On Saturday night, Duke defeated Louisville 73-62 to capture their 23rd ACC title—more than any other team in league history—and made a strong argument for the top seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Blue Devils won their last two ACC tournament games without star Cooper Flagg, who injured his left ankle on Thursday but could return in time for an NCAA championship run. Saturday’s victory was especially significant for Duke, which won both the ACC regular season crown and the conference tournament in the same season for the first time since 2006.
But it was also a particularly momentous night for Dick Vitale, a longtime ESPN college basketball commentator who called the game. Vitale was moved to tears by the end of the ACC broadcast, as he offered an emotional message about his years-long struggle with illness.
“It’s my last game this year, and I pray and hope that I can be back next year and maybe even be better, and hope and pray my doctor really helps me with my voice,” Vitale told reporters afterwards. “It’s been like a miracle for me to sit here with you. I cannot tell you how much you meant to me. It has been unbelievable. A difficult three years… “Cancer sucks.”
Watch the full moment below:
This is powerful stuff.
Vitale has battled four types of cancer in the last four years, including vocal cord cancer. Last December, the 85-year-old revealed that he was cancer-free and cleared to return to calling basketball games, with this weekend’s Duke-Louisville game being his final one this year—but hopefully not the end of his storied broadcasting career.
