Legendary college basketball analyst Dick Vitale is set to return to ESPN after a nearly two-year hiatus, marking a triumphant comeback after a challenging battle with multiple forms of cancer. His last appearance was on April 3, 2023, during the international broadcast of the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game between UConn and San Diego State.

Vitale, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, will resume his analyst role on January 25th, covering the Duke vs. Wake Forest game in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This return is especially significant given the 85-year-old's courageous fight against four different cancers over the past 3½ years.

Vitale's most recent medical procedure was last summer, addressing a cancerous lymph node in his neck. Earlier this month, he joyfully announced that he is now cancer-free. This positive news follows a series of health challenges, including melanoma surgeries in 2021, a lymphoma diagnosis later that year (from which he recovered in 2022), and vocal cord cancer in 2023, requiring radiation treatment.

Vitale expressed his excitement and gratitude in a statement, acknowledging the arduous journey and thanking fans and colleagues for their support. He's eager to share his basketball insights and contribute to the excitement of the game.

ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro praised Vitale as a unique figure and a true ambassador for college basketball, highlighting his inspiring resilience in the face of personal adversity. Pitaro expressed his enthusiasm for Vitale's return.

Vitale's career with ESPN spans over four decades, beginning in the 1979-80 season. He has called over 1,000 games and was inducted into the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame in September.