Kentucky may be the story of the college basketball season, but the North Carolina/Duke rivalry remains the sport’s biggest draw.
Wednesday’s North Carolina/Duke college basketball game drew a 2.6 final rating and 4.1 million viewers on ESPN, up 73% in ratings and 81% from the rivals’ first meeting last season (1.5, 2.3M) and up 63% and 76%, respectively, from their first meeting in 2013 (2.4M). Keep in mind last year’s game was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Blue Devils’ overtime win ranks as the most-watched college basketball game of the season, topping the previous high of 3.5 million for Kentucky/Louisville on ESPN2 in December.
It also ranks as the 11th-most watched college basketball game ever on ESPN, and the fourth-most watched North Carolina/Duke game on the network.
Duke has played in two of the three most-watched games this season, with their January 31 game against Virginia ranking third (3.5M). Of the ten most-watched games on the ESPN family of networks this year, Duke has played in four — the most of any team outside of Kentucky (five).
(Wed. numbers via ShowBuzz Daily, ESPN Media Zone)
