Men’s college basketball uses halves instead of quarters primarily due to tradition and historical reasons. The format of two 20-minute halves has been in place since the sport’s early days, and many basketball organizations, including the NCAA, have continued to use this system because it is well-established.
Historically, basketball was first played with a variety of time structures depending on the league or level. The use of two halves rather than four quarters became the standard for many college basketball programs. This tradition has persisted even as other basketball formats, such as the NBA, adopted four quarters for their games.
In contrast, the NBA switched to a four-quarter format when it was established, which has since become the standard in professional basketball around the world. However, college basketball has retained the half format because it is ingrained in the game’s history and remains familiar to players, coaches, and fans alike.
While there have been discussions about switching to quarters in men’s college basketball, the two-halves format remains in place largely due to these long-standing traditions and the differences in how the game is structured compared to the professional level.
