Should mens college basketball go to 4 quarters ?

[EliteBlue]

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.

4Q= absolutely. The foul resets will help prevent freethrow contest and help flow of the game.

I’m torn on the 6 fouls. Part of me likes the “keep the best players on the floor” aspect. But the other side of me likes the strategic aspect of trying to get another teams key player 2 first half fouls to take them out…or the coach having to make a critical decision of playing the guy w 2 fouls etc

 

[Bkocats]

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

But it is broke

 

[ftp000]

It really matters very little to me. That being said, it effects players and play. They play in quarters at pretty much every level but college. Makes no sense that CBB is different. It's the same sport, should be standardized.

 

[sk73]

I prefer the 4 quarters but, only if they cancel out at least 2 other TV timeouts. If not, then we have only added two additional long timeouts.

 

[gharding07]

No. Just like the ncaa tournament field. Just leave it alone.

 

[Cat06]

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.

Camera reviews are out of control. One day there wont be anyone making calls on the floor, just to get the ref gambling under control.

It will all be A.I. driven.

 

[Creed Bratton]

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 agree totally with the fouls. Nobody pays big bucks for tickets to see refs control the outcome by calling ticky tack fouls on the superstar players relegating them to the bench. I would even be in favor of 6 fouls and any if a coach chooses to leave a player in the game after their 6th the opposing team gets 2 shots and the ball for every foul that player commits above 6. It would allow them to still play but with a greater penalty above 6.

 

[K_TIME]

I'd be fine with quarters but the bigger issue is the flow of the game.

1. Monitor reviews, as mentioned, need to fully end. Give coach a challenge and get on with it.
2. Even in halves....stop at the under 16, under 8, etc.... This is our TV commercial revenue desires.

In the end, whatever gets us to a game that flows without so many artificial breaks (coaches do have timeouts to use of their own desire) is the goal to me.

 

[Creed Bratton]

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.

Why would it be 2 extra breaks? They currently get a TV timeout roughly around the 16:00, 12:00, 8:00 and 4:00 minute mark. Just change it to getting a TV break at the 5:00 mark and end of each quarter and it's still 4 TV timeouts per "half".

 

[Creed Bratton]

I'd be fine with quarters but the bigger issue is the flow of the game.

1. Monitor reviews, as mentioned, need to fully end. Give coach a challenge and get on with it.
2. Even in halves....stop at the under 16, under 8, etc.... This is our TV commercial revenue desires.

In the end, whatever gets us to a game that flows without so many artificial breaks (coaches do have timeouts to use of their own desire) is the goal to me.

I agree about the monitor reviews. Every coach uses it as a free timeout to coach their teams. When it gets to the end of the game they all do the review motion to the ref and immediately yell for their team to gather up so they can start strategizing while the refs review. Buzz Williams is the worst of the bunch.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Why would it be 2 extra breaks? They currently get a TV timeout roughly around the 16:00, 12:00, 8:00 and 4:00 minute mark. Just change it to getting a TV break at the 5:00 mark and end of each quarter and it's still 4 TV timeouts per "half".

Oh thats a good point, I'm not sure what the TV timeouts would be in this case.

It looks like the NBA has two mandatory timesouts each period, so that's 8. Plus the quarter and halftime, that makes 11 breaks. And yeah, it's the same for college.. 5 breaks each half with the halftime coming in at 11.

 

[jeffky]

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

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. 🏀

Thanks for this reply awesome information .

 

[jr40831]

Do like hockey and play 3 thirds....( I like being the strange one)

 

[MethodUK]

100% it does. The only basketball system left that does 2 halves.. The main reason is foul count... No way anyone should be shooting free throws with 9 min left in any half... Each quarter resets and gives new life.

 

[jeffky]

Do like hockey and play 3 thirds....( I like being the strange one)

If it would make it better I am all for it I think the lane needs to be widen too . I like 6 fouls too .

 

[jeffky]

100% it does. The only basketball system left that does 2 halves.. The main reason is foul count... No way anyone should be shooting free throws with 9 min left in any half... Each quarter resets and gives new life.

This in a nutshell nice post

 

[ORCAT]

I'd like the NCAA give it a try for a full season and gather data as to how it effected the game positively as well as negatively. Include fan response and then determine whether to continue with it or not. I know they experimented with it in 1951 already but this is a different era. I say at least give it a try.

 

[buster3.0]

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.

Didn't the SEC try this for a little while in the early 90s? I seem to recall they decided to revert back to 5 fouls because of the physically brutal play 6 fouls encouraged, especially targeted towards Shaq.

 

[Farsight]

Whats the history of why College Basketball has 2 halves and then the NBA has 4 quarters?

 

[Blue wood]

Hell no

 

[TopCatCal]

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.

How would going to 4 quarters make the college game better?

 

[TheDude73]

I don't care either way.

What I want is ref accountability.

 

[jr40831]

Four 12 minute quarters and a foul limit of 6.

 

[UKWildcats1987]

It seems logically since every other level of bball does it.

People ramble about tradition but there used to not be a 3 point shot. People on here worship the 3 point shot so it worked out fine. Same with this (which really makes a small impact on games compared to the implementation of the 3 pointer).

 

[ralphdaltonfan]

WTF is so difficult about wiping out team fouls at the Halfway point of a 20 min Half? Understand if someone wants to go to Quarters (I could care less) but this argument like we're asking for an impossible task to simply wipe away team fouls at the 10:00 mark of each Half is really strange.

My own sick and twisted hang up is that I don't want any changes because Jay Bilas pompous ass wants them and speaks down to everyone like he's the ruler of all things Basketball.

 

[Wildcats1st]

It’s pretty much quarters now. Like 8-10 depending on reviews.

 

[megablue]

Yes, with six (6) fouls, too.