History of College basketball in Timeline

College basketball involves amateur student-athletes competing for university teams. Several governing bodies like the NCAA oversee the sport, divided into divisions based on scholarship levels. Team talent significantly influences game outcomes.

1900: Spread of Basketball to Colleges

By 1900, the game of basketball had spread to colleges across the country, gaining popularity and becoming a recognized sport at many institutions.

1904: Hiram College Wins Olympic Title

In 1904, Hiram College won the Olympic title at the Summer Olympics, where basketball was a demonstration sport and a collegiate championship tournament was held.

March 1908: University of Chicago Wins Championship Series

In March 1908, the University of Chicago swept both games against Penn in a two-game "championship series" to win the series, with games played in Philadelphia and Bartlett, Illinois.

1915: College Team Runner-Up in AAU Tournament

In 1915, a college team was runner-up in the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1916: Utah Wins AAU Tournament

In 1916, Utah won the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1917: College Team Runner-Up in AAU Tournament

In 1917, a college team was runner-up in the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1920: NYU Wins AAU Tournament

In 1920, NYU won the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1921: College Team Runner-Up in AAU Tournament

In 1921, a college team was runner-up in the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

March 1922: First National Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament

In March 1922, the first stand-alone post-season tournament exclusively for college teams, the 1922 National Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament, was held in Indianapolis, won by Wabash College.

1924: Butler Wins AAU Tournament

In 1924, Butler won the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1925: Washburn Wins AAU Tournament

In 1925, Washburn won the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1932: College Team Runner-Up in AAU Tournament

In 1932, a college team was runner-up in the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1934: College Team Runner-Up in AAU Tournament

In 1934, a college team was runner-up in the Amateur Athletic Union's (AAU) U.S. national championship tournament.

1937: Inaugural NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship

In 1937, the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities.

1937: NAIA Begins National Championship

In 1937, the NAIA established a regularly occurring national collegiate championship, though it was later surpassed in prestige by the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

1937: Creation of the NAIB

In 1937, the NAIB was created for smaller colleges after the NIT program was created only for larger colleges and universities.

1938: Founding of the NIT

In 1938, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) was founded and from its founding in 1938 to 2022, the semifinals and finals were always played at Madison Square Garden (MSG) in New York City.

1938: Inaugural NIT Tournament

In the spring of 1938, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) brought six teams to New York's Madison Square Garden, with Temple defeating Colorado in the first NIT tournament championship game, 60–36.

1939: Implementation of the NCAA Tournament

In 1939, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) implemented its own national tournament, marking the beginning of a competition that would eventually surpass the NIT in prestige.

1944: NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Cancelled

In 1944, the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship was not held.

1949: CCNY Beavers Dominate

In 1949, the CCNY Beavers had a double win season, where the NIT comprised 12 and the NCAA 8 teams.

1950: NCAA Rules Against Dual Tournament Participation

In 1950, following a double win by the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team, the NCAA ruled that no team could compete in both the NIT and NCAA tournaments, favoring participation in the NCAA tournament.

1951: 1951 Scandals Assist NCAA Tournament Growth

The 1951 scandals based in New York City assisted the NCAA tournament to become more prestigious.

1960: NCAA Tournament Overtakes NIT

By 1960, the NCAA tournament had surpassed the NIT in prestige, becoming the premier national collegiate basketball championship.

1961: Maccabiah Games Declared a Regional Sports Event

In 1961 the Maccabiah Games were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by the International Olympic Committee.

1966: Texas Western Defeats Kentucky

In 1966, Don Haskins's Texas Western College team with five black starters defeated the all-white University of Kentucky team to win the NCAA national basketball championship.

1969: Jack Langer plays for Team United States at the Maccabiah Games

In 1969, Yale University's Jack Langer, with the approval of Yale's President and the endorsement of all Ivy League presidents, played for Team United States at the Maccabiah Games in Israel, despite the NCAA's disapproval, with Yale stating it was a matter of religious freedom.

1969: NCAA Restricts Maccabiah Games Participation

In 1969, the NCAA Council did not permit participation by American college basketball players in the Maccabiah Games for the first time.

