Nielsen ranked the best college basketball fan bases. Did your school make it?
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Nielsen ranked the best college basketball fan bases. Did your school make it?
Danielle Lerner, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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2 min read
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The Kentucky Wildcats andLouisville Cardinalshave one of the fiercest rivalries in college sports, and new data shows that the Battle of the Bluegrass also features the two most devoted college basketball fan bases.
Lexington, Kentucky ranked as theNo. 1 market in the country for men's and women's basketball programs,according to the "Nielsen Scarborough Fandom Index" released on Tuesday, Nov. 3 by media audience research firmNielsen. The index was created by analyzing data across seven metrics: apparel purchases, event attendance, streaming, social media following, TV viewership, radio listening, and overall interest level.
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On Nielsen's list of the top 20 college hoops markets in America, Lexington's index score of 289 took the top spot, followed by Louisville's score of 277. Nielsen noted in its news release that both Kentucky markets dominated in every metric.
The No. 3 spot belongs to Des Moines/Ames, home to Iowa State and Iowa fans. Raleigh/Durham (Duke, UNC and NC State) came in at No. 4, while Indianapolis (Butler, Indiana and Purdue) rounded out the top five.
Surprisingly, last season's NCAA men's and women's champions – theMichigan Wolverinesand UCLABruins– didn't crack the top 20 fanbases. While larger media hubs like Los Angeles, Houston and Atlanta didn't make the list, smaller markets such as Birmingham and Knoxville did because their merchandise sales outpaced TV viewership.
Columbus, home to Michigan's rival Ohio State, ranked 17th on the list. While Columbus had lower overall TV viewership, it ranked No. 1 in apparel purchases, according to Nielsen. On the flip side, Des Moines/Ames leads in social media, radio listening and streaming but lags in apparel sales.
Duke center Patrick Ngongba II (21) and Kansas guard Tyran Stokes (4) are among the top 10 players in college basketball for the 2026-27 season according to USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza and Craig Meyer.Click here to see the full top 100 list.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
10. David Mirkovic (Illinois):For a team returning plenty of pieces from a Final Four, Mirkovic stands out above the rest. He finds way to score across the floor, but his ability to command the boards (team-high 8 rebounds per game) played a huge role in him being named to NCAA all-South Region team. He's coming off foot surgery and when he's back, he'll be the focal point of the offense.
(Ron Johnson, Ron Johnson-Imagn Images)
9. Thijs De Ridder (Virginia):For all of Duke's firepower, the best player in the ACC may very well be in Charlottesville. De Ridder was the catalyst of Virginia's 15-win improvement under first-year coach Ryan Odom in 2025-26, averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers bring back most of their key players from that 30-win squad, with the 23-year-old Belgian sophomore the centerpiece of that group.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
8. Tyran Stokes (Kansas):After a prep career that saw him bounce between three high schools, Stokes will spend his first and almost certainly only college season at Kansas, where the Jayhawks will have what should be the best freshman in the sport. Last season, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four steals per game while leading Rainier Beach High School in Seattle to a 29-1 record and a state title.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
7. Patrick Ngongba II (Duke):When healthy and not in foul trouble, Ngongba is a sight to behold. The center didn't play heavily last season, but you couldn't ignore his impact when on the court, a defensive nightmare that led Duke in blocked shots. Now with an expanded role, he has the ability to be a double-double machine every night and lead the Blue Devils in scoring.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
6. Flory Bidunga (Louisville): After frontcourt woes prevented the Cardinals from living up to massive preseason expectations last season, they addressed it by adding the best big man in the transfer portal. There are few, if any, better rim protectors in the sport than the 6-9 Bidunga, who averaged 2.6 blocks per game last season at Kansas on his way to winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's a solid offensive player, too, averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 64% from the field as a sophomore in 2025-26.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
5. Alex Condon (Florida):There may be no one as versatile as Condon, entering his fourth season in Gainesville. He can score, rebound, assist and block shots at an extremely high clip, making it nearly impossible to figure out how to limit him. He's only gotten better with experience, and is a shoe-in to be all-SEC for the fourth straight season.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES)
4. Motiejus Krivas (Arizona):Lost in the guard play of Arizona's Final Four run was the dominance inside from Krivas. He bounced back from injury in a big way, averaging 10.4 points and 8.2 rebound per game while his presence on the defensive end resulted in opponents shooting 36.7% from the field when he's on the court. He sets the tone for Tommy Lloyd's club with a great chance to be the player of the year in the Big 12.
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
3. Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State):Fears was the nation's assist leader last season, dishing out 9.4 dimes per game for a 27-win Spartans team that narrowly missed out on the Elite Eight. Though it occasionally gets him into trouble, he's a hard-nosed, opportunistic defender who excels offensively at getting to the line, where he made 88.5% of his free throws last season. He and Michigan State are primed for what could be a special season, with the 2027 Final Four in nearby Detroit.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal)
2. Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt):The rise of the Commodores is thanks to Tanner. The guard is a master floor general that dishes it out at a high clip but his defensive IQ is off the charts, disrupting offenses with 2.4 steals per game (10th in Division I). What separates him is how he stepped up his scoring tremendously, averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game by driving down the lane and shooting the ball at a high clip from the perimeter. Don't let the 6-foot frame you from this assassin.
