Andy Katz ranks UK as the #1 Fanbase

[sosoblue]

Us fans already know this but Andy Katz says we have the best fanbase in college basketball. Surprise who he ranked as #2.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketbal...-mens-college-basketball-ahead-2024-25-season

"Three words: Big Blue Nation.

Even with long-time coach John Calipari leaving to steer the ship at Arkansas in April, the Wildcats’ fan base showed out at coach Mark Pope’s introductory press conference — nearly selling out Rupp Arena.

If the Kentucky faithful can fill Rupp to a brim on a random off-season Sunday with no basketball in sight, imagine what it’s like throughout the season."

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I've always liked Katz, and not even just making the obvious joke here.

He's always been fair. When he has us ranked lower than I think, I assume he knows something I don't and I generally go with his insight.

 

[WeWant9_rivals]

UConn at 2 is interesting, I’ve hardly ever meet any of their fans or seen people with their gear out. Maybe it’s way bigger in the northeast?

If I had to pick the most passionate fanbases, it’d be UK, KU, UNC, and IU. Those fanbases all live bball.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

UConn at 2 is interesting, I’ve hardly ever meet any of their fans or seen people with their gear out. Maybe it’s way bigger in the northeast?

If I had to pick the most passionate fanbases, it’d be UK, KU, UNC, and IU. Those fanbases all live bball.

They are pretty big now. But it's easy to gain a following when you have 6 titles over the last 25 years or whatever. Basically, every few years, you get to watch your team go on this amazing run. Uconn fans have had it nice and when a team has it THAT nice, it brings in fans.

Uconn two years ago, was placed in Albany, NY for the opening region. That's about 2-2.5 hours from Storrs. Now keep in mind, they were, what a 4-seed? And they hadn't won anything yet with Hurley. And the Albany Arena was SWARMED with Uconn fans. They completely took it over. That's pretty impressive of their fanbase in hindsight.

 

[BlueBomb]

Hey OP, tweak that subject line. I thought it meant Katz had UK ranked #1 preseason. I got all Daffy Duck over here.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Andy is correct this time!

 

[TopCatCal]

Us fans already know this but Andy Katz says we have the best fanbase in college basketball. Surprise who he ranked as #2.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketbal...-mens-college-basketball-ahead-2024-25-season

"Three words: Big Blue Nation.

Even with long-time coach John Calipari leaving to steer the ship at Arkansas in April, the Wildcats’ fan base showed out at coach Mark Pope’s introductory press conference — nearly selling out Rupp Arena.

If the Kentucky faithful can fill Rupp to a brim on a random off-season Sunday with no basketball in sight, imagine what it’s like throughout the season."

He's 100% right about #1 that's not even up for debate. BUT, BUT after that I don't agree with several of his other choices. Arkansas might have the 2nd best fanbase in college basketball. I'll never forget the 1995 SEC tournament finals between UK & Arkansas they Arkansas had almost as many fans at the game as UK did...... Also whether you like them or not, Louisville should absolutely be in the top 10. in my opinion they should be in the top 5.

 

[UK90]

Purdue ahead of Indiana. That's got to sting,

It’s also really stupid. Just as putting UConn at No. 2 is.

It’s total “prisoner of the moment” thinking. Just because those programs are doing really well and getting more attention “right now” he decides the same must be true of their fan bases.

But it’s just not true. UConn does not have nearly the sort of “core” fan base as the traditional blueblood programs. Not even remotely close. It only sorta seems that way now because of phony fair weather fans who jumped on the recent title bandwagon. Those folks will be gone in a second as soon as UConn stops being trendy.

Same goes for IU and Purdue. Even though Purdue’s been doing far better on the court, IU still has the larger and more avid fan base.

 

[L.O.D.]

UK
KU
UNC
IU
Duke


Wouldn't have Uconn in my top 5 honestly. I guess maybe they are in there but I wpuld still bet a game equal distance from Any of the other 4 schools I listed got twice the fans there than Uconn.

