Should mens college basketball go to 4 quarters ?

[jeffky]

I use to be in the camp to keep the mens game to 2 halfs ,but after this year I have changed my mind . The mens game has no flow to it anymore 4 quarters will help eliminate stagnated play ,not to mention the camera review too.

 

[drew_ukfan]

Probably but I kinda like tradition

 

[BeaveUKGT]

Two quarters? So you wanted them to stop the games at halftime?

 

[jeffky]

Probably but I kinda like tradition

The only thing I don't like about the 4 quarters would be the use ,of the timeout, to advance the ball to half court.

 

[know1]

Yes.

 

[BobCat6]

I love the 4 quarter idea. I believe it would benefit the refs greatly!

 

[WallMashKyBall]

no

 

[BBNinSC]

I can see it, the team fouls reset would be a benefit. It’s time for college ball to go to 6 personal fouls before fouling out.

 

[bbncal02]

It’s literally the only basketball league left that doesn’t do it.

It would help with the flow of the game a lot.

 

[MWes11]

Yes.

 

[Catapult]

I'm old school. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

[KFuqua]

Leave it as it is. The less that college basketball copies the NBA, the better.

 

[NociHTTP]

It’s literally the only basketball league left that doesn’t do it.

It would help with the flow of the game a lot.

There would be even more commercials, and I'd be surprised if the games didn't take even longer.

 

[westerncat]

NO ! Leave the game as it is. The only thing that needs to change is less time the ref's having to review plays.

 

[SemperFiCat]

I don't feel strongly about quarters vs halves. College basketball's real problem is with officiating, review stoppages, and retroactive changes during the games. We're stopping the games faaaar too much to review. Kills the flow and momentum. The college game needs less timeouts, not four or five extra ones. And we need to stop this nonsense of changing a 3pt/2pt and goal tending. Make a call and stand by it. Really, just start grading officials and hold them accountable. All the stoppages and reviews are just letting bad officials off the hook.

 

[rick64]

I'd like to see it happen.

 

[uk78]

It probably will despite anyone's opinion including mine which is a big NO!!!! They all ready reduced some of the excitement of the NCAA tourney by adding throw-away first games. The halftime for teams to make adjustments has been very important at the college level.

 

[Sejonesy]

It probably will despite anyone's opinion including mine which is a big NO!!!! They all ready reduced some of the excitement of the NCAA tourney by adding throw-away first games. The halftime for teams to make adjustments has been very important at the college level.

There will still be a halftime. And I have watched many women’s games and they are more exciting than men’s games much of the time. Every other league in the world has quarters. I think it would be good for the game to change it

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

I guess since we pay em now we should go to full NBA mode. ANY of you that thinks it will improve " flow" of game are dreaming. Until the monitor rule is changed their will be no flow to game. Micromanaging games to " get it right" ei. appease gamblers is so tiresome.As for giving a sixth foul, that will insure 50 foul calls a game every night. Less is more,leave the damn game alone, every rule you change to " make it better" makes it worse.

 

[ArtLaibsGhost]

There will still be a halftime. And I have watched many women’s games and they are more exciting than men’s games much of the time. Every other league in the world has quarters. I think it would be good for the game to change it

Women's basketball is like watching flies copulate.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

Yes erveryone else has.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

At this point, it's the only level of basketball that doesn't use quarters. Not really sure why that is. That fact alone probably makes a change the thing to do.

 

[KentuckyCat420]

NO ! Leave the game as it is. The only thing that needs to change is less time the ref's having to review plays.

It’s not copying the NBA, it’s copying the sport at literally every single other level around the world.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It’s literally the only basketball league left that doesn’t do it.

It would help with the flow of the game a lot.

This. Not sure why we haven't changed. Every other league has gone to quarters and they haven't looked back. I also think something like this could help with injury issues, assuming the timeouts don't change. You're getting essentially two extra breaks to get off the floor, sit, stretch, get any medical attention you need, etc. Might reduce some of the stress related injuries we've seen.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It’s not copying the NBA, it’s copying the sport at literally every single other level around the world.

"Bring back the peach basket, I say!"

 

[JRCAT14]

I can see it, the team fouls reset would be a benefit. It’s time for college ball to go to 6 personal fouls before fouling out.

I for one absolutely do not think a player should get 6 fouls before fouling out of a 40 minute game, but I am in favor of giving each player an additional foul for an overtime period. This would also allow any player that fouled out in regulation to come back into the game but would foul out again if a foul is committed. I would do this for any additional overtime periods as well.

