UConn vs San Diego State was the least-watched NCAA March Madness title game EVER with just 14.69million viewers… down 14% from last year
The NCAA Men’s National Championship between UConn and San Diego State was the least-watched title game ever, with just 14.69 million viewers on CBS, according to ShowBuzz Daily.
Viewership was down 14 percent from last year’s championship game which averaged 17.05 million viewers on TBS, TNT and TruTV.
In contrast, the women’s title game played between LSU and Iowa on Sunday afternoon became the most watched women’s title game ever.
There are several reasons why the men’s numbers shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, considering the two teams in this year’s title game.
One of the most glaring reasons is the lack of star power that both teams possess.
The NCAA title game between UConn and San Diego State was the least watched game ever
The Women’s National Championship game on the other hand recorded the most viewers ever
While Cinderella teams like San Diego State recording upset wins tend to provide most of the excitement in the early rounds of March Madness, it was the lack of a draw that brought one of the blue bloods that often participate in the title game like Kentucky, Duke, North Carolina, or UCLA.
More importantly, even though UConn’s fifth NCAA title puts them on the same level as those teams their roster still lacks a single superstar to attract the attention of fans awaiting the upcoming NBA Draft.
Neither the UConn nor SDSU rosters include a player expected to be taken in the lottery (top 14) of this year’s draft.
On the other hand, the women’s title game involves higher quality players and storylines to keep fans invested and wanting to see how the game is played.
LSU’s roster, loaded with new players, features double-double machine ‘The Bayou Barbie’ Angel Reese and features coach Kim Mulkey in just his second year as coach at his home state’s biggest school. , facing off against the most exciting player of the season in the sport in Iowa’s Catilin Clark.
The game saw an average of 9.9 million viewers tune in to watch LSU beat Iowa, ESPN PR reported citing Nielsen Fast Nationals.
The game, which peaked at a whopping 12.6 million viewers, broke the previous record holder for the most-watched women’s game: UConn vs. Oklahoma in 2002, according to Front Office Sports.
In more recent history, the numbers look impressive.
Compared to last season’s final between South Carolina and UConn, this year’s championship game saw a 103 percent increase in viewership.
Additionally, the game was the most-watched college event ever on ESPN Plus, according to the network.
UConn defeats San Diego State 76-59 to capture their fifth national title in program history
