NCAA approves Nov. 25 start date for college basketball

Get ready to mark your calendars, because college basketball is coming back. The NCAA’s Division I council has approved Wednesday, Nov. 25 as the official start date for the resumption of college hoops, according to several reports.

Basketball analyst Jeff Goodman began reporting the approval while the organization’s meeting was “still ongoing” at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday. John Rothstein tweeted the “decision is in” at 5:24, according to his sources. Pat Forde added his sources say the council approved the Nov. 25 date over the Nov. 21 option.

BREAKING: Division I Council leaning to approve Nov. 25 start date for college basketball, source told @Stadium. Meeting still ongoing, so it's not "100 percent done yet,” per source.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) September 16, 2020

Source: The official start date of the 20-21 college basketball season will be November 25h.

Decision is in.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) September 16, 2020

Sources: NCAA council favoring Nov. 25 start date, over Nov. 21. Meeting still ongoing.

— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) September 16, 2020

Let’s play ball.

This article will be updated if and when more information becomes available.

UPDATE, 6:10 p.m. – Jeff Goodman is also reporting the Council has voted to reduce the total number of games to 27, down four from a normal season. Teams will be able to spend 12 hours a week training (eight on the court) beginning on Sept. 21, while team practices can begin on Oct. 14.

The NCAA still has not released an official announcement.

UPDATE, 6:30 p.m. – The recruiting dead period is expected to be extended until Jan. 1, 2020, according to Goodman. That will also include complimentary tickets to games. Athletes will also be free from all athletic-related responsibilities (practices, games, meetings, etc.) on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1 every year, including the upcoming Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020.

UPDATE, 7:15 p.m. – Inside the NCAA published an official announcement, confirming no exhibition games can be played before Nov. 25. It also confirms the date applies to both men’s and women’s basketball.

DI Council approves Nov. 25 start date for men’s and women’s basketball: https://t.co/c1wZ7g8ITU pic.twitter.com/P10GIoFiLH

— Inside the NCAA (@InsidetheNCAA) September 16, 2020