Charles Barkley to team with iconic TV personality for college hoops

Two of sports media's most recognizable personalities, Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale, are joining forces in the broadcast booth to call multiple college basketball games this season.

Phoenix Suns legend Barkley and his fellow Hall of Famer, Vitale, will call two matchups, per The Athletic.

The analysts' debut will be the Indiana-Kentucky game airing Dec. 13 on ESPN, with Dave O'Brien as the play-by-play announcer. The second scheduled appearance is an NCAA Tournament First Four game for March Madness, carried by CBS Sports and TNT Sports.

"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 Harold Bryant said. "Having him call the game with Charles will be must-see TV and a great way to tip off the First Four."

The 62-year-old Barkley has become one of TV's biggest stars in his second career act as a commentator since his NBA playing days ended in 2000. Appearing for years on TNT's "Inside the NBA" with longtime broadcaster Ernie Johnson, panelists and former NBA stars Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal, Barkley has brought his blend of caustic and humorous remarks with intelligent insight.

"Inside the NBA" moved to ESPN this season, after TNT lost NBA broadcast rights.

Barkley is also a panelist during NCAA Tournament broadcasts on CBS and TNT Sports' TruTV.

Vitale, 86, has been calling college hoops games on ESPN since its inception in 1979. The former NBA coach is known for his boisterous rants and insight, as well as his raucous, crowd-inspired yelps such as "It's awesome, baby!"

Vitale has had health challenges, facing several forms of cancer over the past four years. His longtime friendship with Barkley, coupled with ESPN's new partnership with TNT Sports, enabled the duo to finally share broadcasts.

"I told these guys one of my goals is to do a game with Dick Vitale," Barkley told Sports Illustrated in 2013. "I would love to do a game with Dick Vitale because I think he has been great for college basketball. It’d be good for the game."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns icon Charles Barkley, Dick Vitale paired for college hoops games