University of Detroit brings back Dick Vitale

ESPN's and University of Detroit legend Dick Vitale returned to Calihan Hall on Monday night to be honored and have the basketball court renamed in his honor.   With a near capacity crowd and a national television audience watching the Titans honor their former coach by renaming the court at Calihan Hall the "The Dick Vitale Court."    Almost all of the former Titan players from Dick Vitales glory days were in attendance to play their respects to the former Head Coach and Athletic Director at the University of Detroit.   The school has now merged with Mercy College and now is better known as Detroit University. 

Their was also to be a highly anticipated basketball game between the St. John's Redman and the Detroit University Titans both with upcoming teams.   During the pre-game ceremony where the likeable Dick Vitale was honored and then to have him unveil the court name was moving.   All of his former players surged around to show their love and respect for the energetic coach.   Dick Vitale then was "put on the clock" for just a five minute speech to the Titan faithful.   He lived up to keeping just under the five minutes.   He then again received a standing ovation from the University of Detroit crowd.  

The Detroit Titans would now take on the Big East St. John's Redman on ESPN in the only game on national television on Monday night.  The Titans jumped out to an 8 -0 lead and never really looked back.   The Titans lead going into halftime 31 -22.   The Redman who were missing Head Coach Steve Lavin who is out because of recovering from cancer problems are assisted by former Purdue Head Coach Gene Keady.   The Redman would outscore the Titans 9-1 to start the 2nd half to make a game of it for a while. 

Detroit would pull off the 69 - 63 win in front of 5,377 fans at Calihan Hall.  The Titans playing in the Horizon Conference play a tough non-conference schedule to get them ready for the NCAA tournament.   Ray McCallum lead the Titans with 21 points followed closely by guard Chase Simon with 20 points.   The Titans will host the Western Michigan Broncos on Thursday evening.   The Titans should end up with a good record this season and possibly make the NCAA tournament.