How to Understand College Basketball

If NBA or WNBA basketball is your norm, you'll need to know the differences between the college and professional levels before watching a college tournament.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Understand that despite stardom and worship, college players are unpaid students rather than professionals earning hundreds of thousands of dollars each season.

2. Know that there are two 20-minute halves rather than four 12-minute quarters.

3. Notice that the three-point line is painted about 4 feet closer to the hoop than in the pros.

4. Remember that the shot clock runs 35 seconds in college rather than 24.

5. Weep for the college players, who are allowed only five rather than six personal fouls in a game.

6. Understand the foul system in college ball: With seven to nine team fouls, players shoot one-and-one from the line. With 10 or more team fouls, players shoot for two.

7. Know that in the NBA, teams cannot run a zone defense, which does not allow players to be double or triple teamed. In college, teams are better able to control star players with the zone.