Dick Vitale tears up during emotional final broadcast of 2024-2025 college basketball season

Dick Vitale has meant so much to college basketball over the years, and his passion for the sports always shines through in his broadcasts. But in recent years, battles with cancer have forced him to take a bit of a step back from the booth.

Thankfully, Vitale was in good enough spirits and health to take to the microphone for Saturday’s ACC Championship between Duke and Louisville. In the final moments of the Blue Devils’ eventual 73-62 win, Vitale reflected on his past few years battling cancer and delivered an inspiring message. You can watch it below.

"I can't tell you how much it's meant to me. Really, it's been unbelievable."@DickieV gets emotional thanking the fans and the broadcast for supporting him through his cancer treatments ❤️ pic.twitter.com/F8ndycDWC8

— ESPN (@espn) March 16, 2025

“I want to thank all the fans and all the people that have been so beautiful and people at ESPN tolerating and putting up with me in terms of my issues I’ve had. You’ve been great, man,” he said. “…All of you have been so good to me. I can’t thank you enough. It’s been like, to me, a miracle, really. I sit here with you guys, I can’t tell you how much it meant to me. It’s been unbelievable. It’s a tough three years. Those four cancer battles. I don’t wish it on anybody. Cancer sucks. I’ll tell you this, anybody battling cancer, please listen. Think postive always and have faith.”

Vitale was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2021 and then received another diagnosis of lymphoma just months later. It robbed him of the one thing that made him iconic throughout all his seasons as a broadcaster: his voice.

Dick Vitale confirmed in 2023 that the cancer had reached his vocal chords. It was a dark time for him, but he admitted that something as small as a text message from a coach would brighten his day. He had a message not just for those who are battling cancer, but people who might know a loved one who is fighting the disease as well.

“If you’re out there and knows a person that has cancer, send them a text message,” he said. “Make a phone call. It means so much. I know it meant a lot to me in my darkest moment when I was in the hospital doing chemo and on a bad, bad day. Man, it was a tough, tough time. I had to stay overnight and my family left and I woke up crying like crazy and my nurse came and cheered me up. I went to check my phone and on my phone were messages from all over the country. Rick Barnes, Tom Izzo, (John) Calipari, coaches.”

Vitale has been cancer free since early January, he announced. ESPN and college basketball would certainly be happy to have him back for the upcoming season.