ncaa final four gets highest ratings in five years

[xubrew]

well, so much for the theory that no one watches if there are mid-majors. it was a stupid theory in the first place.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5054479

[BlueX]

Ratings are a strange thing. About the only certainty is if Duke plays the ratings are big. The Butler elite 8 game was very low rated, while their final four game was highly rated.

Ratings for all games through the elite 8 http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/cbs-ncaa-tournament-ratings-up-tick.html#disqus_thread

[Titanxman04]

Ratings are a strange thing. About the only certainty is if Duke plays the ratings are big. The Butler elite 8 game was very low rated, while their final four game was highly rated.

Ratings for all games through the elite 8 http://sportsmediawatch.blogspot.com/2010/04/cbs-ncaa-tournament-ratings-up-tick.html#disqus_thread

Which leads me to believe that Xavier Nation is expanding, and the heart-breaking loss to KSU was still too bitter for the country to watch.

Xavier Nation is growing. Join the movement!

[X-band '01]

Matchups are key - there just wasn't a compelling matchup in, let's say, George Mason v. Florida and LSU v. UCLA. Having Duke and Butler in separate matchups helped, and having them both in the game may be the best CBS could have hoped for going into the title game tonight. From a national perspective, Xavier v. Michigan State and Xavier v. Duke would not have moved the needle from a casual viewer's perspective as well as Butler v. Michigan State and Butler v. Duke could.

[Masterofreality]

...Or, maybe the theory that only Big Six leagues draw viewers is a crock of sheet.

Maybe people around the country just want to see good basketball and fresh names that play it, rather than just having the same garbage like Iowa vs. Michigan or Arkansas vs. Auburn thrown at them.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMM?

[XU-PA]

The David-Goliath thing will always get big numbers.
doesn't matter the sport. Remember the first bengals super bowl. little mid west town vs big bad san fran. biggest numbers ever, and the rating record stood for some years
I know that Butler is not the most popular word on this board. but I think them getting there could be a god send to all of us from non big six conferences. perhaps, just perhaps, the committee might lean a little way from the big east next year,,,, just maybe.

[bigdiggins]

The David-Goliath thing will always get big numbers.
doesn't matter the sport. Remember the first bengals super bowl. little mid west town vs big bad san fran. biggest numbers ever, and the rating record stood for some years
I know that Butler is not the most popular word on this board. but I think them getting there could be a god send to all of us from non big six conferences. perhaps, just perhaps, the committee might lean a little way from the big east next year,,,, just maybe.

With 96 teams they won't have to lean away from the Big East. They can let all 16 teams in and still have room for mediocre teams from the SEC and Pac-10.

[X-band '01]

The David-Goliath thing will always get big numbers.
doesn't matter the sport. Remember the first bengals super bowl. little mid west town vs big bad san fran. biggest numbers ever, and the rating record stood for some years
I know that Butler is not the most popular word on this board. but I think them getting there could be a god send to all of us from non big six conferences. perhaps, just perhaps, the committee might lean a little way from the big east next year,,,, just maybe.

San Francisco wasn't any more of an established team than the Bengals were at that time - they were both 6-10 the year before. Had the Cowboys won that year, that would have been a true David v. Goliath matchup that year. Alas for Dwight Clark...

[XU-PA]

Really meant to talk about ratings, and big market san fran (top ten) vs little hayseed market, cincinnati (#30+)

also, as far as the #66-96 my hope is that it opens to quality teams from the non top 6, yea,,,,wishful thinking.

[XU-PA]

And this one was another ratings winner.

CBS SPORTS SCORES IN RATINGS FOR 2010 NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

National Championship Game Rating Ties as Best in 11 Years

Duke-Butler Thriller Up 34% From Last Year's Championship

http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/04/06/cbs-sports-scores-in-ratings-for-2010-ncaa-mens-basketball-national-championship-game/20100406cbs01/

[Masterofreality]

Yet, B-Espn will still insist on showing Rutgers V DePaul or Auburn V South Carolina.

[SixFig]

What will ESPN blowhards, namely Colin Cowherd, who say the underdogs don't draw good ratings say now?

Probably that the Duke brand name overwhelmed Butler's lack thereof.

[D-West & PO-Z]

What will ESPN blowhards, namely Colin Cowherd, who say the underdogs don't draw good ratings say now?

Probably that the Duke brand name overwhelmed Butler's lack thereof.

You are right that is definitely what he will say. He is such a douche. Him and Kaselius (sp?) are horrible. They feel like every single thing they say is fact and not even debatable.