More than four million pairs of eyes watched the UNC men’s basketball team take down No. 4 Duke in Mike Krzyzewski’s final home game with the Blue Devils. ESPN’s public relations Twitter account announced Tuesday its broadcast of the game was the most-watched college basketball broadcast on any network since March 9, 2019. According to the website Sports Media Watch, an average of 3.98 million people were tuned in, with a peak of 4.76 million between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. as the Tar Heels pulled away.
In addition, almost 3.5 million people watched Krzyzewski’s postgame speech to the Blue Devil crowd after the game.
It was the most-watched UNC-Duke game since the 2018-19 season, when more than four million viewers tuned in for each of the three meetings between Coby White and the Tar Heels and Zion Williamson and the Blue Devils. Saturday’s game almost doubled the viewership of this season’s first UNC-Duke matchup in Chapel Hill, which averaged 2.19 million viewers.
The game was the day’s most-watched broadcast of any kind for adults 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54. Notably, it outdrew that night’s NBA game between LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers and Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors. The game also outdrew that night’s episode of Saturday Night Live.
Saturday’s basketball game between Texas and Kansas, which was played on ESPN directly before UNC-Duke, drew an average of 1.91 million viewers, though that number could be skewed as those tuning in late may have been waiting for the Tar Heels and Blue Devils to start. The Texas-Kansas game went to overtime, forcing ESPN to broadcast a double-box between the Longhorns and Jayhawks and the pregame ceremony honoring Krzyzewski in Durham.
Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.
Related Stories
‹
UNC Men's Basketball vs. USC Upstate (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeUNC will return to action Saturday afternoon when it hosts USC Upstate at the Smith Center. It will be the first ever meeting between the Tar Heels and Spartans. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the radio can […]
Chansky's Notebook: Growth SpurtAgainst arguably the three toughest opponents it has played this season, 8-1 UNC is improving step by step.
UNC Locker Room Reactions: GeorgetownUNC beat Georgetown 81-61 at the Smith Center Sunday night. Check out what the Tar Heels had to say after the win: Caleb Wilson On his performance: I just try not to force stuff. Just play the game, find who’s open, tell my teammates to get in a position where I can see them and just […]
UNC Men's Basketball Pulls Away in 2nd Half, Defeats Georgetown in 'Throwback' GameOn a night when Carolina paid tribute to the past at the Dean Smith Center, the Tar Heels showed why the future is bright in a 81-61 win against Georgetown Sunday. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/8tGNukWfhB — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) December 8, 2025 The Tar Heels led for more than 33 minutes on the night, […]
UNC Men's Basketball vs. Georgetown (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeUNC will return home to the Smith Center for the first time in nearly three weeks when it hosts Georgetown Sunday evening. It’s the first meeting between the Tar Heels and Hoyas since the 2007 NCAA Tournament. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule […]
Chansky's Notebook: A Long Time ComingSomeone who was born the last time Carolina and Georgetown met in men's basketball would be a college freshman today.
Chansky's Notebook: Quad 1 QualityUNC was looking for help from the perimeter to complement its leading inside scorers. And the Heels got it at the right time.
Derek Dixon's Late Buckets Lead UNC Men's Basketball Past No. 18 KentuckyUNC’s defense held No. 18 Kentucky to just 8-23 shooting in the second half on its way to a 67-64 win in Lexington Tuesday night. It’s Carolina’s first win at the Wildcats’ Rupp Arena since 2007. HEELS WIN.#CarolinaFamily | @WellsFargo pic.twitter.com/rPZqtKTzFW — Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) December 3, 2025 The Wildcats had shot 15-30 overall in […]
UNC Men's Basketball at Kentucky (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Tip-Off TimeCarolina will travel to the Bluegrass State to face Kentucky in Rupp Arena Tuesday night as part of the ACC-SEC Challenge. It will be the first time the Tar Heels have visited Lexington since the 2014-15 season. If you aren’t making the trip with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast […]
Chansky's Notebook: Lessons LearnedMost teams must play good defense to help their offense. UNC did neither vs. Michigan State and suffered its first loss.
›
