It's almost time for March Madness. 2 Kentucky cities were ranked for their love of basketball

Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal
·5 min read

When it comes to football, Kentuckians aren’t known for their excitement. But with basketball season in full swing, it’s a different story.

Basketball fans in the state have pride and team spirit, and it’s only growing as we enter March Madness, the three-week-long college basketball tournament featuring 68 teams as they battle for the national championship. So how do Kentucky basketball fans stack up to others in the country?

Mar 2, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Justin Taylor (5) blocks the shot of Louisville Cardinals guard Tre White (22) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Syracuse defeated Louisville 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 2, 2024; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Syracuse Orange guard Justin Taylor (5) blocks the shot of Louisville Cardinals guard Tre White (22) during the second half at KFC Yum! Center. Syracuse defeated Louisville 82-76. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports

According to a recent study, these two Kentucky locations are in the top ten for large cities with the best college basketball fans.

Does Kentucky have good basketball fans?

According to a study from WalletHub, Kentucky basketball fans rank high compared to basketball fans across the country. As indicated in the results, Lexington and Louisville both ranked in the top ten for large cities with the best basketball fans.

Cassandra Happe, WalletHub analyst, said, “March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for sports fans, with 67 games packed into 21 days. You can enjoy the action from anywhere with a TV or an internet connection, but a good environment enhances the experience. The best cities for college basketball have high-performing teams, affordable and accessible games, and strong fan engagement.”

What Kentucky cities have the best basketball fans?

According to WalletHub, Lexington and Louisville are the Kentucky cities with the best basketball fans.

Lexington is home to the University of Kentucky Wildcats, with the men’s team at 21 wins and eight losses for the season. In conference, the Wildcats have won 11 games, and lost five, according to UK Athletics.

Louisville, home to the University of Louisville Cardinals, has a 2024 record of eight wins and 21 losses for men’s basketball. In conference, the team has one three games, and lost 15, according to GoCards.com.

Where does Lexington rank for best basketball fans nationally?

According to the study, Lexington is No. 3 for large cities with the best basketball fans, with a score of 53.06.

Where does Louisville rank nationally for best basketball fans?

Louisville is No. 9 for large cities with the best basketball fans, with a score of 35.21.

What large cities have the best basketball fans?

The top ten large cities with the best basketball fans are as follows:

  • Los Angeles, California: Score of 59.98

  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Score of 57.04

  • Lexington, Kentucky: Score of 53.06

  • Boston, Massachusetts: Score of 45.48

  • New York: Score of 44.22

  • Washington, D.C.: Score of 43.70

  • Houston, Texas: Score of 37.92

  • Tulsa, Oklahoma: Score of 36.79

  • Louisville, Kentucky: Score of 35.21

  • Cincinnati, Ohio: Score of 34.98

What midsize cities have the best basketball fans?

The top ten midsize cities with the best basketball fans are as follows:

  • Durham, North Carolina: Score of 53.45

  • Ann Arbor, Michigan: Score of 35.59

  • Syracuse, New York: Score of 33.95

  • Norman, Oklahoma: Score of 33.89

  • Providence, Rhode Island: Score of 32.86

  • Salt Lake City, Utah: Score of 31.49

  • Dayton, Ohio: Score of 31.09

  • Akron, Ohio: Score of 31.05

  • Toledo, Ohio: Score of 30.69

  • Waco, Texas: Score of 30.18

What small cities have the best basketball fans?

The top ten small cities with the best basketball fans are as follows:

  • Storrs, Connecticut: Score of 55.01

  • Lawrence, Kansas: Score of 51.82

  • East Lansing, Michigan: Score of 48.77

  • Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Score of 47.33

  • Loretto, Pennsylvania: Score of 42.26

  • West Point, New York: Score of 40.43

  • Fayetteville, Arizona: Score of 40.08

  • Lewiston, New York: Score of 39.48

  • Fayette, Mississippi: Score of 39.32

  • College Park, Maryland: Score of 39.07

How was the study conducted?

WalletHub compared 294 U.S. cities with a division 1 basketball team using nine metrics, all of which were weighted differently and averaged on a 100-point scale. Cities were also ranked on population size, with small cities having a population size of below 100,000 people, midsize cities with a population between 100,000 and 300,000 and large cities with a population of over 300,000.

The nine metrics and assigned weight are as follows:

  • Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Teams: Full Weight (13.33 Points)

  • Performance Level of College Basketball (Division 1) Team(s): Full Weight (13.33 Points)This metric was calculated by dividing “Number of Wins” by “Total Games Played” and using the past three seasons’ averages.

  • Number of Basketball (Division 1) Championship Wins: Full Weight (13.33 Points)

  • Number of College Basketball (Division 1) Conference Regular Season Championship Wins: Half Weight (6.67 Points)

  • Number of Hall of Fame Head Coaches: Full Weight (13.33 Points)

  • Minimum Season Ticket Price for a College Basketball (Division 1) Game: Full Weight (13.33 Points)

  • College-Basketball Fans Engagement: Full Weight (13.33 Points)This metric was calculated by adding “Number of Twitter Followers” and “Number of Facebook ‘Likes’ per Capita.”

  • Number of Coaches in Past 10 Seasons: Half Weight (~6.67 Points)“Past 10 Seasons” include seasons 2014–2015 to 2023–2024.

  • College-Basketball Stadium Capacity: Half Weight (~6.67 Points)This metric was calculated by dividing “Stadium Capacity” by “City Population.”

2024 March Madness: When it starts, how to watch, who could win

What is March Madness?

March Madness is a Division I men’s basketball single-elimination tournament, involving 68 teams, that compete in seven rounds for the national championship, according to the NCAA. The penultimate round is known as the Final Four, when only four teams are left. Everything begins with Selection Sunday.

When is March Madness?

Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday is scheduled for March 17, 2024, two days before the start of the tournament. Here, the Selection Committee reveals the full NCAA tournament bracket, teams and seeds.

First Four March Madness

The First Four games are scheduled for March 19-20.

First round March Madness

The first round is scheduled for March 21-22, according to the NCAA.

Second round March Madness

The second round will take place from March 23-24.

Sweet 16

According to the NCAA, the Sweet 16 is scheduled for March 28-29.

Elite Eight

Scheduled for March 30-31.

Final Four

The Final Four is scheduled for April 6-8. It will be hosted by Arizona State University with games being played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

NCAA Championship Game

The championship game is scheduled for Monday, April 8 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky basketball fans recognized for team spirit before March Madness