ESPN makes Dick Vitale montage with special message ahead of broadcast return in Duke vs. Clemson

The Duke Blue Devils and Clemson Tigers are set to battle on Saturday night in a highly anticipated ACC clash on the hardwood. Not only is it a big game for ACC play, but it marks the return of Dick Vitale in the broadcast booth for ESPN. He’s been away from broadcasting since 2023, after an extensive and lengthy battle with cancer. To commemorate Vitale’s return, ESPN made a special montage for the legendary broadcaster.

ESPN put together a Dickie V montage with a special message from the man himself before he returns to the broadcasting booth today. pic.twitter.com/TCkELbXcr7

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 8, 2025

Duke freshman phenom Cooper Flagg has been showered with praise ever since his high school days, when he was touted as the No. 1 overall prospect in America. College basketball analysts across the country have continued their praise of the uber-talented freshman in his freshman year at Duke, where he he’s lived up to lofty expectations. On Saturday night in the Duke-Clemson game, ESPN’s Dick Vitale once again raved about Cooper Flagg, putting him in a special class, and among one of the best players he’s ever seen at the age of 18.

Vitale put Cooper Flagg in special group of players

“There’s only three players in my 45 years that I’ve seen in person that match the skills that he has at such a young age. And I’m not saying that he’s gonna be one of these three. But I’m going off who I’ve seen in person. I’ve seen in person, Kobe Bryant, I did one of his games. I’ve seen in person, LeBron James. I saw Magic Johnson at a holiday tournament, trying to recruit him. But I had no shot. When you look at those three guys, that’s 18-year-olds just like him. They all were able to do everything that he does,” Vitale explained on the broadcast.

Then, the legendary broadcaster was quick to clarify his statement.

“[Some people might say] that I’m saying he’s going to be Magic [Johnson]. I’m not saying that. I’m not saying that he’s going to be LeBron. We don’t know yet. I’m talking about at 18,” Vitale clarified.

Clemson stuns Duke on Saturday night

While Flagg hit some big shots late for the Blue Devils, they came up short on Saturday, losing 77-71.

Duke was the lone undefeated team remaining in the ACC. Talks of getting throughout the conference slate without a blemish were certainly there, winning the first 12. However, Clemson put an end to any of it with a massive upset of the Blue Devils from Littlejohn Coliseum.

This game had serious ACC regular season title implications as well. Clemson currently has two conference losses on the resume and falling three games behind Duke might be a mountain too big to climb. Earning the win now means the Tigers, along with the likes of Louisville, will be able to compete for a championship down the stretch.

Scoring from the starting lineup is how Clemson wound up pulling off the upset. Four of the five starters finished in double figures, as Viktor Lakhin led the way with 22 points on 9-12 shooting. The three-point shot was not where a lot of scoring came from Brad Brownell‘s squad, only attempting 10 from deep.

Efficiency inside the arc was the name of the game, shooting 63.4.8% on two-point shots.

Clemson had a huge advantage on the glass too, finishing +11 over Duke. Eleven offensive rebounds were massive and led to multiple second-chance points. Without them, Clemson is not in the game and heading home in a sour mood.

With just under 20 seconds remaining in the game, Duke did have a possession to potentially tie or take the lead. Jon Scheyer put the ball in the hands of Cooper Flagg, unsurprisingly. Flagg was attempting to get downhill but wound up slipping on the court. He was called for a travel, essentially putting the game to bed. Certainly a tough way to lose a game for Flagg and Duke.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.