Dick Vitale will make his NCAA Tournament broadcasting debut on Tuesday with Charles Barkley
Hall of Fame broadcaster Dick Vitale will make his NCAA Tournament debut behind the mic on Tuesday when No. 11 seed NC State faces No. 11 seed Texas in dayton, Ohiothroughout the First Four. The winner of that sport will advance to the primary spherical of the NCAA Tournament to face No. 6 seed BYU on Thursday in Portland, Oregon.
Vitale will be on the decision alongside Brian Anderson, Charles Barkley and sideline reporter Jenny Dell. It will be the second time this season that Vitale and Barkley teamed up on a broadcast, as probably the most recognizable faces in basketball referred to as Indiana’s matchup in opposition to Kentucky earlier this season with Dave O’Brien.
“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 back in December. “Having him call the game with Charles will be must-see TV and a great way to tip off the First Four.”
2026 March Madness predictions: NCAA bracket expert picks against the spread, odds in Tuesday’s First Four
Chip Patterson

Vitale made his return to TV final yr after practically a two-year hiatus from tv, as he is battled 4 various kinds of most cancers. Vitale was scheduled to return to TV sooner than Duke’s matchup with Clemson final February, however He suffered an accident at his home that further delayed his return.
The 86-year-old faculty basketball legend has been with ESPN for the reason that 1979-80 season. Vitale has referred to as greater than 1,000 video games over the course of his illustrious profession. His profession accomplishments embody enshrinement to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame, and he has been instrumental in elevating tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} over time for pediatric most cancers analysis by means of the V Foundation.
