Why does college basketball play halves

The NCAA recently announced plans to move the 3-point line back in college basketball. Most college coaches say they want to prepare their players for professional basketball and every player intends to do the same, whether NBA or overseas. So why does basketball still have two halves instead of four quarters in a game? More: 'His skill set is crazy': Jaelyn Withers may be Louisville's most underrated freshman.

If you look across basketball from high schools to the NBA, men's college basketball is the only one that still does two minute halves. Women's college basketball made the move about three years ago and it appears to be a success. The games go much faster and it has been a smooth transition. In college basketball went back to playing in halves while the NBA stayed with the quarter system. That created a break that still lasts to this day. The change from halves to quarters happened a long time ago.

So long ago that few people know why the split occurred. Some people believe colleges favor the two halves because it is how the first rules were put in place, while others think it was to separate themselves from other leagues.

One of the leading theories is that it makes the game much more competitive. Two long halves tend to create closer games than four separate quarters. Close games not only lead to more excitement, but they can also lead to upsets. Those drive viewership for big tournaments like March Madness. Two halves also create less stopping time, which gives the game a steady pace and keeps everything moving along. The more flow that exists, the better the games are to watch.

While none of these theories have been absolutely proven one way or another, they do help suggest why one league goes with two halves and one goes with four quarters. College basketball has many rules that separate it from the NBA. Ultimately, the format of the college game 2 20 minute halves vs 4 12 minute quarters and 30 second shot clock vs 24 second shot clock is to help keep the games closer. Yes, the players ultimately make the difference, but when you get to a high enough level almost anything can happen in a single game.

NCAA: Regulation games run for a total of 40 minutes, split into two minute halves. Overtime periods are 5 minutes long. NBA: Regulation games run for a total of 48 minutes, split into four minute quarters. Each overtime period is five minutes long. Both take about two hours from start to finish.

The original rules of basketball written by Dr. James Naismith in called for two halves of 15 minutes. So total time is 40 minutes.