When you're talking about College Basketball in America, the conversation needs to begin and end in the State of Connecticut, so let’s call this one a bit of a layup. According to a new study from WalletHub, basketball is more than just a sport in the U.S.; it’s practically a way of life.

The University of Ohio’s basketball program alone is worth a whopping $251.6 million, with $24 million in revenue. But hey, it's not all about the money – it's the players, the energy, and that March Madness magic that gets everyone hyped.

Now, where do you find the most thrilling teams to cheer for? According to WalletHub’s analysis of over 290 U.S. cities, every place has its own basketball swagger, from the die-hard alumni to those who just can't shake their hometown pride. The study dove into nine key metrics, from winning percentages to social media buzz. And while it's hard to pick a favorite, WalletHub’s 2025 rankings have the stats that’ll make any basketball fan want to call up their old college roommate.

Before we get started it's important to note that Wallet Hub chose to break the list down by city-size with three major categories, large cities, midsize cities and small cities.

These are the Best College Basketball Cities in America

  • Best Large City for College Basketball: Home of UCLA and USC
  • Best Midsize City for College Basketball: Durham, NC - Home of the Duke Blue Devils
  • Best Small City for College Basketball: Storrs, CT - Home of the UCONN Huskies

We win Connecticut and it's all thanks to this man, the mighty Dan Hurley.

Connecticut v Butler
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Dan Hurley, the same guy who turned down the Head Coach spot with the Los Angeles Lakers because he knows that keeping the Huskies on top will always earn him more favor with the basketball gods than babysitting LeBron James.

I mean, who really wants to watch LeBron recruit the NBAs best players to pad his stats before he calls it quits? Or sit through a press conference, answering questions about why a 6'9", 250lb athlete would threaten a reporter in front of an entire arena? Or worse, watch a giant baby, dressed in yellow flop around all night?

No, Dan Hurley is in it for the competition, for the wins, for the chance to dominate at a historic Big East powerhouse—and he's absolutely killing it. Let's make it three in a row, Dan! We’re all cheering for you, and by the way, congrats on the 60 Minutes feature—you crushed it!

They should build a gold statue of Dan in every town in Connecticut, I'd go visit the one in Danbury every day and say thank you for giving us something to be proud of, other than pizza.

NFL Players With Connecticut Ties, Then and Now

The Nutmeg State has had more NFL talent than you might realize. These are just a few of the more notable names (past & present) that have made their impact on the league. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Some of the NFL’s All-Time Most Feared Tough Guys – Part 1

I’ve been watching the NFL my whole life and while the game has changed drastically in my 42+ years, but one thing remains the same, you must be a “tough guy” to make it to the league. On that level of athleticism, all the players are strong and physical but some clearly are better than others. The following are some of the players who go beyond, passing the eye test and were flat out scary on a football field. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Some of the NFL’s All-Time Most Feared Tough Guys – Part 2

In Part 1 of this series, I featured John Lynch, Bill Romanowski, James Harrison, Maxx Crosby and Troy Polamalu. For part 2 I felt the need to go back a bit further for some of these players, guys I was not old enough to see play but I grew up reading about. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Some of the NFL’s All-Time Most Feared Tough Guys – Part 3

I’ve been watching the NFL my whole life and while the game has changed drastically in my 42+ years, but one thing remains the same, you must be a “tough guy” to make it to the league. On that level of athleticism, all the players are strong and physical but some clearly are better than others. In parts 1 + 2, I highlighted John Lynch, Bill Romanowski, Troy Polomalu, James Harrison, Maxx Crosby, Reggie White, Earl Campbell, Mean Joe Greene, Mike Singletary and Brett Favre. The following are some of the players who go beyond, passing the eye test and were flat out scary on a football field. These are “Some of the NFL’s All-Time Most Feared Tough Guys – Part 3” 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Some of the NFL’s All-Time Most Feared Tough Guys – Part 4

I’ve been watching the NFL my whole life and while the game has changed drastically in my 42+ years, but one thing remains the same, you must be a “tough guy” to make it to the league. On that level of athleticism, all the players are strong and physical but some clearly are better than others. The following are some of the players who go beyond, passing the eye test and were flat out scary on a football field. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Connecticut's 5 Favorite NFL Stars: Not Much Love for the Locals

The NFL is a collective success but that unit is propped up by a foundation of individual stars and the league has many of them. But who is popular, where are they popular and why? For instance, I wanted to know who are the 5 most popular NFL athletes in the State of Connecticut? I found the answers but I was surprised there was not much love for the Jets, none for the Pats and zero for the Giants. 

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

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