That's Mark Emmertt up above, the head of the NCAA. Some big changes could be in the pipeline. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee is meeting this week in Indianapolis, and while Kentucky basketball’s offseason currently centers on roster moves and title hopes, a quieter but potentially seismic shift is in the works: how the game itself is played.
After decades of being the lone basketball holdout still playing two 20-minute halves, men’s college basketball may finally join the rest of the world in adopting four quarters. For Kentucky fans—and fans of the sport in general—it’s about time.
It’s 2025. Why are we still playing halves?
Across high school, the NBA, international FIBA play, and even NCAA women’s basketball (how does that make sense?) four quarters is the norm. Men’s college basketball remains the lone exception. Why? Tradition, bureaucracy, and the NCAA’s love affair with incremental change.
But now, “enhancing the flow of the game” is reportedly priority No. 1 said Karl Hicks, committee chair with an interview with ncaa.org. The idea of moving to four 10-minute quarters has resurfaced, and it’s gaining support among coaches, players, and fans alike. Kentucky coach Mark Pope hasn't spoken publicly on the rule this week, but programs like Kentucky, with high-paced, national-TV-friendly games, would benefit from a cleaner, more modern format. Just last season Pope and Kentucky averaged 84 points a game, 4th nationally according to teamrankings.com.
From a fan perspective, quarters make everything better:
- Fewer long stoppages due to fouls (team fouls reset each quarter)
- Cleaner end-of-game strategy (with more opportunities for adjustments)
- Easier viewing experience for casual fans used to NBA/WNBA/FIBA formats
In a world where everyone else is running quarters, it’s baffling that men’s college basketball still resists. But that resistance may finally be softening.
The coaches challenge debate: Innovation or distraction?
Another potential rule change being floated is the introduction of a coaches challenge system, akin to what we see in the NBA or NFL. Or maybe even better the XFL?
And since the NFL is taking the ideas of the XFL. How about the replay/ review booth and ref interactions in real time so the game delays are explained out while they are happening. pic.twitter.com/MZcCeHL3ke
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) March 26, 2024
In theory, this adds fairness—coaches can challenge a missed call or a questionable out-of-bounds ruling. But in practice? Fans are already frustrated watching refs huddle around a monitor for what feels like an eternity. The last thing anyone wants is more stoppages in an already choppy game.
A far simpler and smarter alternative: let an off-court official monitor the game in real-time and buzz down to the court crew if something obviously wrong happens. The NFL has largely embraced this model, speeding up decisions while maintaining accuracy. Why not college hoops?
Kentucky fans, who’ve sat through their fair share of painful delays in tight games (thanks Doug Shows), have long called for a faster solution. Referees shouldn’t be the stars of the final two minutes.
What this means for the Wildcats and the SEC
If the NCAA moves to four quarters, it’s a win for teams like Kentucky—programs built on tempo, spacing, and rhythm. Longer stretches between team fouls mean more consistent flow and fewer free throw parades. For Kentucky’s high-octane, transfer-heavy rosters, that's ideal.
The same goes for challenges. But no one wants the final minute of a game to take 15 actual minutes to complete. If the NCAA insists on bringing challenges into the sport, it better find a way to make them seamless, not sluggish. Just like last year, according to USA Today, Vandy and Texas A&M played in what should have been a thriller which Vandy won 86-84. However, it was a snooze fest. Why? It took nearly 40 minutes to play 3:33 of game time. That is just absurd. And people say baseball is slow.
What rule change makes the most sense?
If you're a Kentucky fan, the answer is clear: switching to quarters. It’s long overdue. It modernizes the sport and aligns college basketball with the rest of the basketball universe. Coaches challenges? Maybe—but only if implemented smartly and efficiently.
What’s most encouraging is that for once, the NCAA appears open to serious, fan-first changes. Let’s just hope they can get out of their own way long enough to make them happen.
Bottom line:
Kentucky basketball thrives on energy, rhythm, and innovation. It's time the rules of the game caught up with the game itself.