 

[JohnnyGreen1975]

I use to be in the camp to keep the mens game to 2 halfs ,but after this year I have changed my mind . The mens game has no flow to it anymore 4 quarters will help eliminate stagnated play ,not to mention the camera review too.

Since it is essentially becoming the NBA lite, I could see us doing it.

 

[Cuello Azul]

2.5 to 3 hour games will become the norm.

 

[CondorCat]

College basketball briefly tried 4 quarters in 1951 but switched back to 2 halves in 1954. Here's a good article that explains why. Some of the reasons: free throws, bonus rule, timeouts, better flow.

Why Men's College Basketball Games Have Two Halves, Not Four Quarters​

 

[UKat51]

Since it is essentially becoming the NBA lite, I could see us doing it.

Would need to expand game from 40 minute games to 48 minute games if played in quarters and allowing 6 fouls. Maybe we should get NBA refs too.

I hate NBA games. Finals only for me. Some things just need to be left alone

 

[bigbluedon]

I can see it, the team fouls reset would be a benefit. It’s time for college ball to go to 6 personal fouls before fouling out.

Hell no. As rough as the game is today it ought to be 4 fouls. The skill level is being taken out of the game because the defense is allowed mugging and murder. The game is horrible right now. Only thing that needs changing is to go back to the original rules and call the games the way they should be called. By the rules!!!

 

[chroix]

They could probably get near 100% buy in from SEC fans if they said the quarter breaks is when non contact video reviews would occur.

 

[jof2]

I can see it, the team fouls reset would be a benefit. It’s time for college ball to go to 6 personal fouls before fouling out.

And 5 fouls per quarter and all fouls are 2 shots.

 

[JohnnyGreen1975]

College basketball briefly tried 4 quarters in 1951 but switched back to 2 halves in 1954. Here's a good article that explains why. Some of the reasons: free throws, bonus rule, timeouts, better flow.

Why Men's College Basketball Games Have Two Halves, Not Four Quarters​

Women's college basketball switched to four 10-minute quarters in 2015 to improve game flow, strategy, and alignment with international rules.

Key Reasons for the Change:​

1. Better Game Flow & Fewer Fouls
   • Under the old two-halves system, teams reached the bonus (free throws after 7 fouls) early, slowing the game down.
   • With four quarters, the team fouls reset after each quarter, reducing excessive free throws and improving pacing.
2. Alignment with FIBA & WNBA Rules
   • International (FIBA) and WNBA both use a four-quarter format.
   • The change helps prepare college players for professional/international basketball.
3. More Strategic Play & Coaching Adjustments
   • More quarter breaks mean coaches can adjust game plans more frequently.
   • It allows for more momentum shifts and strategic depth.
4. More Media & TV Opportunities
   • Additional quarter breaks provide more natural stoppages for commercials, enhancing the sport’s marketability.

Why Hasn’t Men’s NCAA Followed?

• Tradition & Resistance to Change – Men's college basketball has always been two halves.
• Different Style of Play – The men’s game relies more on pace and endurance, which some argue is better suited to longer halves.
• Fewer Complaints About Fouls – Unlike the women’s game, excessive free throws weren’t as big of an issue.

💡 Bottom Line: The 4-quarter format benefits the women's game by improving flow, reducing free throw disruptions, and aligning with international standards. Could men’s NCAA basketball be next? Possibly—but tradition is tough to break. 🏀

 

[Greatestalltime]

Yes vote here. I don’t know why, It just seems better.

 

[TeoJ]

I'm old school. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

You don't think it's broke?

 

[UKBB4Ever]

I'm old school. If it aint broke, don't fix it.

The college game is definitely broke. It needs fixing. This may not be a fix? But try something.

 

[TeoJ]

College basketball briefly tried 4 quarters in 1951 but switched back to 2 halves in 1954. Here's a good article that explains why. Some of the reasons: free throws, bonus rule, timeouts, better flow.

Why Men's College Basketball Games Have Two Halves, Not Four Quarters​

A rule that was 74 years ago.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Yes. I like how the fouls reset each quarter and there’s no 1-and-1s after a team reaches the penalty.

Men’s college basketball is the only basketball league from peewee through NBA that plays halves instead of quarters.

 

[runt#69]

I'd be fine with going to 4 quarters along with a host of other changes that would accompany it

Most specifically the 5 foul rule (would have to change if we went to 4 qtrs. right? ) and I assume you change each quarter to include 8 or 10 minute quarters? something? Although I think 3 hour games would then become the norm. UGH.

But the biggest change at the top of the list.......

Officiating.
A major revamp and overhaul of the entire process. Top to bottom.
It is long overdue and wayyyyy past time for it.