Syracuse tops UK in basketball attendance; U of L third

For the first time since 2005, Syracuse’s average basketball attendance eclipsed that of the University of Kentucky’s during the 2013-2014 season — but it’s by no fault of Wildcats fans.

According to the NCAA, UK actually averaged more fans last season than in 2012-2013 — up from 22,439 to 22,964 — though the Orange attracted large crowds to the massive Carrier Dome in their first tour as an Atlantic Coast Conference member.

In 18 games, Syracuse drew a total attendance of 472,550, up from the 415,775 the Orange accumulated in their final Big East Conference season. UK followed with 413,350, and the University of Louisville was third at 383,070.

The top three schools were the only ones to average more than 20,000 fans a game.

In a down season at Indiana, the Hoosiers dipped from fifth to sixth on the attendance listing, drawing 17,359 fans per game.

Overall Division I totals released by the NCAA for all games, including tournament and neutral site contests, reflected a decrease of 356,532 fans from the 2012-2013 season. A large chunk of that — about 60,000 — came through decreased NCAA tournament attendance, which didn’t match the record number posted during U of L’s run to the 2013 national title.

2013-2014 Division I Basketball Attendance:

1. Syracuse: 18 games, total 472,550, average 26,253

2. Kentucky: 18 games, total 413,350, average 22,964

3. Louisville: 18 games, total 383,070, average 21,282

4. North Carolina: 18 games, total 324,458, average 18,025

5. Creighton: 16 games, total 286,329, average 17,896

6. Indiana: 18 games, total 312,453, average 17,359

Jonathan Lintner can be reached at (502) 582-4199; follow him on Twitter @JonathanLintner.