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1. Thomas Haugh (Florida): Gators coach Todd Golden is spoiled with the best frontcourt in the country led by the best player in the sport. With the rare combination of elite skill and experience, Haugh stands out above all with his knack to defend anyone on the court and a be a lethal offensive machine, coming off a team-high 17.1 points per game. He could've been a high NBA draft pick, but he's back as a player of the year favorite and the main reason why Florida can win two titles in three seasons.
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
1/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
Duke center Patrick Ngongba II (21) and Kansas guard Tyran Stokes (4) are among the top 10 players in college basketball for the 2026-27 season according to USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza and Craig Meyer.Click here to see the full top 100 list.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
1/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
Duke center Patrick Ngongba II (21) and Kansas guard Tyran Stokes (4) are among the top 10 players in college basketball for the 2026-27 season according to USA TODAY Sports' Jordan Mendoza and Craig Meyer.Click here to see the full top 100 list.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
2/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
10. David Mirkovic (Illinois):For a team returning plenty of pieces from a Final Four, Mirkovic stands out above the rest. He finds way to score across the floor, but his ability to command the boards (team-high 8 rebounds per game) played a huge role in him being named to NCAA all-South Region team. He's coming off foot surgery and when he's back, he'll be the focal point of the offense.
(Ron Johnson, Ron Johnson-Imagn Images)
3/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
9. Thijs De Ridder (Virginia):For all of Duke's firepower, the best player in the ACC may very well be in Charlottesville. De Ridder was the catalyst of Virginia's 15-win improvement under first-year coach Ryan Odom in 2025-26, averaging 15.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. The Cavaliers bring back most of their key players from that 30-win squad, with the 23-year-old Belgian sophomore the centerpiece of that group.
(Bill Streicher, Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
4/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
8. Tyran Stokes (Kansas):After a prep career that saw him bounce between three high schools, Stokes will spend his first and almost certainly only college season at Kansas, where the Jayhawks will have what should be the best freshman in the sport. Last season, the nation's No. 1 overall recruit averaged 31 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, and four steals per game while leading Rainier Beach High School in Seattle to a 29-1 record and a state title.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal)
5/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
7. Patrick Ngongba II (Duke):When healthy and not in foul trouble, Ngongba is a sight to behold. The center didn't play heavily last season, but you couldn't ignore his impact when on the court, a defensive nightmare that led Duke in blocked shots. Now with an expanded role, he has the ability to be a double-double machine every night and lead the Blue Devils in scoring.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
6/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
6. Flory Bidunga (Louisville): After frontcourt woes prevented the Cardinals from living up to massive preseason expectations last season, they addressed it by adding the best big man in the transfer portal. There are few, if any, better rim protectors in the sport than the 6-9 Bidunga, who averaged 2.6 blocks per game last season at Kansas on his way to winning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's a solid offensive player, too, averaging 13.3 points per game and shooting 64% from the field as a sophomore in 2025-26.
(Evert Nelson/The Capital-Journal, USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co)
7/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
5. Alex Condon (Florida):There may be no one as versatile as Condon, entering his fourth season in Gainesville. He can score, rebound, assist and block shots at an extremely high clip, making it nearly impossible to figure out how to limit him. He's only gotten better with experience, and is a shoe-in to be all-SEC for the fourth straight season.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES)
8/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
4. Motiejus Krivas (Arizona):Lost in the guard play of Arizona's Final Four run was the dominance inside from Krivas. He bounced back from injury in a big way, averaging 10.4 points and 8.2 rebound per game while his presence on the defensive end resulted in opponents shooting 36.7% from the field when he's on the court. He sets the tone for Tommy Lloyd's club with a great chance to be the player of the year in the Big 12.
(Ron Chenoy, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
9/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
3. Jeremy Fears Jr. (Michigan State):Fears was the nation's assist leader last season, dishing out 9.4 dimes per game for a 27-win Spartans team that narrowly missed out on the Elite Eight. Though it occasionally gets him into trouble, he's a hard-nosed, opportunistic defender who excels offensively at getting to the line, where he made 88.5% of his free throws last season. He and Michigan State are primed for what could be a special season, with the 2027 Final Four in nearby Detroit.
(Nick King/Lansing State Journal)
10/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
2. Tyler Tanner (Vanderbilt):The rise of the Commodores is thanks to Tanner. The guard is a master floor general that dishes it out at a high clip but his defensive IQ is off the charts, disrupting offenses with 2.4 steals per game (10th in Division I). What separates him is how he stepped up his scoring tremendously, averaging a team-high 19.5 points per game by driving down the lane and shooting the ball at a high clip from the perimeter. Don't let the 6-foot frame you from this assassin.
(Steve Roberts, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
11/11
College basketball is here! See who the top 10 players are heading into 2026-27 season
1. Thomas Haugh (Florida): Gators coach Todd Golden is spoiled with the best frontcourt in the country led by the best player in the sport. With the rare combination of elite skill and experience, Haugh stands out above all with his knack to defend anyone on the court and a be a lethal offensive machine, coming off a team-high 17.1 points per game. He could've been a high NBA draft pick, but he's back as a player of the year favorite and the main reason why Florida can win two titles in three seasons.
(Matt Pendleton, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Nielsen's college basketball 'Fandom Index' rankings
