Kentucky vs. Illinois was Sunday’s highest-rated game in most-watched NCAA Tournament in 32 years
Kentucky Basketball remains the needle. The ratings are out for the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky vs. Illinois was the highest-rated game on Sunday, ahead of Duke vs. Baylor. Sunday’s games averaged 10.1 million viewers, up 13% from last year. Kentucky vs. Troy was the highest-rated game on Friday, averaging 3.86 million viewers on CBS.
Add in Thursday, Friday, and Saturday’s games and the tournament is averaging 9.4 million viewers, making it the most watched in 32 years. People like to complain about the transfer portal and NIL, but even with fewer upsets so far in this tournament, they’re still watching. The reports of college basketball’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.
The fun picks back up in just two days with the Sweet 16. We have to wait until Friday night to see the Cats play, but there are plenty of good games to keep us entertained, including Arkansas vs. Texas Tech late Thursday night.
Sweet 16 Tip Times
Thursday, March 27
Time (ET)GameTVRegion7:09 p.m.(6) BYU vs. (2) Alabama
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForceCBS East (Newark)7:39 p.m.(4) Maryland vs. (1) Florida
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren ShehadiTBSWest (San Francisco)9:39 p.m.(4) Arizona vs. (1) Duke
Brian Anderson / Jim Jackson // Allie LaForceCBSEast (Newark)10:09 p.m.(10) Arkansas vs. (3) Texas Tech
Kevin Harlan / Dan Bonner / Stan Van Gundy // Lauren ShehadiTBSWest (San Francisco)
Friday, March 28
Time (ET)GameTVRegion7:09 p.m.(6) Ole Miss vs. (2) Michigan State
Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy WolfsonCBSSouth (Atlanta)7:39 p.m.(3) Kentucky vs. (2) Tennessee
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan WashburnTBSMidwest (Indianapolis)9:39 p.m.(5) Michigan vs. (1) Auburn
Ian Eagle / Bill Raftery / Grant Hill // Tracy WolfsonCBSSouth (Atlanta)10:09 p.m.(4) Purdue vs. (1) Houston
Andrew Catalon / Steve Lappas // Evan WashburnTBSMidwest (Indianapolis)
If you really want to plan ahead, here are the TV windows for the Elite Eight and Final Four. The order of the Elite Eight games has not been finalized.
Elite Eight
Saturday, March 29 — 6:09 p.m. start (TBS) – Order TBD
East Region — Prudential Center (Newark), West Region — Chase Center (San Francisco)
Sunday, March 30 — 2:20 p.m. start (CBS) – Order TBD
South Region — State Farm Arena (Atlanta), Midwest Region — Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
Final Four
Saturday, April 5 — 6:09 p.m. start (CBS)
Alamodome (San Antonio)
National Championship
Monday, April 7 — 8:50 p.m. (CBS)
Alamodome (San Antonio)
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