More College Basketball news

“Lady Tigers”: Odell Beckham Jr Hyped Up by LSU Elusive Achievement Amid Free Agency Trade Drama

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr found happiness in an elusive LSU Tigers achievement amid a focus on returning to the NFL.

Odell Beckham Jr LSU

“Hate All You Want. She’s a Legend!”: Resurfaced Facts on Kim Mulkey Proves to Fans Her College Basketball Legacy Is Beyond Cemented

Twitterati extended their support toward LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey after she lifted her fourth NCAA championship trophy on Sunday.

NCAA, College League, USA Womens Basketball: Final Four National Championship-Louisiana State vs Iowa Apr 2, 2023; Dalla

Despite Locking Horns for NCAA Title, Charles Barkley’s Brash Words on NBA Players Might Bring Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark on the Same Page

After Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark battled it out, NBA Legend Charles Barkley made a bold claim that might bring the two together.

Charles Barkley, Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark

“She’s a Disgrace”: Sports World Blasts Kim Mulkey after Magic Johnson’s Bold Claim Following LSU’s NCAA Win

Fans were left enraged after Lakers legend Magic Johnson credited LSU head coach Kim Mulkey for the win despite controversial antics during the game.

Magic Johnson, Kim Mulkey

“Best Player on the Floor Tonight Was Neither.. Caitlin Clark or Angel Reese”: After Kim Mulkey Take Triggers Fans, Magic Johnson Makes Disagreeable Claim

Magic Johnson publicly extended his support and congratulated LSU Tigers for the big win and gave flowers to one particular Louisiana star.

Caitlin Clark, Magic Johnson, Angel Reese, Kim Mulkey

Overwhelming NCAA Championship Update: Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson, and Millions Go Berserk as LSU Delivers Gut Punch to Caitlin Clark’s Iowa

Fans join Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson and LSU alumnus Shaquille O'Neal as the Tigers win the NCAA Championship.

Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese

The Story of Caitlin Clark: 21-Year-Old March Madness Sensation Who Grew Up Defying All Odds While Mirroring Stephen Curry

A glimpse into the 'Stephen Curry of women's basketball' Caitlin Clark's teen years ahead of the National Championship game on Sunday.

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“It’s Hard to Come In Here”: College Coach Admits He Is “Not That Excited” Despite March Madness Success

Even though his team is acing March Madness, this head coach refuses to get excited during his locker-room talk with the team!

NCAA Basketball: Final Four National Semifinals-Miami vs UCONN

“Boys Are Back in Town”: Fans Grow Nostalgic as NBA Legend Ray Allen and Other Stars Assemble for March Madness’ “Family Affair”

Various NBA veterans gathered to support their former college team during the March Madness Final 4, sending fans on a trip down memory lane.

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“Got That March Madness Bug”: 2x NBA Champion Kawhi Leonard and Thousands More Rally Behind His Alma Mater for a “Story Book Ending”

Alumnus Kawhi Leonard joins thousand more as the San Diego State Aztecs qualify for the 2023 National Championship game for the first time in history.

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“Get That Degree First My Boy”: Days After Kevin Durant’s March Madness Shoutout, Latest News on Kansas State’s “Lethal” Star Draws Mixed Reactions From Fans

Despite Kevin Durant and other NBA stars' encouraging words, the Kansas State guard's recent announcement got mixed reactions from fans.

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“About Damn Time”: NCAA Coach Rodney Terry’s $15.3 Million Deal Has Kevin Durant and the NBA World Emanate Favorable Responses

NBA world joined 2x NBA Champion Kevin Durant as the latter gave his flowers to the Texas Longhorns' head coach Rodney Terry. Here's what went down.

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About College Basketball

College Basketball (NCAA): Latest News, Rumors, Schedule, Scores & More

College basketball is the primary path to the NBA for several talented athletes. Upon completing high school, budding basketball players join a university in hopes of shaping their careers professionally. 

