Dick Vitale and college basketball go together like peanut butter and jelly. They just fit. Unfortunately, the two were forced to spend some time apart. On Saturday, Dickie V was right back where he belongs, on the sideline for a Top 25 Kentucky basketball game. <\/p>\n
Since his friend Jim Valvano lost his bout with cancer, Dickie V has used his platform to raise funds for cancer research and The V Foundation<\/a>. He had to endure his own personal fight. Over the last four years, he\u2019s been afflicted with four different kinds of cancer<\/a>, including in his vocal cords. <\/p>\n His health forced him to the sideline for two years. The 85-year-old returned to a college basketball sideline on February 8. He was treated to a Top-10 upset when Clemson knocked off Duke at Littlejohn Coliseum. Vitale followed Duke back to Cameron Indoor a week later. <\/p>\n Kentucky at Alabama was his first game of the season in the SEC. Despite the loss to the Crimson Tide, Dickie V like what he saw from the Wildcats. <\/p>\n \u201cAfter seeing Kentucky in person vs the talented Alabama team, I\u2019m impressed by what Coach Mark Pope has done,\u201d Vitale shared on X<\/a>. \u201cWith the return of Lamont Butler & Jaxson Robinson, BBN will be a legit threat (during) March Madness time. Playing in the SEC without your starting guards is TOUGH!\u201d<\/p>\n Vitale received a warm reception from the crowd at Coleman Coliseum. There was a video tribute<\/a> ahead of tip-off and he posed for pictures with fans. Mark Pope was one of those fans. <\/p>\n