Ten-Year Analysis: Louisville Highest-Rated all 10 Years; Greensboro Only Market to Finish Second Highest-Rated Multiple Times

As fans prepare for the adventure of another college basketball season, ESPN examined the ratings for its men’s game telecasts in the 56 metered markets from the 2002-03 season through 2011-12. The results show the Top 25 markets from 2011-12, how the markets compare to this year’s Top 25 teams and overall trends from the past 10 seasons.

Highlights:

One leads the way: Louisville was the top market every year, averaging a 4.1 rating or higher the past five seasons, including a 5.3 in 2009-10.

Louisville was the top market every year, averaging a 4.1 rating or higher the past five seasons, including a 5.3 in 2009-10. Six in Second: Six of the 56 markets have finished a season in the second highest-rated spot: Greensboro is the only market to make multiple second place appearances: 2011, 2008, 2006, 2005, and 2002-03. The additional five markets: Columbus (2010-11), Kansas City (2009-10), Indianapolis (2007-08), Raleigh-Durham (2004-05) and Cincinnati (2003-04)

Six of the 56 markets have finished a season in the second highest-rated spot: Top Five Markets: Eleven markets have been in the top five highest-rated at least once from 2002-03 to 2011-12: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Raleigh-Durham. Louisville is the only market to go 10 for 10. Greensboro finished as a top five market every season but one when it was sixth in 2004-05. Kansas City is on a streak, finishing in the top three the past three years after not finishing in the top five the previous seven seasons. Columbus was in the top five in five of the 10 years, including the last four seasons straight. Raleigh-Durham was back in the top five last year after finishing seventh in 2010-11 and 2009-10. The North Carolina market was in the top five every other year but 2006-07 when it was eighth. Charlotte (in 2008-09) and Oklahoma City (in 2004-05) were the only two markets to finish in the top five once. Oklahoma City hasn’t been among the top 10 metered markets since peaking at third in the 2004-05 season.

Eleven markets have been in the top five highest-rated at least once from 2002-03 to 2011-12: Charlotte, Cincinnati, Columbus, Greensboro, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Knoxville, Louisville, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Raleigh-Durham. Top 10 Markets: Louisville, Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte are the only markets to be among the top 10 every year since 2002-03. Other markets have impressive streaks as well: Knoxville has finished in the top 10 every year since 2003-04. Kansas City was a top 10 market in eight of the past 10 years (except in 2008-09 and 2004-05) Indianapolis was a top market in seven of the 10 years (except 2010-11, 2004-05 and 2003-04)

Louisville, Greensboro, Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte are the only markets to be among the top 10 every year since 2002-03. Other markets have impressive streaks as well:

Top 25 Markets for 2011-12 No. 1 Louisville: 4.5 rating No. 2 Greensboro: 3.5 rating No. 3 Kansas City: 2.8 rating No. 4 Columbus: 2.7 rating Raleigh-Durham 2.7 rating No. 6 Charlotte: 2.3 rating No. 7 Cincinnati: 2.1 rating No. 8 Dayton: 2.0 rating No. 9 Indianapolis: 1.8 rating Knoxville: 1.8 rating No. 11 Memphis: 1.6 rating Nashville: 1.6 rating No. 13 Greenville: 1.5 rating No. 14 Cleveland: 1.4 rating Birmingham: 1.4 rating Las Vegas: 1.4 rating No. 17 Norfolk: 1.2 rating Hartford: 1.2 rating St. Louis: 1.2 rating No. 20 Fort Myers: 1.1 rating Atlanta: 1.1 rating Richmond: 1.1 rating No. 23 Pittsburgh: 1.0 rating Detroit: 1.0 rating Oklahoma City: 1.0 rating Jacksonville: 1.0 rating Tulsa: 1.0 rating

Top 25 Teams & Markets

Indiana took the top spot of the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll over Louisville and Kentucky, but its home market of Indianapolis was eight spots behind in the highest-rated local markets. Below is a look at the Top 25 and the correlating metered markets for each team. (Note: Some teams reach multiple markets while others are not located in a metered market. All markets are closest to the school’s hometown):