 

[Wunky]

He needs to edit the article. “Nearly selling out” is wrong on two levels. First of all it was free, secondly (and more importantly) there were at least several hundred, if not several thousand people turned away at the door. The arena was filled to capacity and fans were spilling out onto the concourses. Many people got into the building but didn’t get to see the introduction, except on the concourse TV’s. It was nuts.

 

[ThrowBackCat9]

I couldn’t care less about where a sports analyst thinks we rank as a fanbase.

 

[bbnkat02]

UK
KU
UNC
IU
Duke


Wouldn't have Uconn in my top 5 honestly. I guess maybe they are in there but I wpuld still bet a game equal distance from Any of the other 4 schools I listed got twice the fans there than Uconn.

I'd have Duke over IU. I see Duke fans randomly in the weirdest places, sometimes even here in the Commonwealth (which should be grounds for treason in my book especially so since UofL is a conference opp now).

I agree with the rest of that list for sure.

 

[true-blue1]

UK
KU
UNC
IU
Duke


Wouldn't have Uconn in my top 5 honestly. I guess maybe they are in there but I wpuld still bet a game equal distance from Any of the other 4 schools I listed got twice the fans there than Uconn.

This.

 

[TheBlueMist]

UK
KU
UNC
IU
Duke
UL
UCONN


My list is based on fan passion and overall presence. For example, Duke has a hardcore, small fanbase with a large national, casual fanbase.

 

[BlueBomb]

UK
KU
UNC
IU
Duke
UL
UCONN


My list is based on fan passion and overall presence. For example, Duke has a hardcore, small fanbase with a large national, casual fanbase.

Yeah, it depends on what you're ranking. If you're ranking gameday atmosphere, that's one thing. But if you're ranking overall fanbase passion, well that, of course, is entirely different.

We're #1 in passion and commitment without a doubt. And somewhere around #15-#20 for gameday atmosphere. JMO.

 

[sosoblue]

Hey OP, tweak that subject line. I thought it meant Katz had UK ranked #1 preseason. I got all Daffy Duck over here.

BlueBomb edit is done boom!

 

[Blueaz]

It’s also really stupid. Just as putting UConn at No. 2 is.

It’s total “prisoner of the moment” thinking. Just because those programs are doing really well and getting more attention “right now” he decides the same must be true of their fan bases.

But it’s just not true. UConn does not have nearly the sort of “core” fan base as the traditional blueblood programs. Not even remotely close. It only sorta seems that way now because of phony fair weather fans who jumped on the recent title bandwagon. Those folks will be gone in a second as soon as UConn stops being trendy.

Same goes for IU and Purdue. Even though Purdue’s been doing far better on the court, IU still has the larger and more avid fan base.

The article seems to be about "current" travel and attendance...nothing to do with blue blood and tradition

 

[L.O.D.]

Yeah, it depends on what you're ranking. If you're ranking gameday atmosphere, that's one thing. But if you're ranking overall fanbase passion, well that, of course, is entirely different.

We're #1 in passion and commitment without a doubt. And somewhere around #15-#20 for gameday atmosphere. JMO.

Yeah sadly KU or Duke got the game day atmosphere. Would love if 1 or 2 home Gamez a year held at Memorial just for students in lower sections. Wo Der how crazy that would get.

 

[Bkocats]

Maybe he meant UConn women’s basketball?

 

[NociHTTP]

Us fans already know this but Andy Katz says we have the best fanbase in college basketball. Surprise who he ranked as #2.

https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketbal...-mens-college-basketball-ahead-2024-25-season

"Three words: Big Blue Nation.

Even with long-time coach John Calipari leaving to steer the ship at Arkansas in April, the Wildcats’ fan base showed out at coach Mark Pope’s introductory press conference — nearly selling out Rupp Arena.

If the Kentucky faithful can fill Rupp to a brim on a random off-season Sunday with no basketball in sight, imagine what it’s like throughout the season."

Lol, Calipari "leaving to steer the ship at Arkansas ". He couldn't steer the ship at UK.