Dick Vitale makes March Madness debut with Sir Charles

· Yahoo Sports

Dick Vitale makes March Madness debut with Sir Charles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Visit sports24.club for more information.

Dick Vitale has been a college basketball mainstay for over 45 years. However, up until the No. 11 Texas vs No. 11 NC State matchup in this year’s first four, Vitale has yet to call a Tournament game.

The energetic voice that gave basketball terms like “Diaper Dandy” and “PTP’er”, will have his March Madness moment on Tuesday March 17 at 9:15pm EST in Dayton Ohio.

Vitale will be joined on the broadcast team with Brian Anderson and former Auburn Tiger and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkely. In December of last year, only four months ago, Vitale and Barkely teamed up to call the Kentucky vs Indiana game on ESPN. Fans on social media apps almost immediately started calling for more from this pairing.

Fans on social media were not the only people who saw the Vitale – Barkely pairing as something the game needs. According to CBS, the interest was found at the highest levels. Specifically levels that can make a Vitale – Barkley pairing in the Tournament a realistic possibility.

"Dick has meant so much to the game of basketball, and we have long felt he deserved an opportunity to call an NCAA Men's Tournament game, and we are delighted he has finally agreed following several offers," CBS Sports Executive Producer and Executive Vice President, Production Harold Bryant said in a press release in December. "Having him call the game with Charles will be must-see TV and a great way to tip off the First Four."

Vitale's journey and connection to Jimmy Valvano

Vitale took time to step away from college basketball almost two years ago to fight several types of cancer. Thankfully, as of July 2025, Yahoo Sports reported that Vitale is officially cancer free.

Vitale has called over 1,000 games in his more than forty-year career. Tuesday night will be a first for the energetic play-by-play announcer who has been a staple in the lives of most college basketball fans. The college basketball legend is also a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

More:7 NCAA Tournament first-round matchups on upset alert

Vitale has also been a major contributor and one of the biggest promoters of the “V Foundation”. A charitable organization founded by Vitale’s long time friend and colleague Jimmy Valvano for cancer research and prevention.

For those that were there to witness either Houston’s Phi Slama Jamma Houston title or Valvano’s ESPY speech “Don’t give up, don’t ever give up”, the connection between Vitale and Valvano will never be forgotten. Before that famous speech, Vitale was the first person to embrace Valvano before he took the stage.

More:Percy 'Master P' Miller reportedly interested in Arizona State job