Initial TV ratings out on First Four delivers big news for college basketball
The 2022 NCAA Tournament has hardly started and it’s already recording record-high numbers on televisions across America.
This year, the First Four featured a number of big-name teams and close games, perhaps providing a little extra excitement for fans across the country.
On Tuesday night, Texas A&M Corpus Christi and Texas Southern faced off in a No. 16 seed play-in game; though Texas A&M Corpus Christi made a bit of a late-game comeback, Texas Southern still emerged victorious by a 76-67 final. Indiana and Wyoming provided a fun matchup for a No. 12 seed, too, with the Hoosiers winning 66-58, then Wright State beat Bryant 93-82 to set the stage for the last — and best — First Four matchup of all: Rutgers-Notre Dame. The two programs, both firmly on the bubble before the NCAA Tournament, played an instant classic, with Notre Dame winning 89-87, and the television ratings reflect the excitement of the matchup.
“This year’s NCAA First Four on TruTV is the most-watched ever for the first Tuesday and Wednesday of the NCAA Tournament, with both days setting viewership records,” March Madness said in a press release. “Gross average viewership for Tuesday and Wednesday’s doubleheaders totaled 6.9 million viewers, up 28% vs. 2019. NCAA March Madness Live also sets new all-time marks in live unique viewers and total minutes viewer for First Four coverage, with each day generating records. Official March Madness accounts produced all-time First Four milestones for engagements across social channels.”
WATCH: Notre Dame-Rutgers First Four game ends on insane last-second shot
What a game between Notre Dame and Rutgers in the First Four on Wednesday night. It took two overtimes, but Paul Atkinson hit an insane put-back last-second shot to give the Fighting Irish the win — and send them to the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Rutgers had the lead at halftime thanks to a late surge in the first half, but Notre Dame stormed back to eventually force overtime despite having a late lead. The two teams continued to trade blows in the extra period before the Fighting Irish capitalized on some Scarlet Knights miscues to force double overtime.
Once again, it went back and forth, but Atkinson’s shot won it for Notre Dame.
That shot capped off a monster night for Atkinson, who finished with 26 points on 13-for-15 shooting to lead all scorers. Nate Laszewski had a huge night off the bench, as well, scoring 18 points to help lead the Fighting Irish to the win.