A classic Big East battle in the Elite Eight gave CBS a bump in the ratings on Saturday night.
Villanova’s victory over Pittsburgh drew a 7.5/14 overnight rating late Saturday afternoon, up 6% from a 7.1/12 for last year’s comparable North Carolina/Louisville tilt.
The 7.5 overnight is the highest for the late Saturday Elite Eight window since 2005, when Arizona/Illinois drew a 9.1/16, and the fifth-highest for any Saturday Elite Eight telecast since ’99.
Additionally, the 7.5 is the third-highest overnight of this year’s NCAA Tournament so far, behind only Oklahoma/North Carolina and second-round action featuring Louisville/Siena.
Overnight ratings for late Saturday Elite Eight telecast since ’99.
| Year | Date | Time | Game | Net | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Sat., 3/28/09 | 7:00 PM | Villanova/Pittsburgh | CBS | |
| 2008 | Sat., 3/29/08 | 9:00 PM | North Carolina/Louisville | CBS | |
| 2007 | Sat., 3/24/07 | 7:00 PM | UCLA/Kansas | CBS | |
| 2006 | Sat., 3/25/06 | 7:00 PM | Memphis/UCLA | CBS | |
| 2005 | Sat., 3/26/05 | 7:15 PM | Arizona/Illinois | CBS | |
| 2004 | Sat., 3/27/04 | 7:00 PM | Oklahoma State/St. Joseph’s | CBS | |
| 2003 | Sat., 3/29/03 | 7:00 PM | Arizona/Kansas | CBS | |
| 2002 | Sat., 3/23/02 | 7:00 PM | Indiana/Kent State | CBS | |
| 2001 | Sat., 3/24/01 | 7:00 PM | USC/Duke | CBS | |
| 2000 | Sat., 3/25/00 | 7:00 PM | Iowa State/Michigan State | CBS | |
| 1999 | Sat., 3/21/99 | 6:00 PM | Ohio State/St. John’s | CBS |
