Vitale to call Final Four games - internationally

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - Dick Vitale will call Final Four games for the first time this year, when a voice synonymous with college basketball will be heard only outside the United States.

ESPN announced Tuesday that the excitable announcer will work a semifinal and the championship for ESPN International. The telecasts go to 150 countries and territories across 35 broadcast networks in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada.

The 73-year-old Hall of Famer has called more than 2,000 college basketball games since joining ESPN in 1979. He has been a studio analyst for the network's NCAA tournament coverage every year since - but never announced a Final Four game because NBC and then CBS have owned the rights.

Brad Nessler will handle play-by-play from Atlanta alongside Vitale on April 6 and 8. Jay Bilas will be the analyst for the other semifinal.