College basketball is currently governed by a list of collegiate athletic bodies that include National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and a few other organizations. 

What does NCAA stand for?

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is one of the primary organizations that govern college athletics for over 1,200 institutions across the United States and Canada. 

NCAA stands as an organizer of college tournaments, which helps various students register their talent on a grand stage. Due to the overwhelming number of institutions emerging with respect to basketball and other major sports, the NCAA adopted the three-division structure in 1973. 

Thus, there are Divisions I, II, and III that subdivide NCAA College Basketball teams. Moreover, the most enthralling tournament when it comes to college basketball is the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament

The NCAA’s Division I Men’s Basketball tournament was founded in 1939 by Ohio State coach Harold Olsen. The tournament is often played during March and hence, it has been branded “March Madness,” a yearly tournament that decides the national college champion! 

The single-elimination tournament features 68 of the best college basketball teams from the 32 conferences that comprise NCAA’s Division I. Winners from each conference receive an automatic bid for the tournament, while the other 36 teams are awarded “at-large berths.”

The venues are pre-determined and the competing teams are seeded and split into four regions and organized into a single-elimination bracket. The University of North Carolina has the honor of receiving the most #1 seeds in the tournament with 17 to date. 

As the games commence, teams get filtered, which is then followed by “Sweet Sixteen,” “Elite Eight,” and the coveted “Final Four.” 

It is a well-structured tournament, as the Final Four teams will each represent one region (East, South, Midwest, and West) to determine the national champion. 

Likewise, there is a similar tournament held for women with almost the same structure: 64 teams participate and a special committee will decide the participants for each edition. 

Who has the most NCAA Division I titles? 

Winning the national title is a daunting task. 64 teams enter the tournament with the same goal in mind, but only one can be crowned champion towards the end. With that said, the UCLA Bruins Men’s Basketball Team has won 11 national titles to date, the most by any school. 

UCLA’s most recent victory came in 1995 when the Bruins beat Arkansas Razorbacks. Furthermore, here is a list of the Top 5 teams with the most NCAA Division I championships in history:

School

Titles 

Years

UCLA

111964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995
Kentucky8

1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012

North Carolina

61957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017
Duke 5

1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015

Indiana

5

1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987

When does the 2020-21 men’s college basketball season start? 

The initial dates for the season had to be pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There are several tournaments that are scheduled to begin in the coming weeks, tentatively. The Division I men’s basketball tournament is scheduled to begin on November 25. 

The conferences that comprise the governing bodies organize various tournaments, and the schedules are dropping in with regard to the restrictions that are in place. More information can be found on the NCAA website

The organization has released the schedule for the highly anticipated “March Madness,” that is set to take place in 2021. 

ROUND

DATES

Selection Sunday

March 14
First Four

March 16-17

First Round

March 18-19
Second Round

March 20-21

Sweet 16

March 25-26
Elite Eight

March 27-28

Final Four

April 3
National Championship

April 5

How college basketball stands out from the NBA

A lot of the aspects remain the same when comparing college basketball and the NBA. However, minor differences set these two leagues apart, which might affect the flow when watching an NBA game versus an NCAA game. 

The first difference is that NBA games are played under four quarters of 12 minutes each. But college basketball is just two halves, and each half is 20 minutes long. This reduces the game time by a small margin, but athletes have to endure a longer half. 

Moreover, there is also a major difference in the shot clock. The modern shot clock in the NBA is 24 seconds, while the NCAA allows 30 seconds for men’s basketball. 

The distance from the three-point line to the backboard differs in the NBA and college basketball as well. The NBA’s three-point line traditionally measures 23 feet 9 inches at the top of the circle and 22 feet in the corners. However, this is not the case when it comes to the NCAA. 

Starting from the 2019/20 season, NCAA adopted FIBA’s three-point line measurements which stand at 22 feet, 1¾ inches at the top of the circle, and 21 feet 8 inches at the corners. Besides these, there is a list of rules that differ between the NBA and NCAA. Click here to learn more