IU-UK game tv audience

[akaukswoosh]

“ESPN shared that 2 million people tuned in to watch the Cats and the Hoosiers. It was ESPN’s most-watched college basketball game of the season, and its most-watched December college basketball game in five years.” - On3.

 

[Dward13]

well…don’t ever let anyone tell you UK basketball is irrelevant.

Edit: Does anyone else ever wonder if the fact Kentucky basketball is still such a huge draw even when we’re not good has a negative effect on the on court results?

ESPN, college basketball, even our own AD do not need us to be good to make money off of us. That’s probably not a great thing for fans.

 

[akaukswoosh]

well…don’t ever let anyone tell you UK basketball is irrelevant.

Edit: Does anyone else ever wonder if the fact Kentucky basketball is still such a huge draw even when we’re not good has a negative effect on the on court results?

ESPN, college basketball, even our own AD do not need us to be good to make money off of us. That’s probably not a great thing for fans.

TV exposure better be near the top of the list when Pope is talking to a recruit.

 

[preston-lemasterpiece]

Can someone tell Mitch and Eli that we like hoops here?

Nothing against the guy but I don't give a French fried t*tty-f*ck about will stein. WHY ARE WE LETTING THE BASKETBALL PROGRAM FLOUNDER??? That IS UK athletics. That is what people care about. UK football fans have a fetish for mediocrity and its now affecting the basketball side of things. It's Mitch...it's Mitch all the way down.

 

[OGtruebluewildcat]

Not having that game for a decade was a disservice to the game.

Big games like that, on campus, is absolutely what the whole sport is about.

Glad it’s back. Given the numbers I think we’ll be seeing them and other big brand opponents more often.

I want a Duke home and home. Dukies in Rupp, cats in Cameron indoor…Barkley and Vital…would be wild.

Don’t much care for neutral site. Occasionally is fine, but some big time games like that should be on campus.

 

[RunninRichie]

IU has a massive fanbase. So not surprising.

 

[Uncle B.S.]

It was on ESPN, on a December Saturday afternoon. No football, college or NFL. Barkley behind the mike for the first time with Vitale. Duke was off, UNC played a directional school, and Indiana vs. Kentucky was the only two nationally name brand teams that were playing each other.
Yes, I am glad the series has restarted. It’s good for basketball, especially in this area. But if had been played on the duece on a Tuesday at 9:30, nobody would’ve cared or watched outside of this region at all.

 

[1997_H00SIER-Cat]

I live 30 minutes from Bloomington and listened to Wat Shot crap for years. I didn't hear anyone talk about this game before or after. The fans are all in on football now.

 

[Cats4321]

Both teams are down, but still had 2 million viewers. There's absolutely no reason both programs shouldn't be better at this point with that level of support in the NIL era.

 

[Johnnie Africa]

It was on ESPN, on a December Saturday afternoon. No football, college or NFL. Barkley behind the mike for the first time with Vitale. Duke was off, UNC played a directional school, and Indiana vs. Kentucky was the only two nationally name brand teams that were playing each other.
Yes, I am glad the series has restarted. It’s good for basketball, especially in this area. But if had been played on the duece on a Tuesday at 9:30, nobody would’ve cared or watched outside of this region at all.

Great point! Piggybacking on that, I bet if it was Arkansas Upstate playing Colorado State at 10PM on NYE it would’ve had even lower ratings! Imagine if it was on FS2 at 3AM on a Sunday morning? They would’ve had super low ratings!

 

[UKWildcats1987]

Think the Barkley and Vitale team up drew n more viewers too. As annoying as it was to watch at times split screen.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Good point on the Heisman Show.

 

[KFuqua]

Think the Barkley and Vitale team up drew n more viewers too. As annoying as it was to watch at times split screen.

You could be right; but I certainly hope not. Listening to the two of them carrying on about everything except the game was painful and I hope I don't even have to experience that again.

 

[Cats3x]

You could be right; but I certainly hope not. Listening to the two of them carrying on about everything except the game was painful and I hope I don't even have to experience that again.

I hit the mute button when Vitale opened his mouth... he SUCKS

 

[Eastkybball]

Tell me Htf is Duke the more marketable program?