Amanda Knapp
March Madness is a single-elimination tournament in the US that determines the men's and women's college basketball national champions of Division I in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The tournament consists of 68 teams and lasts about three weeks, starting with the First Four and ending with the title game. While the women's college basketball games span four quarters, the men's games are separated into two halves. If there is a tie at the end of regulation, the teams play a five-minute overtime period with a one-minute break in between. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of periods in men's basketball games | 2 halves |
| Number of periods in women's basketball games | 4 quarters |
| Length of each half in men's games | 20 minutes |
| Length of each quarter in women's games | 10 minutes |
| Length of halftime intermission | 15 minutes |
| Length of intermission between quarters | 75 seconds or length of electronic-media timeout |
| Length of each overtime period | 5 minutes |
| Number of overtime periods | No limit |
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What You'll Learn
Overtime rules: 5-minute periods until a winner is determined
Overtime in basketball March Madness is an intense period that occurs when the game is tied at the end of regulation, with the two competitors playing additional periods to determine a winner. The overtime rules in March Madness follow the same structure as the regular season, with a few key differences.
Firstly, each overtime period in March Madness lasts for 5 minutes, and there is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played. The game continues with additional 5-minute periods until one team has a higher score at the end of a period, thus breaking the tie. There have been instances where March Madness games have required four overtimes, marking the longest games in NCAA Tournament history.
Secondly, there is a one-minute intermission between each overtime period. Teams receive a 30-second timeout in each overtime, in addition to any unused timeouts from regulation. Players who have fouled out during regulation cannot return during overtime. Fouls accumulated during regulation carry over to overtime, and once a team reaches 10 fouls, their opponent will shoot two free throws for any additional fouls.
The overtime rules for March Madness add an exciting element to the tournament, as the potential for multiple overtime periods increases the drama and intensity of the competition. These rules ensure that a winner is determined, even if it takes several extra periods to break the tie.
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Men's games: Two 20-minute halves
Men's college basketball games are divided into two halves of 20 minutes each, with a halftime intermission of 15 minutes. This format is unique to men's college basketball, as all other major basketball leagues, including the NBA, WNBA, and FIBA, have adopted a four-quarter system.
The history of the two-halves format in men's college basketball dates back to the early days of the sport. Basketball was created in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, who outlined in his original rule book that the game should be played in two 15-minute halves with a rest period in between. This format was soon adjusted to feature two 20-minute halves to allow for longer stretches of play and a more competitive game.
In 1951, the NCAA and NBA agreed to change the format to four 10-minute quarters. However, in 1954, the NCAA decided to revert to the two-halves format while the NBA continued with the four-quarter system. This decision was made by men's college basketball coaches from across the country, who felt that the two-halves format provided a unique rhythm and faster pace that better suited the collegiate game.
The two-halves format in men's college basketball has been a topic of debate, with some arguing for a switch to the four-quarter system. Critics of the current format point to the number of media timeouts, as there are four timeouts in each half, compared to only three in a four-quarter game. Additionally, the two-halves format can result in more fouls and free-throw stoppages, disrupting the flow of the game. However, supporters of the two-halves format argue that it allows for a steadier pace and more scoring opportunities, leading to closer games.
In the context of March Madness, the overtime rules for men's college basketball are worth noting. If a game is tied at the end of regulation, a five-minute overtime period is played to determine a winner. If the score remains tied after the first overtime, additional five-minute overtime periods are played until one team pulls ahead. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played.
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Women's games: Four 10-minute quarters
Women's college basketball games in the NCAA March Madness tournament are divided into four 10-minute quarters, with a 15-minute halftime intermission. There is a 75-second break between the first and second quarters and the third and fourth quarters, and each overtime period is five minutes long, with a one-minute break before each.
This format was implemented in the 2015-16 season, as the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel approved the switch from halves to quarters for women's games. The change was proposed by the NCAA Women's Basketball Rules Committee, which believed that having four quarters would improve the flow of the game.
As a result of this change, women's teams now shoot two free throws on the fifth team foul in every quarter, as opposed to shooting two free throws on the 10th team foul in each half when the game was played in halves. Additionally, a one-and-one bonus was granted after the seventh team foul when the game was played in halves.
The women's NCAA March Madness tournament, featuring 68 teams, is a single-elimination tournament held annually in the United States to determine the national championship. The tournament has grown in popularity over the years, with the 2024 women's championship receiving higher viewership than the men's championship for the first time.
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History of March Madness
The history of March Madness dates back to the first NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 1939. The inaugural tournament featured just eight teams, with the University of Oregon defeating The Ohio State University 46-33 on March 27, 1939, to become the first-ever NCAA men's basketball champion. The term "March Madness" was first used in reference to basketball by an Illinois high school official, Henry V. Porter, in 1939. However, it did not become associated with the NCAA tournament until 1982 when Brent Musberger used it during the tournament coverage.
In the following decades, the tournament field gradually expanded. In 1951, the field doubled to 16 teams, and in 1975, it doubled again to 32 teams. The modern format of a 64-team tournament began in 1985. During the early years of the tournament, it was often overshadowed by the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), which was considered more prestigious and usually featured the best teams. However, the NCAA tournament gradually gained prominence, attracting top teams and more television revenue.
By the late 1970s, the tournament had become commonly known as "March Madness," and its popularity continued to grow. In 2001, a 65th team and a "play-in game" were added, and in 2011, the field expanded further to 68 teams, with the introduction of three additional opening-round games. The expansion enhanced the drama and excitement of the tournament, with the "First Four" becoming the official name of the opening round.
March Madness has become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the United States, known for its upsets of favored teams and the intense competition. It has also attracted significant media coverage and a large television audience, with broadcasting rights attracting substantial sums from major networks. The tournament has a rich history, with several memorable moments, including notable upsets, record-breaking scoring performances, and outstanding individual achievements.
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Revenue and viewership
The revenue and viewership for March Madness vary each year. In 2023, ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC booked their highest ratings since 2018-19, with a 6% increase in viewers compared to the previous year. ESPN had the biggest numbers, averaging 955,000 viewers over 131 games. ABC's five-game selection grew by 41% to 938,000 viewers, and ESPN2 averaged just under 300,000 viewers, a 7% increase. Overall, the Disney networks delivered 1 million or more viewers.
The 2023 March Madness tournament also saw a 5% increase in the average unit cost for ad units, with CBS and WBD potentially earning up to $1.2 billion in overall ad sales revenue.
In 2024, the Men's March Madness tournament attracted an average TV viewership of nearly 10 million viewers in the US. The championship game between the Connecticut Huskies and the Purdue Boilermakers drew an average of 14.8 million viewers, with the Huskies winning 75-60.
March Madness games have the potential to go into overtime, which can increase viewership. Overtime periods last for 5 minutes, and there is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played. The longest games in NCAA Tournament history had four overtimes, with the winning team scoring one point more than the losing team.
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Frequently asked questions
Men's and women's games are structured differently. Women's college basketball games are divided into four 10-minute quarters, while men's games are divided into two 20-minute halves.
A standard game lasts 40 minutes of regulation time. However, if the game goes into overtime, there will be multiple periods of extra time until a winner is determined.
Overtime periods in March Madness last 5 minutes each. There is no limit to the number of overtime periods that can be played.
Overtime is not always guaranteed to occur during March Madness. In the 2024 edition of the tournament, only one game went into overtime.
The overtime periods end when a team has more points than their opponent at the end of the 5 minutes.
