OFF THE WALL

We just couldn’t let this stuff go …

‘Dickie V’ shouts, standing ovation for hoops icon

That was awesome, baby! College basketball icon Dick Vitale made an appearance at the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Saturday, getting recognized for his contributions to the sport, the league and his fight against cancer.

Vitale, who lives about an hour south of Tampa in Sarasota, was presented a basketball signed by the SEC’S 14 coaches before the first of two semifinal games at Amalie Arena. Vitale walked into the venue amid a standing ovation — and shouts of “Dickie V!” — and accepted the autographed ball from league Commissioner Greg Sankey at midcourt. He made a brief stop at ESPN’S broadcast seats, the spot he held for decades before stepping back for health reasons.

Vitale, 82, has been public about his treatment for assorted medical issues, including at least two forms of cancer.

He hadn’t made an in-person appearance at a college basketball game since calling reigning national champion Baylor’s 57-36 victory against Villanova in middecember. Shortly thereafter, doctors put him on voice rest upon discovering precancerous dysplasia on his vocal cords that required surgery.

Vitale said in the fall he had been diagnosed with lymphoma, months after multiple surgeries to remove melanoma. He has chronicled his treatments and recovery on social media, posting photos of doctor visits and hospital stays while issuing motivational tips recorded before he was put on voice rest.

Vitale has been with ESPN since 1979, the year the network launched. He called ESPN’S first college basketball broadcast.

For nearly as long as Vitale has been a part of college basketball, he has been fighting against cancer. He helped Jim Valvano to the ESPYS stage where Valvano delivered his iconic “Don’t give up” speech.

Vitale is planning his 17th annual Dick Vitale Gala in early May in Sarasota.

Trivia question

Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history on Friday. Which coach has the most losses?

Paying the price

Four Kent State players, including starting guard Malique Jacobs, have been disciplined by the Mid-american Conference for a profane video posted in advance of Saturday’s championship game against rival Akron.

The league said forward DJ Johnson has been suspended indefinitely, while Jacobs and reserves Cli’ron Hornbeak and

Julius Rollins will have to sit out the first half of the title game for the Golden Flashes.

Following Friday’s 67-61 semifinal win over Ohio, the four players filmed a video in their locker room and posted it on Snapchat. In the clip, one of the players is using profane language directed at Akron. The video was shared on Twitter.

He said it

“I don’t have the words to describe it. I would never imagine in my life that it would come to this — that I would be in my home city with a gun in my hands.”

Recently retired pro tennis player Sergiy Stakhovsky, who returned to Ukraine, his birthplace, to help however he could during Russia’s invasion.

Trivia answer

Lenny Wilkens is No. 3 on the wins list with 1,332 and No. 1 in losses with 1,155.