NCAA title game earns best preliminary TV rating in 18 years

Even without an undefeated team, the NCAA title game has earned its highest preliminary television rating in 18 years. Duke’s 68-63 comeback win over Wisconsin on Monday night on CBS drew a 17.1 overnight rating and 27 share. CBS and Turner Sports said Tuesday that was the best since an 18.0/28 in 1997 when Arizona upset defending champion Kentucky in overtime. It was up 33 percent from the 12.9/21 for Connecticut’s win over Kentucky last year. Ratings represent the percentage of U.S. homes with televisions tuned to a program, while shares represent the percentage of TVs in use at the time. – Associated Press