What Dick Vitale said about Clemson basketball vs Duke, return to broadcasting

Posted by author February 8, 2025 Basketball

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CLEMSON — Dick Vitale knows his return to broadcasting will be emotional.

Vitale, 85, will call No. 21 Clemson basketball (18-4, 10-1 ACC) vs. No. 2 Duke (19-2, 11-0) on Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Littlejohn Coliseum with Dave O’Brien and Cory Alexander. It will be Vitale’s first time announcing a men’s college basketball since April 3, 2023, when he called the international broadcast of the San Diego State vs. UConn national championship.

Vitale overcame battles with melanoma, lymphoma, vocal cord and lymph node cancer to make his long-awaited return. Originally, he was going to return on Jan. 25 for Duke vs. Wake Forest, but was forced to postpone after falling at his home. Now, he will debut for a Top 25 ACC matchup, and he is ecstatic to be back.

“Tomorrow, even if I’m horrible, it’s my championship, man,” Vitale said Friday during a media availability.

There were days where Vitale thought he would never return to calling the sport that brings him so much joy. He even thought he would never see his family again while getting chemotherapy.

However, Vitale was uplifted from family, like his wife Lorraine and daughters Terri and Sherri, fans and friends, including former Villanova basketball’s Jay Wright, Tennessee’s Rick Barnes, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo and Arkansas’ John Calipari.

Vitale shared a message to all cancer patients on Friday.

“Remember this: to always, to always, think positive and have faith,” Vitale said.

What stands out about Clemson basketball, Duke to Dick Vitale

Vitale was scheduled to speak with Clemson coach Brad Brownell on Tuesday night following the Tigers’ loss to Georgia Tech. However, that game went to three overtimes, the first ACC men’s basketball game to reach three overtimes since February 2020 according to the ACC Network.

So, Vitale rescheduled with Brownell for Wednesday afternoon to talk about the loss and preview the Duke game. Vitale said rebounding and Tigers center Viktor Lakhin staying out of foul trouble will be key for a Clemson upset.

“Like (Brownell) said to me, ‘We have to forget that, lace them up and go after Duke,’ and I think they will,” Vitale said.

This matchup stood out for Vitale also because of Duke’s allure. It has the longest current win streak, 16 games, and has forward Cooper Flagg, the projected No. 1 selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. Vitale said Flagg reminds him of three other players he has seen in person in high school: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Magic Johnson.

“His skill matches everything they have: pass the ball, shoot the ball, handle the ball, defend (and) great teammate,” Vitale said.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00