ESPN Knows Which NCAA Hoops Games Fans Want

By Brian Powell
I’ve always contended that ESPN’s best asset is it’s programming department. Say what you will about Poker and Bowling (as well as the conspiracy theory that ESPN ranks certain teams higher so their games will draw more viewers), they’re college basketball match-ups this season have been amazing.
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And their best one of the year -- No. 1 Memphis vs. No. 2 Tennessee -- just happened to be the Worldwide Leader’s most watched regular season NCAA hoops game since 1998.
Via ESPN:
“The showdown averaged 3,636,000 households and 5,281,000 viewers. The Saturday Primetime telecast averaged a 3.8 rating, making it ESPN’s highest rated men’s college basketball game since December 22, 1998 (Kentucky vs. Duke).
It also stands as the most-viewed regular-season men’s college basketball on any television outlet – broadcast or cable – since March 6, 2005 (CBS’ coverage of Duke at North Carolina).“
Beating your own previous high is one thing, but dominating CBS on a regular basis is saying something. While “The Eye” continues to air every Duke game against out of conference foes like Michigan and St. Johns, ESPN is putting together the match-ups hardcore fans want to see.
The fact that two teams from Tennessee almost matched an ACC contest from three years ago says a lot about the parity of college basketball these days, but it says even more about the games ESPN is featuring every year. Their coverage of college sports is unprecedented and it deserves to be praised (now if we could only do something about their pro coverage).↵