The Duke Blue Devils have been one of the best teams in college basketball this season – and one of the most watched.
After losing freshman stars Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, and Khaman Maluach to the NBA Draft, there was little concern in Durham. The Blue Devils reloaded with another elite freshman class while retaining key contributors who have made significant jumps in their second seasons.
Freshman standout Cameron Boozer has emerged as one of the best players in the country. Boozer is currently the betting favorite to win National Player of the Year honors, listed at -3000 odds by FanDuel. He is averaging a double-double with 22.8 points per game (fourth nationally) and 10 rebounds, both team highs. Boozer also leads Duke in assists (3.9) and steals (1.7), showcasing his all-around impact.
Sophomores Isaiah Evans and Patrick Ngongba have also stepped into larger roles after coming off the bench as freshmen. Evans is second on the team in scoring at 14.7 points per game, while Ngongba ranks third at 10 points per contest. Their development has helped Duke maintain its status as a national powerhouse.
That success has translated directly to television ratings.
According to Nick Schultz of On3, Duke is the most-watched team in college basketball this season. Schultz, who serves as a national news desk writer and oversees the On3 NIL & Sports Business Newsletter, compiled data from multiple networks including ABC, CBS, The CW, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, FOX, FS1, FS2, NBC, USA, truTV, and TNT.
Duke tops a list that also features Michigan State Spartans, North Carolina Tar Heels, Arkansas Razorbacks, Kentucky Wildcats, Kansas Jayhawks, Michigan Wolverines, Purdue Boilermakers, Illinois Fighting Illini, and Tennessee Volunteers.
Why Duke Is No. 1
Duke played in two of the three most-watched college basketball games of the season.
The Blue Devils' Thanksgiving win over Arkansas at the United Center drew 6.8 million viewers, making it the most-watched game of the year. Duke's loss to North Carolina – decided on a buzzer-beater by Seth Trimble – ranks third with 3.5 million viewers on ESPN.
As Schultz noted:
"Duke's top game was a Thanksgiving win over Arkansas in front of 6.8 million viewers, and the Blue Devils' loss to North Carolina ranks No. 3 on the year with 3.5 million viewers on ESPN. That made it ESPN's most-watched men's college basketball game in four years as the Tar Heels got the victory in Chapel Hill."
The rivalry, star power, and national stakes have made Duke must-watch television.
Duke's dominance this season extends beyond the box score. Behind Cameron Boozer's emergence as a national superstar and the continued growth of key returners, the Blue Devils have combined elite performance with massive national appeal. Whether it's marquee holiday matchups or rivalry showdowns, Duke continues to draw the biggest audiences in college basketball – proving that success on the court and success in the ratings often go hand in hand.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/duke as Duke Ranks Among Most-Watched Teams in College Basketball.