NCAA Confirms College Basketball Will Start November 25

It is confirmed that the 2020-21 college basketball will start on Nov. 25. Practices are expected to start around Oct. 14.

Dylan Wallace | Sep 16, 2020

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Good news continues to pour out in the college sports world this week.

First, the Big Ten announced it's bringing football back Oct. 23-24. Now, after weeks of speculation, it's confirmed the college basketball season will officially start on Nov. 25, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.

Sources: The 20-21 college basketball season will officially begin on November 25th. https://t.co/CFPd32fePB
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 16, 2020

Rothstein reported the decision was made on Wednesday following a meeting by the Division 1 Council.

The start of practice is scheduled to be six weeks before the season starting, which would be around Oct. 14.

Details of nonconference and conference schedules, or even how many games each team will play, are not yet released. But college basketball fans can rejoice knowing there will be a season.

Indiana most likely won't be playing its early nonconference games, but reports are the Maui Invitational will still try to go on, but in a different location, either Asheville, North Carolina, or Indianapolis.

As for the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, there have been talks about having those games in a bubble as well.

Indiana forward Trayce Jackson-Davis is very pleased with the announcement, tweeting a gif of Thanos from the Avengers movie, saying he's going to enjoy it very much.

https://t.co/2fs7KbdtzW pic.twitter.com/hx24X5lwka
— TJD (@TrayceJackson) September 16, 2020

Updates will continued to be provided as new information is released.

The last time odds were released for the season, Indiana basketball had a 40/1 shot to win the national championship.

As of now, Indiana basketball is still on pause for voluntary workouts due to some positive COVID-19 tests in the program.

The NCAA released information regarding the season. Their full release can be seen below:

The Division I Council approved moving the first contest date in Division I men’s and women’s basketball to Nov. 25 for the 2020-21 season.

No exhibition games or closed scrimmages will be allowed before that date. Moving the start date back from Nov. 10 is intended to have contests begin when at least three-quarters of Division I schools will have concluded their fall terms or moved remaining instruction and exams online, creating a more controlled and less populated campus environment that may reduce the risk of COVID-19 that can occur between student-athletes and the broader student body population, the Division I Men’s and Women’s Oversight Committees said.

The maximum number of contests was reduced by four, given that the season will start 15 days later than originally scheduled. In men’s basketball, teams can schedule 24 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to three games; 25 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to two games; or 25 regular-season games if a team does not participate in a multiple-team event.

In women’s basketball, teams can schedule 23 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to four games or schedule 25 regular-season games if a team does not compete in a multiple-team event.

Teams will meet sport sponsorship requirements and be considered for NCAA championship selection if they play 13 games, which represents a 50 percent reduction of the current minimum. For NCAA championship consideration, all 13 games must be against another Division I opponent. The Division I Men’s Basketball and Division I Women’s Basketball committees also recommended teams play a minimum of four nonconference games.

“The new season start date near the Thanksgiving holiday provides the optimal opportunity to successfully launch the basketball season,” said NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt. “It is a grand compromise of sorts and a unified approach that focuses on the health and safety of student-athletes competing towards the 2021 Division I basketball championships.”

Programs can begin preseason practice on Oct. 14 and will have 42 days to conduct a maximum of 30 practices. During this time, players can work out up to 20 hours per week, four hours per day, and must have one day off per week. This model is generally consistent with the normal preseason practice period but permits additional flexibility for all teams to begin full practice on Oct. 14, regardless of when their first scheduled game occurs.

Council members also approved a transition practice period between current out-of-season activities and preseason practice. This transition period is designed to provide additional time for players to prepare for the upcoming season based on the mental and physical challenges basketball players are facing as a result of the pandemic. The transition period will occur Sept. 21-Oct. 13, and teams may participate in strength and conditioning activities, sport-related meetings and skill instruction for up to 12 hours a week, with an eight-hour limit on skill instruction. Players must have two days off per week during the transition period.

While the waiver process exists for schools to request to play games prior to the Nov. 25 start date, the Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee and Division I Women’s Basketball Oversight Committee have indicated they are unlikely to support such waivers.

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