Mike Hlas, CR Gazette –
Iowa’s average attendance for men’s basketball games went up in 2011-2012 from the season before, but not enough to elevate it from No. 31 in the nation.
The Hawkeyes’ average home crowd in 2011-2012 was 11,869, up 234 per game from the season before. Iowa was one of six Big Ten teams to raise its average attendance from the season before. Michigan State was sold out for the season in both years.
Iowa State made more of a gain, going from 12,110 fans per game in 2010-2011 to 13,015 in 2011-2012 for a gain of 895 fans per game. ISU ranked 28th nationally a year ago, 24th this year.
Northern Iowa’s average crowd in 2011-2012 was 4,406, down 361 from the previous season. Drake’s average also dropped, from 4,230 to 3,965.
Here are the 2011-2012 averages, where they ranked nationally, and the plus-minus from the season before:
BIG TEN
5. Wisconsin 17,181 (-49)
8. Ohio State 16,511 (+1,386)
9. Indiana 16,462 (+1,203)
14. Illinois 14,986 (-865)
15. Michigan State 14,797 (0)
21. Purdue 13,324 (-592)
31. Iowa 11,869 (+234)
33. Minnesota 11,794 (-1,447)
34. Michigan 11,436 (+796)
40. Nebraska 10,019 (+624)
77. Penn State 6,937 (-520)
90. Northwestern 5,972 (+681)
BIG 12
10. Kansas 16,445 (+9)
24. Iowa State 13,015 (+895)
25. Kansas State 12,783 (+131)
30. Texas 11,950 (-1,749)
32. Missouri 11,830 (+718)
43. Oklahoma State 9,239 (-1,208)
49. Texas Tech 8,665 (+152)
53. Oklahoma 8,525 (-38)
62. Baylor 7,914 (+970)
71. Texas AandM 7,383 (-1,617)
LEADING CONFERENCES
1. Big Ten 12,868
2. SEC 11,513
3. Big 12 11,057
4. Big East 10,881
5. ACC 9,876
6. Mountain West 7,800
7. Pac-12 7,143
