NCAA sets start date for basketball season, offers model for spring football
The NCAA Division I Council voted Wednesday to move the start of men’s and women’s basketball season to Nov. 25 for the 2020-21 season.
Moving the start date back from Nov. 10 was intended to have games begin when at least three-quarters of Division I schools will have concluded their fall semesters or moved remaining instruction and exams online, creating a more controlled and less populated campus environment that may reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19.
No exhibitions or closed scrimmages may be held before Nov. 25, and the maximum number of regular-season games was reduced by four.
In men’s basketball, teams can schedule 24 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to three games; 25 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to two games; or 25 regular-season games if a team does not participate in a multiple-team event.
Boise State is scheduled to join Auburn, Belmont, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Saint Louis, Siena and Xavier in the Orlando Invitational on Nov. 26-29.
In women’s basketball, teams can schedule 23 regular-season games and participate in one multiple-team event that includes up to four games or schedule 25 regular-season games if a team does not compete in a multiple-team event.
Teams will be considered for the NCAA Tournament if they play 13 games, which is a 50% reduction of the current minimum, and all 13 games must be against Division I opponents. The men’s and women’s basketball oversight committees also recommended teams play at least four nonconference games.
Programs can begin preseason practice on Oct. 14 and will have 42 days to conduct a maximum of 30 practices. During this time, players can work out up to 20 hours per week and four hours per day, and they must have one day off per week.
Between Sept. 21 and Oct. 13, teams may hold strength and conditioning activities, team meetings and skill instruction for up to 12 hours a week, with an 8-hour limit on skill instruction. Players must have two days off per week.
The Division I Council also passed a mandate Wednesday that no Division I athletes will practice or compete on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year, including the upcoming presidential election on Nov. 3.
Giving players and coaches Election Day off was a large part of a recent voter registration initiative, held by Boise State men’s team and spearheaded by assistant coach Mike Burns.
Framework set for spring football
The NCAA Division I Council adopted a regular-season and preseason model Wednesday for schools planning to play a spring football season, but it left the ultimate decision as to when practice starts up to each conference. Schools can hold a spring-like practice session in the fall and play in the spring, or play in the fall and have a traditional spring practice. If a team holds spring-like practices in the fall but doesn’t play in the spring, it can’t have a spring practice session.
Teams can hold fall practices between Sept. 21 and Dec. 31. They must declare their season-opening date before beginning fall practice, putting pressure on the Mountain West to plot a course for 2020-21 soon.
Schools that hold a spring-like fall practice can’t have preseason practice or competition before Jan. 1.
The NCAA’s model allows for up to eight regular-season games during a span of 13 weeks in the spring semester, with the last game occurring no later than April 17.
