ESPN was pushing that matchup on every single one of their platfroms and in any way possible. Any person that watched a video clip of any of the super bowl press clips, was greeted and left with a message that Syracuse and Duke were playing on Saturday night on espn the night before the super bowl. It actually turned out to be a good game too. I would have been shocked had the ratings not blown anything away, piggy backing on every single super bowl media piece all week like they did.
That new York rating, happened, because of all the people in New York, paying attention to the super bowl being played in New York, that were hanging out on the Saturday night before.
it's absolutely disgusting how blatant and repulsively ESPN is pushing their own product that they've invested in (the ACC) on their own broadcasting medium. There are huge conflicts of interest, and I'm no lawyer, but it just all stinks. ESPN put out headlines the other day, pushing ACC v. SEC football matchups - which was promptly shut down by Mike Slive.but the same shameless, propoganda. But there is nothing to stop it, because there is no one with enough pull in either the federal government or anywhere locally to put the time, money and effort into fighting in the courts. UCONN, Connecticut crapped out years ago with Blumenthal trying to take on Shalala, and then actually voted the guy into the U.S. Senate. (I didn't vote). Somebody else is going to have to carry the flag into this battle, if it does happen.
Whatever.
I just look forward to March Madness and the tournament, and God willing, we will advance and eventually at some point, meet a still undefeated Syracuse basketball team.