For those who have spent time watching basketball, it's pretty obvious the game involves a basketball, a court, and some talented game players. Professional basketball teams draw many of their players from the college ranks, and when you first look, college and pro ball appear pretty much the same. If you take a closer look, however, you'll start to notice that there are some pretty important differences in how the game is played at each level. Yes, the NBA has quarters and the NCAA halves, the 3-point shooting distance is different, and there are subtle differences in fouling rules; there are further differences still! Getting a handle on these differences can help deepen your appreciation for the game.
Possessions are handled slightly differently between the NBA and the NCAA. Any dispute over which team gets possession of the ball is resolved with a jump ball. In college ball, however, the only time a jump ball occurs is at the opening tip. The possession just goes back and forth, with a 'possession arrow' keeping track of the progress.
Defense is different from pro and college ball. Those familiar with the NBA rulebook can confirm defense rules are somewhat complicated. 'Zone defense' strategy is such that players guard a section of the floor instead of guarding individual players. This is not against the rules in NBA play, but the extent to which it can be used is restricted. The 'Defensive Three Seconds' rule forbids a defending player to stay in the lane in excess of three seconds – that is, unless the player is guarding a particular offensive player. The rationale behind this rule is so that teams don't just have their most imposing player camp out in one spot and bat at whatever is within his reach. Zone play is certainly employed in NBA play, but to a limited degree. Man-to-man play is how it's done in pro ball.
At the college level, however, this is not the case. There are no rules governing zone defense, which results in a greater array of defense alignments. In fact, teams can build a reputation for being a sort of defense specialist, where a unique defensive strategy becomes their team trademark. The result is pretty exciting tournament play, where different teams employ their individual strategies.
NBA and NCAA differences are important, albeit fairly subtle. Knowing the differences between the rules makes for a much more satisfying viewing experience on the part of the fan.
Tags: nba basketball, ncaa basketball, sports