This time of year sees many NBA fans turning to college basketball for their hoops fix. Beyond the difference in talent, new eyes are tuning in to this fantastic game, bringing along plenty of questions. How many quarters are in college basketball? How long does a college basketball game last? And what’s the deal with overtime? These are just a few of the most common queries I get.
Consider yourself heard. Here’s everything you need to know about what to expect during this month of madness—the greatest event on the sporting calendar!
How Many Quarters Do They Play in College Basketball?
In college basketball, the structure varies between men’s and women’s games. The women’s game transitioned from halves to quarters (still totaling 40 minutes, just split differently), while the men’s game sticks to the traditional two-halves format.
This setup follows the original rules laid out by Dr. James Naismith, and there hasn’t been a strong push to switch the men’s game to quarters. Some argue that adding more stoppages between quarters disrupts the game’s momentum. The women’s game made the switch before the 2015-16 season, but discussions about doing the same for men’s basketball haven’t gained enough traction to become a reality anytime soon.
How Long Is a College Basketball Half?
Each half of a college basketball game—whether men’s or women’s—consists of 20 minutes of on-court action. Of course, that doesn’t mean a game starting at noon will hit halftime right at 12:20 PM.
The main reasons a half can stretch longer are fouls and media timeouts. Every foul stops the clock, but the time lost here is usually minimal. However, shooting fouls and a high number of fouls can lead to free throws, which are the primary factors that extend the length of each half.
Bonus: When a team commits its seventh foul of the half, the opposing team is awarded free throws, even if the foul wasn’t on a shot attempt. For fouls numbered 7-9, the opposing team gets a “one-and-one”—if they make the first free throw, they get a second.
Double Bonus: After the tenth foul of the half, every subsequent foul results in two free throws for the opposing team, regardless of the first free throw’s outcome.
It’s not uncommon for both teams to reach the double bonus late in the half, turning a straightforward 20-minute period into an hour-long saga.
Media timeouts are another reason games run longer than the clock might suggest. Every four minutes of game time comes with a mandated timeout at the next stoppage, adding to the overall length.
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When you combine these forced stoppages with the natural flow of the game, it’s easy to see why tournament games typically last between 2 to 2.5 hours. While the actual playtime is eight minutes shorter than the NBA’s four 12-minute quarters, the total clock time for a tournament game is quite comparable to a professional game. The formats might differ slightly, but the overall time commitment remains similar.
So, whether you’re planning to order food at halftime or sneak in a quick walk around the block, now you know what to expect from a college basketball game during March Madness. Enjoy the madness!
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