Men’s college basketball uses two halves instead of four quarters, which is the structure in the NBA and many other leagues, due to historical reasons tied to the evolution of the game in the United States.
When basketball was first developed in the late 19th century, it followed a variety of rules that differed from region to region. The game was initially played in two halves, and this format continued to be used in most college basketball leagues, even as professional leagues like the NBA moved to quarters.
In the 1980s, there was some discussion about switching to quarters in NCAA men’s basketball, primarily to make the game align more closely with the NBA’s format, which could help with broadcasting and marketing. However, the tradition of two halves was maintained, and there are no current plans to change it.
The main difference between halves and quarters is the way fouls are counted. In a game with two halves, teams generally get more time to accumulate team fouls before the bonus situation (which results in free throws) is triggered, whereas in a game with quarters, the foul count resets every quarter. Some people feel that two halves offer a more continuous flow to the game, while others argue that quarters make the game more dynamic and easier to follow.
In short, the reason men’s college basketball uses halves is rooted in tradition, and it has remained unchanged despite other formats used in professional basketball.
