NBA Vs NCAA College Basketball – Comparing New & Old Trends In Viewership
Basketball is undoubtably one of the biggest sports in the US and North America, easily rivalling other beloved sporting pastimes like Baseball, Football, and Hockey. More than the others though, Basketball has also become highly popular internationally, and in Europe it has even become one of the most followed sports.
With the world, and technology, rapidly changing though, so have certain trends in viewership. Now, with NCAA college basketball getting a lot more coverage than ever before, basketball fans are beginning to relinquish their long-standing loyalty to the NBA.
What Are The Main Differences?
Over the decades, the Nation Basketball Association, NBA, has rapidly grown to become one of the most recognisable sport leagues in the world today. It has also produced a host of house-hold-name sport celebrities, such as Shaquille O’Neil, Michael Jordan, and many others.
Up until recent years, the NBA has had a veritable monopoly on basketball, which has included coverage, merchandising, and major sponsorship from big-brand companies. However, these days online video-streaming technology is allowing other lesser-known leagues to increase their coverage tenfold. This has led to huge shifts in viewership, and investment, with a particular favourite becoming NCAA college basketball.
Though the basic rules and point system are generally the same, there are some notable differences in rules and organisation, such as:
- The number of teams involved. NCAA teams and players are far more numerous.
- The game duration. NBA games are 48 minutes, while NCAA games are 40 minutes long.
- The shot clock. In NBA, 24 seconds are allowed, with 35 seconds for NCAA.
- The number of games played per season and their frequency. NBA games are necessarily limited to short period, whereas NCAA games are played continuously throughout the season at multiple universities.
- Possession rules. In NBA, disputes in possession are usually resolved with a jump ball. In NCAA, though, possession is decided by the referee.
- Fouls. NBA allows 6 fouls before disqualification, while NCAA allows 5.
- NBA games are sectioned in quarters, while NCAA games are played in two halves.
- The general size of the stadium and courts, and number of referees involved, etc. NBA is usually bigger in all regards.
- Defence. Considering all of the above, NBA and NCAA teams generally utilise different defensive strategies.
Otherwise, the biggest differences are in viewership, and the money and prestige involved. However, as its popularity grows, college basketball is quickly growing in these areas too and some of the money up for grabs rivals the wins you’d find on a real money casino Android app.
The Pros & Cons
There are certain benefits, and drawbacks, that both NBA and NCAA college basketball hold for fans and spectators. NBA for instance, being the professional side of the sport, generally offers the cream of the crop in terms of talent, as well as providing the biggest and most spectacular games.
NCAA though, is far more frequent, with a far more diverse line-up of talent, and a change in rules that some may find refreshing. Though largely a matter of personal preference, in the end of the day, it’s the ratings that will eventually decide. For now, NBA is still the king, but for how long?
