CBS drew a 17.1 overnight rating for Duke’s 68-63 win over Wisconsin in the NCAA National Championship game last night, marking the best figure for the game since Arizona's OT win over Kentucky in '97 drew an 18.0 overnight. Duke-Wisconsin is up 33% from a 12.9 overnight for UConn-Kentucky last year. The telecast last night peaked at a 20.1 rating from 11:00-11:30pm ET. Milwaukee led all markets with a 42.2 local rating for the game, followed by Raleigh-Durham (36.2) and Louisville (33.5). For the entire all games across CBS, TBS, TNT and truTV, the NCAA Tournament averaged a 7.8 overnight, marking the best figure since CBS alone drew a 7.9 overnight in ’93. The figure is up 13% from last year’s tourney. Meanwhile, March Madness Live drew 3.4 million video streams for Duke-Wisconsin, a record for the championship game (CBS/Turner).
MANI PEDI: USA TODAY's Nina Mandell notes college basketball analyst Bill Raftery’s "long-awaited debut on the call of the NCAA championship game" last night "left viewers, at least those on social media, with only one question: Why didn’t this happen earlier?" One of Raftery’s "best calls came on a questionable decision from officials with less than two minutes in the game when a ball appeared to go off the fingertips" of Duke F Justise Winslow. Raftery said, "Forget the pedi. He needed a mani." Raftery's enthusiasm, which he "shows with a volume increase that normally indicates a saying is coming, was often reserved" for the play of Duke G Tyus Jones. After Jones hit a big shot with just over a minute remaining in the game, Raftery shouted, "Onions by the little guy!” (USATODAY.com, 4/7).
RAFTERY REAX: The Washington Post’s Kent Babb on Twitter wrote, “Hey CBS, how about make Bill Raftery a permanent part of the Final Four? He's just too much fun.” NBA.com’s Lang Whitaker wrote, “Whoever wins this game the MVP is Raftery.” The Charlotte Observer’s Jonathan Jones: “Raftery calling this game is amazing.” NFL Network’s Andrew Siciliano wrote, “Bill Raftery is good people. He's also great at his job.” SI.com’s Richard Deitsch: “Bill Raftery is in his 70s and going nuts. Just awesome.” The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s David O’Brien wrote, “How did Bill Raftery not do a Final Four till now. The man brings it. He makes me smile.” ESPN’s Trey Wingo: “Raftery has been a pure joy to listen to.” The Toronto Star’s Bruce Arthur wrote, “Bill Raftery rules. He just damn rules.” Meanwhile, the St. Paul Pioneer Press' Mike Berardino wrote, "Tell me again who thought it was a good idea to put Grant Hill on the lead broadcast team for this event. He might be the next 1-and-done." The Boston Globe's Chad Finn: "Grant Hill doesn't seem to be as into Duke as Nantz is."