1969: Spencer Haywood plays for ABA's Denver Rockets

In the 1969–70 season, Spencer Haywood played for the ABA's Denver Rockets after a season of junior college, a season at the University of Detroit, and an Olympic gold medal.

January 15, 1970: NCAA places Yale University on probation

On January 15, 1970, the NCAA Council placed Yale University on two-year "full athletic probation" in all sports, restricting Yale teams and athletes from competing in NCAA tournaments, championships, and receiving money for televised events due to the Jack Langer situation.

February 1970: Representative Giaimo speaks on Langer Case

In February 1970, Representative Robert N. Giaimo (D-Connecticut) commented on the "Langer Case" in the U.S. Congress, addressing the NCAA's actions against Yale University.

1970: Spencer Haywood signs with Seattle SuperSonics

In 1970, Spencer Haywood signed with the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics before his college class graduation, defying NBA rules.

1971: U.S. Supreme Court Rules on NBA antitrust exemption

In 1971, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the NBA does not have the same antitrust exemption as Major League Baseball, following a legal battle involving Spencer Haywood's early entry into the NBA.

1973: Introduction of Division III

Since the introduction of Division III in 1973, it has consistently had the lowest share of Black coaches.

1974: Moses Malone Joins Utah Stars

In 1974, Moses Malone joined the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association straight out of high school.

1975: NCAA Tournament Expansion to 32 Teams

In 1975, the NCAA tournament expanded its field of teams from 25 to 32, further increasing interest and participation.

1976: Elimination of Hardship Requirement for NBA Draft

In 1976, the hardship requirement was eliminated, allowing collegiate players to enter the NBA draft early.

1976: ABA-NBA Merger

The American Basketball Association (ABA) became part of the NBA after the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.

1980: NCAA Tournament Expansion to 48 Teams

In 1980, the NCAA tournament expanded its field of teams from 32 to 48, continuing its growth and broadening its appeal.

1981: Introduction of Possession Arrow in NCAA

Since 1981, a possession arrow on the scorer's table has dictated which team should possess the ball in NCAA basketball after the opening tip, replacing jump balls.

1985: NCAA Tournament Expansion to 64 Teams

In 1985, the NCAA tournament expanded its field of teams from 48 to 64, consolidating its position as the dominant national collegiate basketball championship.

1985: Founding of the Preseason NIT

In 1985, the Preseason NIT (now known as the NIT Season Tip-Off) was founded, with its final rounds played at Madison Square Garden.

1992: NAIA Operated Separate Basketball Divisions in 1992

From 1992, the NAIA operated separate Division I and Division II men's and women's basketball championships.

1992: NAIA Division II Championship sponsored

From 1992, the NAIA sponsored a Division II championship, similar to the NCAA Division I and II.

1994: NAIA National Tournament moves to Tulsa

From 1994 the NAIA National Tournament was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

1995: Racial Differences in Revenue

In 1995, Brown and Jewell analyzed college basketball data to allow for direct comparisons of the racial differences in the marginal revenues generated by players.

1999: NAIA National Tournament held at Municipal then Kemper Arena in Kansas City

In 1999 the NAIA National Tournament was held at Municipal then Kemper Arena in Kansas City.

2001: NAIA National Tournament held in Tulsa

In 2001 the NAIA National Tournament was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

2002: NAIA National Tournament moves to Kansas City

Since 2002, the NAIA National Tournament has been played in Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.

2005: NBA Dress Code Introduced

In 2005, the NBA introduced a new dress code requiring players to wear business casual attire whenever engaged in team or league business.

2005: NCAA Purchases NIT Tournaments

In 2005, the NCAA purchased both the postseason NIT and the NIT Season Tip-Off tournaments from the Metropolitan Intercollegiate Basketball Association (MIBA), which then disbanded.

2006: Introduction of the One-and-Done Rule

In 2006, the NBA introduced the "one-and-done" rule, increasing the draft age to 19, preventing players from going straight from high school to the NBA and generally requiring them to play at least one year of college basketball; Tyrus Thomas was the first player drafted under this new rule.

