Rest assured, Smith does NO ONE wrong. Not the kid who cuts his grass, not his assistants, and certainly not his wrestlers. He has earned his rep as above reproach. I trust his judgment.
I think it’s similar, albeit not identical, to the Ellis/Bradley situation in 2009. Ellis/Hawks was the established guy with great potential, while Bradley/Whiting was the hotshot recruit. Smith took some crap for not starting Bradley as a Frosh, but Ellis went on to a title that year. Pritts was not shy about his preference for Bradley and left for ASU soon thereafter. Bradley obviously holds no ill will about the situation as he’s currently on staff.