Big Ten leads nation in basketball attendance again, Michigan eighth among league schools
The Big Ten led the nation in men’s basketball attendance for the 35th straight season, averaging 12,826 fans at home games.
Michigan averaged 10,640 fans at 19 home games, the eighth-highest total in the Big Ten and 37th-best in the nation according to recently-released data from the NCAA.
Kentucky led the nation with an average of 23,603 at 15 games, followed by Syracuse (22,312) and Louisville (21,832).
The Big Ten, which broke the 2 million mark in total attendance for the 19th consecutive season, had seven conference schools in the top 25:
7. Wisconsin (17,230) 10. Illinois (15,851) 12. Indiana (15,259) 13. Ohio State (15,125) 15. Michigan State (14,797) 17. Purdue (13,916) 24. Minnesota (13,241)
Other Big Ten teams and their averages: Iowa (11,668), Michigan (10,640), Northwestern (5,291) and Penn State (7,457).
Comments
81wolverine
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 6:33 p.m.
That's great for the Big Ten. And a little surprising given how big basketball is in the ACC and Big East for instance. I think Michigan's attendance will go up quite a bit next season now that the team is good again. I can't wait until the tickets go on sale. But, I wonder how they count the attendance - is it based on tickets sold or actually the number who walk in the door? Because it always seems Crisler has a lot more empty seats than the reported attendance would lead you to believe.
Rich Rezler
Thu, Apr 28, 2011 : 8:23 p.m.
@81wolverine: It can vary, but typically is tickets sold. Some details on NCAA attendance policies can be found here: <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Stats/Statistics+Policies" rel='nofollow'>http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/NCAA/Resources/Stats/Statistics+Policies</a>