2006: NBA Specifies Age and Graduation Requirements

In 2006, the labor agreement between players and owners specified that players must turn 19 years of age during the calendar year of the draft and be at least one year removed from their high school graduation to be eligible for the NBA draft.

May 2007: NCAA Rules Committee Votes to Extend Three-Point Line

In May 2007, the NCAA Rules Committee voted to extend the three-point line a foot more to 20 feet 9 inches.

2008: NCAA Three-Point Line Extension

Beginning the 2008–09 season for men, the NCAA three-point line was extended to 20 feet 9 inches.

2011: NCAA Tournament Expansion to 68 Teams

In 2011, the NCAA tournament expanded its field of teams to 68, further increasing interest as it comprised more of the strongest teams.

2011: NCAA Tournament Format Changes

In 2011, the NCAA tournament field expanded to 68 teams, with the last 8 teams playing for four spots, making the field into 64, which is called the first round.

2011: NCAA Women's Three-Point Line Extension

In the 2011–12 season, the NCAA women's three-point line extended to 20 feet 9 inches.

2013: 10-Second Rule Added to Women's College Game

The 10-second rule was added to the women's college game in the 2013–14 season.

2015: Division III Black Coaches Statistics

As of 2015, less than 10% of the coaches in Division III were black, compared to around 20% in Division II and 25% in Division I, highlighting Division III's consistently low share of Black coaches since its introduction in 1973.

2015: NCAA Timeout Rule Change

In 2015, a new rule was implemented in NCAA men's basketball banning coaches from calling timeouts from the bench while the ball is live at any time during the game.

2015: NCAA Men's Basketball Shot Clock Change

Prior to the 2015–16 season, NCAA men's basketball used a 35-second shot clock.

2015: NCAA Women's Basketball Penalty Rule Change

Since the 2015–16 season, the fifth team foul in a quarter in NCAA women's basketball places the team in penalty, mirroring NBA and WNBA rules.

2016: NCAA Tournament Round Number Changes

In 2016, the NCAA tournament round numbers changed; the first four games containing the last 8 teams are now referred to as the first four.

2017: Heartland Conference Members Announce Departure

In 2017, eight of the nine members of the Heartland Conference announced their departure to the Lone Star Conference effective in 2019.

2017: NBA Uniform Rule Change

In 2017, the NBA changed its uniform rules to only require that road teams wear colors that contrast sufficiently with the home team's choice, allowing for "color on color" games in the regular season.

2018: Heartland Conference Disbands

In 2018, the Heartland Conference saw eight of its nine members announce a mass exodus to the Lone Star Conference effective in 2019.

2018: NCAA Timeout Rule Continues

In 2018, the rule banning NCAA men's coaches from calling timeouts from the bench while the ball is live remained in effect.

2019: Disbanding of the Heartland Conference

At the end of the 2018-19 school year, the Heartland Conference disbanded, with eight of its nine members announcing a mass exodus to the Lone Star Conference effective in 2019.

2019: NCAA Adopts FIBA Three-Point Arc

Effective in 2019–20, the NCAA adopted the current FIBA three-point arc of 6.75 m at the top of the circle and 6.6 m at the corners and baseline for Division I men's play.

2019: NCAA Timeout Rule Modified

In 2019, the NCAA modified the timeout rule, allowing coaches to call timeouts from the bench during the last 2 minutes of any period (half or overtime).

2019: Last Season with Basketball Divisions in NAIA

The 2019-20 season was the last season in which the NAIA operated separate Division I and Division II men's and women's basketball championships.

2019: NAIA Women's Basketball Championship split into Divisions I and II

Through the 2019-20 season, the NAIA Women's Basketball Championship was split into Divisions I and II.

2020: American Collegiate Athletic Association Merged into Capital Athletic Conference in 2020

In 2020, the American Collegiate Athletic Association merged into the Capital Athletic Conference, with the merged entity renaming itself the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference.

2020: NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Cancelled

In 2020, the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship was not held.

