Four C-USA Men's Basketball Programs Among Top 25 In Attendance

Rick Pitino

Four Conference USA men’s basketball programs are ranked among the Top 25 in NCAA Attendance for the 2003-04 season, highlighted by Louisville finishing fourth out of 326 NCAA Division I schools. In addition to the Cardinals, Memphis and Marquette ranked in the Top 12 in attendance, while Cincinnati was 23rd for fan turnout according to figures released by the NCAA.

The Cardinals posted a 13-2 mark at Freedom Hall, averaging 19,443 fans per game for a total of 291,643 through 15 dates. Louisville finished the 2003-04 campaign with a 22-10 overall record and 9-7 ledger in C-USA play. The Cardinals also made their second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years under third-year head coach Rick Pitino. Louisville has ranked in the Top 10 nationally in attendance for 28 straight years, with a Top five ranking in the last 22. This past season, the Cardinals eclipsed the 10 million mark in all-time fan attendance at Freedom Hall where they have played the last 48 years.

Memphis finished 10th with a total of 231,481 fans through 15 home contests, averaging crowds of 15,432 per game at The Pyramid. The Tigers completed the home portion of their schedule with a 15-0 mark, extending a home court-winning streak to 21 games. Memphis finished the 2003-04 season with a 22-8 overall record and 12-4 conference mark, while sharing the C-USA regular season title and earning their second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. This season, the Tigers will move into the brand-new, state-of-the art Fed Ex Forum in downtown Memphis.

Marquette ranked 12th nationally in attendance, averaging 15,291 fans per game at the Bradley Center in 2003-04. The Golden Eagles posted a 15-3 home mark, while concluding the season with a 19-12 overall record and 8-8 league mark. Marquette made its fourth postseason appearance in five seasons under head coach Tom Crean, advancing to the quarterfinals of the NIT.

Cincinnati averaged crowds of 12,805 per game and totaled 243,290 fans over 19 home contests at Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center (15 games) and U.S. Bank Arena (four games), sporting a 14-1 in the friendly confines. The Bearcats concluded the year with a 25-7 record and 12-4 league mark, while also sharing the regular season title and earning their fourth C-USA Tournament crown. UC made their 13th straight NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Bob Huggins, marking the third-longest active streak among Division I head coaches.

DePaul, which made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2000 and won its first share of a conference crown since the inaugural Great Midwest title last season, registered the fourth best average attendance increase in Division I from the previous year. The Blue Demons, who posted a 22-10 overall mark and a 12-4 C-USA ledger in head coach Dave Leitao’s second year at the helm, averaged 9,041 fans last season through 15 home contests compared to an average of 6,215 in 14 games in 2002-03 for an increase in average of 2,826.

Louisville and Marquette also were two of the top drawing teams in the nation last season at home, on the road or on a neutral court. The Cardinals were the 11th best among Division I programs for all venues with a total attendance of 498,875 fans, while the Golden Eagles ranked 18th with a total attendance of 416,627.