Thought they were rabid basketball fans out there? Is that era over for them as they've had a decent history in the game and reputation as a hard place to play in.
Arkansas never has been rabid like UK, they’re a football bunch that has nothing to do for basketball season so they’ve always payed more attention compared to a program like Bama.
Tennessee is the second biggest basketball following in the SEC. Arena mostly packed, fans always watch, usually interested. Lots of posting on their boards and so on. They’re just a rival with Kentucky who’s always kicked their teeth in and have no final fours or titles. Really good history in reality, very overshadowed, lack of March hardware. Then Memphis always went further even though they really aren’t as good historically. Tennessee still has the head to head against them.
So from what I’ve seen traveling and dealing with fanbases and growing up in TN, I think Tennessee probably has had historically the second biggest basketball following in the SEC. Not Arkansas. Arkansas is down the list. Another very underrated basketball following is MSST. when they’re good they’re tuned in. I’ve seen some crazy games there in the 90’s.
Florida is trash for fanbases. They can win titles and still not garner much. Too much competition in the state. Auburn is growing in this area but not sure how long that lasts with Pearl gone. It was all about him. Ole Miss and LSU are the weakest arenas I’ve ever been to, worse than Murray. I’ve been to Ole Miss games in Oxford that we had full access to the court and walked down to the bench / on the court after the games, pretty much anything you want because nobody was there at all. And I mean go anywhere and do anything and nobody says a word. Back in the Tad Pad days. I laugh everytime I see ole miss fans talk like Beard loves it there and wouldn’t leave. It’s total trash for basketball. Oh he’ll go, the second he can lol.