2020: NAIA Abolishes Basketball Divisions in 2020

In 2020, the NAIA abolished separate Division I and Division II men's and women's basketball championships after the 2019-20 season, establishing single men's and women's championships.

2020: NAIA Division II Championship ends

In 2020, the NAIA sponsored a Division II championship ended.

2020: Cancellation of NCAA Tournament due to COVID-19

In 2020, the NCAA tournament was canceled for the first time in its history due to fears of the COVID-19 pandemic, prioritizing the health and safety of players and spectators.

2020: NCAA Timeout Rule in Effect

In 2020, the modified timeout rule was in effect, allowing NCAA coaches to call timeouts from the bench only during the last 2 minutes of any period (half or overtime).

2020: Divisions II and III Follow FIBA Three-Point Arc

In 2020–21, NCAA Divisions II and III followed Division I men's play in adopting the FIBA three-point arc.

2021: NCAA Men's Game Halves Length

As of the 2021–22 season, NCAA men's games are divided into two halves, each 20 minutes long; NBA games are played in four quarters of 12 minutes each; and WNBA and NCAA women's games are played in 10-minute quarters.

2021: NAIA Adopts Single-Division Format for Basketball

From 2020 to 2021, the NAIA adopted a single-division format for basketball, with the men's and women's tournaments featuring 64 teams each.

2021: Baylor Wins Men's NCAA Championship and Stanford Wins Women's NCAA Championship

In 2021, Baylor won the Men's NCAA Championship, and Stanford won the Women's NCAA Championship, defeating Arizona in a close game.

2021: NCAA Considers Granting Waivers

In 2021, The NCAA did consider granting waivers to the student athletes who participated in winter sports (including basketball) so that they could regain eligibility for the 2021 season.

2022: Kansas and South Carolina Win NCAA Championships

In 2022, Kansas won the Men's NCAA tournament, defeating North Carolina, and South Carolina won the Women's NCAA championship, defeating UConn.

2022: NIT Semifinals and Finals Moved From Madison Square Garden

In 2022, the semifinals and finals of the NIT were last played at Madison Square Garden, as all rounds of the tournament began to be played at various sites across the country starting in 2023.

2022: Merger of Colonial States Athletic Conference and United East Conference after 2022-23 season

The Colonial States Athletic Conference and United East Conference merged after the 2022–23 season under the United East banner.

2023: Division II Basketball Conferences in 2023-24

As of the 2023-24 college basketball season, there are 23 Division II basketball conferences.

2023: LSU and UConn Win NCAA Championships

In 2023, LSU's women and UConn's men were the national champions, defeating Iowa and San Diego State, respectively, in the championship games.

2023: Changes to D-III Conferences in 2023

In 2023, the New England Collegiate Conference disbanded, and the Colonial States Athletic Conference and United East Conference merged after the 2022-23 season under the United East banner.

2023: NIT Tournament Format Changes

Since 2023, all rounds of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) are played at various sites across the country, selected annually by the NCAA.

July 1, 2024: Big Ten Conference Expansion

On July 1, 2024, the Big Ten admitted four new members, all of which are located in the Pacific Time Zone, marking a continued trend of expansion beyond its original Midwestern base.

August 2024: ACC Admittance of New Members

In August 2024, the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) admitted two new members located in California and one new member located in Texas, further expanding its geographic footprint.

2024: West Coast Conference Membership

As of 2024, all full members of the West Coast Conference are Christian colleges and universities located in the Pacific Time Zone.

2024: Independent Division II Schools for 2024-25

As of 2024, there are four independent Division II schools without conference affiliations for the 2024–25 season: Salem, UPR-Rio Piedras, UPR-Mayaguez, and UPR-Bayamon.

2024: Chicago State joins Northeast Conference in 2024-25 season

Chicago State joined the Northeast Conference for the 2024–25 season, marking the end of its status as a Division I independent school.

2024: Division I Men's Basketball Teams in 2024-25

In 2024, a total of 364 schools, including those transitioning from a lower NCAA division, will play men's basketball in 31 Division I basketball conferences.