Dick Vitale, America's most popular college basketball announcer, will be courtside at Pepsi Center, announcing an NBA game for the first time in 24 years.

And if you expect a more subdued, serious Dicky-V, forget it.

''I will absolutely respond to a play like I do at the college level,'' he said. ``A lot of people forget we're in the business to entertain. Some people think we're supposed to put people in Sleepsville and bore them to death. I plan on doing what I've been doing for 30 years. I'm beyond worried about critiques.''

Vitale admitted he was surprised when ESPN executives told him they want Vitale and NBA lead analysts Jeff VanGundy and Mark Jackson to switch jobs for one night. Vitale and Dan Schulman (who announces college and NBA games) will work the Heat game, while MikeTirico, Van Gundy and Jackson call the Davidson-Duke game preceding it.

''I think it will be fun,'' Vitale said.

``I'm thrilled being there. I don't follow the NBA as much as I would like, but I'm familiar with most of the guys. Kobe Bryant said he was wishing I was doing a Lakers game because I've never called one of his games.''

So why is ESPN pulling this gimmick?

''It's a natural progression to make connections between college basketball and the NBA,'' ESPN executive NorbyWilliamson said. ``The commentators involved have strong ties with the other level, which will prompt engaging dialogue. Dick, Mark and Jeff are universally recognized as leading basketball experts.''

Vitale said he has a working knowledge of the Heat's roster and started rattling off several players in a phone conversation.

''I knew Dwyane Wade would be good, but I never knew he would be this good,'' Vitale said. ``Whenever I had him in college, the bigger the stage, the more he responded. Udonis Haslem is a tenacious player who has really overachieved. Joel Anthony, I saw him at UNLV -- he has come out of nowhere, blocking shots. The Heat has done a heck of a job. Coming from where they were last year, it's amazing.''

Vitale said when he and Pat Riley were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September, ``I remember telling Pat they made a steal with Mario Chalmers. He was a first-round talent. He certainly has proven that.''

On Michael Beasley, Vitale said, fans ``want instant stardom out of guys and they're not patient. He could take bad shots in college and get away with it because he could get the offensive rebound. He has to learn what a good shot is, to focus more defensively, and be intense every minute on the court. He has to show he wants to be a special player, and he will be. I'm sure he would rather play 35 minutes like Derrick Rose and O.J. Mayo. He will have to earn those minutes, and it's good they're making him.''

• For those with lots of free time, ESPN Classic, at 5 p.m. Tuesday, will replay Vitale's last NBA broadcast -- Game 2 of the 1984 Eastern Conference Finals between Milwaukee and Boston. Vitale, incidentally, also will work UM's Jan. 17 game at North Carolina as part of ESPN's marquee Saturday night college basketball package.