Hey, question here about college basketball seasons. Does each of them run on the same schedule every year, with the same number of matches? What kind of commitment would I be looking at? As a high school junior aspiring to play in college, this would help me plan my next few years. Thank you!
The college basketball season typically follows a consistent annual schedule. The regular season usually begins in early November and continues through early March. After the conclusion of the regular season, teams compete in conference tournaments, and then potentially in NCAA Division I tournaments (commonly referred to as March Madness), which can extend into early April.
However, it's important to note that the number of games can differ slightly from season to season and from team to team. NCAA rules allow teams to play up to 27 regular-season games, or more if they participate in specific multi-game tournaments. On average, most teams play between 30 and 35 games in a season, including their conference tournaments.
Should you be accepted onto a team, it's not just the games you need to consider, but also the commitment to practice, fitness training, travel, strategy sessions, and other team events. College athletes often find themselves dedicating as much as 40 hours a week to their sport during peak times in the season, which is comparable to a full-time job.
As an aspiring college player, you can use this information to help guide your expectations and planning. Balancing academic commitments with athletics at the college level takes time management and dedication. It's often recommended that student-athletes develop a study schedule that meshes with their practice and game commitments, to ensure academic success alongside athletic performance. Hope this helps!
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