The 2023-24 College Basketball season concluded on a historic note this week. Concluding a season full of record-setting moments. Along with other historic achievements for college basketball.

History was made in several ways during this year’s women’s and men’s Final Four. This is the first time two schools’ men’s and women’s basketball teams qualified for the Final Four in the same year. NC State and Connecticut’s men’s and women’s teams advanced to the Final Four. Connecticut Men’s Basketball became the first team since 2007 to win back-to-back national titles. While South Carolina Women’s Basketball completed an undefeated season with their national title.

South Carolina’s win culminated a historic NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Last Sunday’s national championship game set a viewership record for that event. An average of over 18 million viewers tuned in to see South Carolina beat Iowa. This is the first year the women’s national championship game had more viewers than the men’s national championship game. Monday’s men’s national title game was seen by an average of just over 14 million viewers.

Several other 2024 women’s tournament games set viewership records. The surge in viewers and interest in this year’s women’s tournament can be attributed to several factors. This year’s tournament featured several compelling people and teams. Many of the record setting games featured Iowa Women’s Basketball star Caitlin Clark. Viewership and media coverage of the women’s tournament have become more robust in recent years. Along with the resources, after the NCAA was criticized in 2021. Over the resource and marketing disparities between the men’s and women’s tournaments.

The criticism led to some changes in the way the tournament functions. The field grew from 64 to match the men’s tournament’s 68 team field. The national championship was also moved last year to being exclusively on cable. To an ESPN simulcast with broadcast network ABC. Bringing the game back to broadcast TV for the first time nearly 25 years. While bringing the game to a wider audience than any cable channel can muster. The tournament also has a wider array of powerhouse programs.

For several years, Women’s College Basketball was dominated by a handful of programs. There was Tennessee during Pat Summitt’s era as their head coach. Tara VanDerveer-led Stanford continues to a perennial powerhouse program. Notre Dame continues to be a perennial powerhouse. Several years after head coach Niele Ivey succeeded hall of famer Muffet McGraw. While Geno Auriemma-led Connecticut continues to be one of college basketball’s most dominant programs. Even if they aren’t bulldozing their way into the national championship game on a yearly basis.

When Cincinnati hosted the Women’s Final Four in 1997. That final four featured Tennessee, Notre Dame, Stanford and Old Dominion. Tennessee ultimately won the national championship that year. 27 years later, the list of blue-blood women’s basketball programs is growing. South Carolina, LSU, Louisville and USC are nationally prominent. It will be interesting to see if Iowa continues to be a prominent program, as Caitlin Clark heads into the WNBA. Along with whether Tennessee reclaims their juggernaut status with new head coach Kim Caldwell.

The 2024 women’s national championship draws some interesting parallels. To the 1979 NCAA Men’s national championship. The 1979 men’s national championship game holds the record as the most watched in history. With 35.1 million viewers tuning in for that game. Both games featured national stars and pursuits of undefeated seasons. This year it was Clark and Iowa taking on undefeated South Carolina. It was Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in 1979; as Michigan State took on undefeated Indiana State.

Cincinnati and Ohio have unique connections to the 2024 women’s and 1979 men’s tournaments. Iowa Women’s Basketball player Gabbie Marshall is a Cincinnati native. Marshall is the first Iowa player to record 200 three-pointers and steals in her career. South Carolina has two players from Ohio on their roster. Junior guard Bree Hall grew up in Dayton and senior center Sakima Walker grew up in Columbus.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati hosted the 1979 Midwest regional finals. The Midwest region featured Larry Bird’s Indiana State Basketball team. Which ultimately went on to lose the national championship game. To Magic Johnson’s Michigan State Basketball team. That game began the Bird vs Magic rivalry that sparked a renaissance for the NBA in the 1980’s. Indiana State beat Oklahoma 93-72 in the Midwest Semifinals. Then beat Arkansas 74-71 through a Bob Heaton buzzer-beater in the regional final.

Ironically, Indiana State concluded their best season since 1979 last week. Indiana State was nationally ranked for the first time since 1979 earlier this season. Indiana State narrowly lost to Seton Hall last week. In the National Invitation Tournament’s championship game in Indianapolis. Many felt Indiana State merited a berth in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana State won the Missouri Valley Conference’s regular season title. Yet, they lost in their conference tournament’s title game to Drake Basketball.

As this historic college basketball season concludes. The countdown is on to another season. Where more history and compelling storylines will unfold.