Iowa men's basketball ranks 48th ... in attendance

Iowa's basketball attendance has soured in recent years, dropping from one of the nation's best-attended programs to middle of the pack at best. This year, the information was perhaps worse than expected.

Iowa ranked 48th nationally in attendance during the 2009-2010 season, averaging 9,550 fans a game. It was the lowest ranking for Iowa since the NCAA started keeping these statistics in the mid-1970s. It was Iowa's lowest attendance in Carver-Hawkeye Arena's history by 1,231 fans, which was set in 2008. Iowa ranked ninth last season among Big Ten schools.

Iowa State ranked 26th nationally, averaging 12,491 fans a game. The Cyclones were third in the Big 12 behind only Kansas and Texas.

Northern Iowa ranked 97th, averaging 5,642 fans a game. UNI posted the 10th-highest attendance jump last year with an increase of 1,429 fans a game. Drake averaged 4,510 fans a game but did not break the top 100.

Notable schools finishing ahead of Iowa were New Mexico (22nd, 13,595), Dayton (28th, 12,259), Wichita State (41st, 10,333), Nebraska (45th, 9,964) and Utah State (47th, 9,792). National champion Duke (9,314) and runner-up Butler (6,852) finished 53rd and 78th, respectively, in attendance.

Here's the National Top 10

1. Kentucky 24,111
2. Syracuse 22,152
3. Louisville 19,397
4. Tennessee 19,168
5. North Carolina 17,786
6. Wisconsin 17,230
7. Maryland 16,792
8. Memphis 16,490
9. Kansas 16,433
10. Marquette 15,617

Here's the Big Ten

• 6. Wisconsin 17,230
• 11. Indiana 15,296
• 12. Illinois 14,870
• 13. Michigan State 14,629
• 16. Ohio State 14,181
• 20. Purdue 13,681
• 23. Minnesota 13,453
• 33. Michigan 11,725
• 48. Iowa 9,550
• 62. Penn State 8,150
• NR Northwestern 5,089

Here's the Big 12

• 9. Kansas 16,433
• 14. Texas 14,629
• 26. Iowa State 12,491
• 31. Kansas State 11,884
• 35. Oklahoma State 11,585
• 39. Oklahoma 10,650
• 40. Missouri 10.349
• 45. Nebraska 9,964
• 46. Texas A&M 9,889
• 54. Texas Tech 9,290
• 69. Baylor 7,457
• 86. Colorado 6,267