The presence of Zion Williamson — at least for a few seconds — made the UNC-Duke rivalry an even bigger draw than usual.
Wednesday’s North Carolina-Duke college basketball game delivered a 3.2 overnight rating on ESPN, the highest college basketball overnight of the season on any network. Figures for last year’s comparable meeting were not immediately available.
The 3.2 is the highest regular season college basketball overnight on ESPN in 11 years, since the same UNC-Duke matchup in March 2008 (3.7). It is the third-highest on record — dating back to 2002 — behind the 2008 UNC-Duke game and Tennessee-Memphis that same season (3.6). That excludes Championship Week.
Not counting the NBA All-Star Game (5.0), it is also the highest for any basketball game on cable — college or pro — since last year’s NBA Playoffs. The top NBA overnight on cable this season was a 2.6 for Lakers-Cavaliers, LeBron James‘ return to Cleveland.
Across all networks, the Tar Heels’ win is tied for fourth among basketball games this season. ABC’s three Christmas Day NBA games hold the top spots.
Raleigh-Durham led all markets with a 13.0 rating, followed by Greensboro, N.C. at a 12.0 and Charlotte at an 11.0. Louisville was the top non-Carolina market with a 9.5. Norfolk, Va., rounded out the top five (8.8).
[Numbers from ESPN PR 2.21]
