Women’s tournament starts strong, lags behind Clark-crazed 2024 viewership
The first round was down 22% versus last season, but up 43% versus 2023.
The first round was down 22% versus last season, but up 43% versus 2023.
"We proposed immediately taking the tournament to 96 teams."
The telecast averaged 1.7 million viewers, the second-largest audience since 2005.
Only three of ESPN's first and second round teams remain the same as last year.
"It's been unbelievable. A tough three years, those four cancer battles that I don't wish on anybody. Cancer sucks."
"Florida is a team that can win a National Championship. I do not think Alabama can."
For the fourth year in a row, there will be a Bird & Taurasi Show altcast for the Women's Final Four and title game.
Saturday's game averaged 3.0 million viewers on ESPN.
The network is up 3% versus last year and 44% versus two years ago.
Dave O'Brien and Cory Alexander will call the ACC Tournament this year.
The event's future beyond 2025 remains unknown.
O'Brien's "He is smiling more than I've ever seen him smile" was quickly followed by a shot of Hamilton not smiling.
"It’s absolutely sickening ESPN kept the camera on this poor girl."
"I will have a better feel after the scoping of my vocal cords in early January."
"Yes I'm cutting the nets down baby it's my National Championship!"
"I'm constantly thinking about Dec. 12 when I have a major scan to determine if I'm cancer free after my recent 30 radiation treatments. If I am it would be my NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!"
ESPN now owns nine of the ten most-watched college basketball telecasts so far this year.
A biopsy found cancer in Vitale's lymph nodes.
"That should not happen. That right there is why court storming should not happen."
"He’s criticized our league and our players in the past. He said that if we want more bids, then we got to do a better job recruiting. And I didn’t realize he was a recruiting expert."
"Well, I keep it for special occasions."
"I am beyond thrilled to be back on the court for the biggest games each week."
Josh Pastner is relishing his new role as a basketball analyst, using it as a refreshing break to contemplate his next coaching opportunity.
Boeheim looks set to join ESPN for regular-season college basketball coverage and SiriusXM for the NCAA Tournament.