’m on the Road to Recovery:' Collapse of NCAA Tourney Ref Bert Smith Caused by Blood Clot