Dick Vitale was back on ESPN Tuesday night for the Kentucky-Michigan State game in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis, ahead of the Duke-Kansas nightcap.

Vitale at the start of the broadcast, and late in the first half, thanked supporters for helping him throughout his recent cancer battle.

“This is the best medicine I could have sitting here court side,” he said. “I tell you one thing, it beats laying in a hospital doing chemotherapy, I can guarantee you that. I’m just having so much fun, the people have been so great. so kind. All day at the hotel. Thank you, thank you, thank you, to so many who encouraged me and inspired me to really battle, and to win that battle.”

Vitale saw his broadcasting cut short last season in order to treat dysplasia and ulcerated lesions of the vocal cords. He received positive news over the summer and has gradually returned to his previous workload.