Kristian Ferrell
Division 1 basketball, operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is the highest level of college basketball in the United States. It comprises over 350 colleges and universities, all of which field varsity men's and women's basketball teams, except for two all-male military colleges. Division 1 basketball is known for its intense competition, with student-athletes required to possess exceptional athletic skills, talent, and drive to secure a spot on a roster. The season typically starts in November, with the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, and concludes with the Division I Men's Basketball Championship in April.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of schools in Division I basketball conferences | 352 full members and 9 in transition |
| Number of Division I basketball conferences | 31 |
| Schools that do not sponsor women's basketball | The Citadel and VMI |
| States without a Division I basketball program | Alaska |
| Number of Division I colleges | More than 350 |
| Date of Championship game in 2025 | April 5 and 7 |
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What You'll Learn
Division I basketball colleges
In order to compete at a Division I basketball college, student-athletes must possess a range of skills and attributes, including talent, physical measurables, drive, and academics. They should also be prepared to work hard on and off the court to secure a roster spot. When considering which college to attend, it is important for student-athletes to research various factors, including athletic and academic caliber, school size, location, cost, and personal preferences.
The Division I basketball season typically starts in April, with the Championship games taking place on April 5 and 7 in 2025. The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is another notable tournament for Division I men's basketball, predating the NCAA tournament by one year.
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Division I basketball rankings
Division I, the highest level of basketball in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is made up of 364 schools, including those transitioning from lower NCAA divisions. These schools are organised into 31 conferences, with each conference getting an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Teams are not required to join conferences and can play as independents, but this can make finding opponents difficult, especially later in the season when most games are between conference opponents. As of 2024, there are no independent teams in Division I.
The NCAA tournament is the most prestigious showcase for college basketball, with the Division I men's basketball tournament taking place in March, known as March Madness. The 2025 tournament will take place on April 5 and 7 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) is another annual men's college basketball tournament, predating the NCAA tournament by a year. Once the most prestigious post-season tournament, it was superseded in the mid-1950s by the NCAA tournament. There is also a second, more recent "NIT" tournament, known as the NIT Season Tip-Off, which takes place in November.
Division I basketball has seen some changes over the years, with the adoption of a new FIBA three-point arc in 2019-20 for Division I men's play, and the use of a 35-second shot clock prior to the 2015-16 season for men's basketball, while women's basketball was played with 20-minute halves.
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Division I basketball conferences
Division I basketball is governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In the 2024–25 season, 364 schools will play men's basketball in 31 Division I basketball conferences. Teams are not required to join conferences and can play as independents. However, finding opponents can be difficult for independent teams, especially during the latter part of the season when most teams are playing conference opponents. Each conference also gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, whereas independent teams must be selected at-large to participate. As of 2024, there are no independent teams in NCAA Division I.
Conference affiliation is traditionally determined by the location of a school. However, since the 1990s, geographic proximity has become less important in determining membership in Division I conferences. For example, the Big Ten Conference originally consisted of institutions in the Midwest but has since expanded to include members in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. On July 1, 2024, the Big Ten admitted four new members located in the Pacific Time Zone.
Another factor that may lead schools to join the same conference is institutional compatibility. For instance, as of 2024, all full members of the West Coast Conference are Christian colleges and universities located in the Pacific Time Zone. The Ivy League, on the other hand, is made up of institutions with high academic standards that prefer to schedule their conference basketball games on Fridays and Saturdays to minimise disruption to the studies of their student-athletes.
The shifts in conference membership are primarily driven by schools seeking lucrative media rights deals and competitive playing partners for their sports programs. When a conference loses a member, it will often try to recruit a replacement from another conference, triggering a domino effect. Smaller conferences may struggle to remain competitive as a result of these shifts. To protect themselves, smaller Division I conferences may recruit Division II teams and help them transition to Division I.
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Division I men's basketball tournament
Division I men's basketball is the highest level of college basketball in the United States. It is operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and comprises over 350 colleges and universities, all of which field varsity men's basketball teams. The colleges and universities are organised into 31 Division I basketball conferences, with each conference consisting of between 8 and 20 teams.
The Division I men's basketball tournament is a highly anticipated annual event, with the 2025 tournament taking place in April. The tournament showcases the talent and athleticism of the nation's top student-athletes, who compete at the highest level of collegiate basketball. The road to the tournament is not an easy one, as the recruitment process for Division I basketball colleges is extremely competitive. Student-athletes must possess exceptional athletic skills, meet rigorous academic standards, and demonstrate a strong work ethic and dedication to the sport.
The Division I men's basketball tournament has a long and prestigious history. Before the NCAA tournament became the premier post-season event, the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) held that distinction. Founded in 1938, the NIT was considered the most prestigious college basketball tournament until the mid-1950s when it was superseded by the NCAA tournament. Today, the NIT is still a significant tournament, held annually in November, and is known as the NIT Season Tip-Off.
The structure of Division I basketball conferences has evolved over time. Initially, conference membership was largely determined by geographic proximity. However, since the 1980s, with the rise of televised college sports, the formation and expansion of conferences have become more dynamic. Today, factors such as institutional compatibility and scheduling preferences have led to the inclusion of members from diverse locations, as seen in the expansion of the Big Ten Conference beyond the Midwest to include states like New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.
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Division I basketball season
Division I basketball is the highest level of college basketball in the United States. It is operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and comprises over 350 colleges and universities, all of which have varsity basketball teams. The season usually starts in November, with the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, and ends in April with the Division I Men's Basketball Championship.
Division I basketball colleges are some of the most popular in the nation, with well-funded athletic programs and experienced coaches. Athletes who compete at this level have the talent, drive, and academics to be successful. They are rewarded with the opportunity to play at a high level, access to top-notch facilities, and even the possibility of a partial or fully-funded athletic scholarship. These players are among the best student-athletes in the country and enjoy national recognition and respect from dedicated fans.
The Division I basketball season is a long and grueling one, with teams playing a regular schedule of conference games throughout the winter months. Conferences are groups of schools that band together, often for reasons of institutional compatibility or geographic proximity. While conference membership is not required, it does provide a pathway to the NCAA tournament, which all conference champions are automatically entered into. Teams that are not members of a conference must be selected at-large to participate in the tournament.
The rules and regulations of Division I basketball are set by the NCAA. These include the height of the basket, the foul line's distance from the backboard, and the court dimensions. One notable difference between men's and women's basketball at this level is the distance of the three-point line from the backboard, which is greater in men's basketball. The NCAA has also recently adopted the FIBA three-point arc for Division I men's play.
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Frequently asked questions
The Division 1 basketball season typically starts in October and ends in April the following year.
There are over 350 colleges in Division 1 men's basketball, with 352 schools that are full members of 31 Division 1 basketball conferences.
The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke University are two examples of top Division 1 basketball schools with powerhouse basketball programs.
Student-athletes who compete at Division 1 basketball colleges have access to well-funded athletic facilities, experienced coaches, and the potential for national recognition. Additionally, they may be offered partial or fully-funded athletic scholarships.
The NIT is an annual men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), which includes Division 1 men's basketball. It is considered a prestigious post-season tournament, with the semifinals and finals historically being played at Madison Square Garden in New York City until 2022.
