Integrated Project

History of College Basketball

College Basketball is something most people follow religiously, whether it is March Madness or their favorite university. However, the Basketball that we know today started somewhere. In this article, we will explore, examine, and analyze the beginnings of College Basketball and how it became an integral part of sports fans’ lives. 

To understand basketball and its impact on the fans’ lives, we must look back to the 1800s.  In the 1800s, James Naismith taught physical education at the International Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) training school. It is now known as Springfield College, located in Springfield, Massachusetts.  James created a game for his students to play during class around December 1, 1891. December in Massachusetts is marked by frigid temperatures and snowfall.  James’ students met this game with much enthusiasm.  This enthusiasm began to spread through communication channels.  Within a decade, this game grew into what is known today as a major collegiate sport.  From its inception, the game evolved to the collegiate level within a decade (History of Basketball, 2025). This influence and enthusiasm continued, and it was seen in the game, which introduced its first professional league.  This time period was shortly after 1898.  The first professional basketball league brought even more influence and spurred the game’s steady growth for much of the 20th century. In 1936, the Olympic Games included Basketball.  What followed was a growth of the sport internationally following World War II. The influence of the Olympic acceptance of the sport and the international platform led to the birth of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. This evolution, expansive spread, and support cemented the importance of the sport in the United States. The birth of a game that could be played on playgrounds, schoolyards, and family driveways was experienced by children, youth, and adults in multiple countries.  Basketball became the game embraced around the globe (History of Basketball, 2025). 

I had the privilege of sitting down with a former coach, asking him to introduce himself and share a bit of his background. “My name is Timothy Murr, and I am the son of Bobby Murr, college basketball’s leading scorer at the small Tennessee Temple College in 1967.  Dad averaged 40.8 points per game and was named a Little All-America player. I am the oldest of five brothers, and all of us played college basketball. I also have two nephews and two nieces who have played or are playing college basketball. I have been privileged to coach high school basketball since 1990 and continue to do so today. My teams have won 5 state championships and 2 NACA national championships. I have seen approximately 35 of my players go on to play at the next level, and two have had professional careers.” Throughout our conversation, we discussed multiple aspects of the game of basketball. 

Now that we have a quick overview of the history, let’s dive deeper into the physical education class. According to Basketball.org, James Naismith introduced the game to his students to keep them active during the cold winter months in Massachusetts. Students were the first to play the first game with two teams.  Interestingly, the first game involved nine players per team, and the rules were significantly different. 

One of the first questions I asked Tim was, “What are some of the significant differences between early basketball and the game we know today, especially in terms of rules and team structure?” He answered, “The original rules did not allow for anyone to run with the ball even while dribbling, so it was a much slower game. It was also a much less physical game than college basketball is today.”

 If we compare and contrast today’s understanding of the game with its origins, there would be more contrasts, as the game has evolved significantly from its current form (NCAA Basketball History & Progress, n.d.). A big contrast is the number of players. In its early days, the number of players varied depending on the size of the court. Five players on each side faced each other if there were fewer than 1,800 square feet. The following contrast in players rose to seven when the court was between 1,800 and 3,600 square feet.  Often, there were up to nine players on each side. By 1897, the number of players was set and remained constant, with only five on each side.  This conclusion has remained with five players on each side, a status that has persisted throughout the present time (History of Basketball, 2025). 

In 1979, colleges broke away from the committee. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules committee took over all collegiate Basketball programs, having jurisdiction over colleges, junior colleges, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Armed Forces. This structure offers a framework to influence the model for women’s collegiate Basketball (History of Basketball, 2025). The next question I asked Tim was, “How did conference rivalries (like Duke-UNC, Indiana-Purdue, etc.) develop over time and become such a huge part of the sport’s identity?” 

He answered, “Rivalries are a natural part of the human experience, but it certainly didn’t hurt when teams played the same limited number of schools every year.  Close physical proximity between school campuses and somewhat equal levels of success make certain schools natural rivals. Television also urged these rivalries on by showing them considerably more often than other games.” 

Over the years, many great athletes have made a significant impact on the game of basketball. Some of these athletes became known in the sport for various reasons. The importance of integrating black athletes is something worth noting. Asking Tim, “What was the impact of integration and the rise of Black athletes in college basketball history?” 

He mentioned, “I was not quite one year old when Texas Western won the 1966 National Championship with the first team to start five black players, so I don’t have much firsthand knowledge to share. However, I have learned quite a bit as I have grown older and have great respect for coaches such as Dean Smith and what they did with their platform as coaches to make the whole society more accepting of minorities.” With great coaching came great athletes, despite what they may have looked like. 

Furthermore, as time passed, we can conclude that the game will evolve as more games take place so that a direct result will influence the rules and the game’s look. The game kept a slow pace. This pace came with stalling the game with passing and not attempting to score. As a result, the clock ran out. However, the NBC (National Basketball Committee) became discouraged and devised a rule to keep the game from slowing down, increasing the scores. They decided in 1932-33 that a line would be drawn at midcourt, and the offense had ten seconds to pass the line.  If the offense did not pass over the line in the allotted time, they would turn over possession of the ball to the other team (History of Basketball, 2025). 

  Further into our conversation, we got into the nitty gritty questions about coaching and how different styles have shaped the game. I asked if Tim could talk about how coaching strategies have changed from your dad’s era to now. He stated that “From the 1950s to the 1980s, almost all coaches emphasized getting the ball inside to post players with their backs to the basket. That shifted with the popularity of big men shooting from the outside. Conversely, defenses were forced to adjust their priorities as well since it was not as profitable to keep the offense out of the lane and force outside shots.” With different coaching, different rules were implemented. 

Decades passed, and more significant rule changes were made. By 1985, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Rules Committee installed a 45-second shot clock. This is when the offensive team has possession of the ball. By 1993, this shot clock possession was reduced to 35 seconds. This new installation for the shot clock possession resulted in a significant shift in how the game evolved.  The following change introduced a three-point value for shots made from beyond the 3-point line, which is 19.75 feet. Interestingly, today the distance is now greater than 20.75 feet from the basket (History of Basketball, 2025). 

Following the topic of the shot clock, I asked Tim, “Which rule changes over the years do you think have had the most significant impact on the way college basketball is played?” His answer was simple: “Shot clock, and the three-point line being added.” I then asked him to expand on that, “Coaching strategy had to change since holding the ball to control the pace of play was no longer allowed. Coaches no longer stressed post play, and slowly, people began to realize the value of longer shots, which, mathematically, made sense since avoiding mid-range shots almost entirely.  Smaller players became more valuable, and quickness became more important than size, and players with both size and quickness developed.” 

Since he mentioned coaching, I asked him, “How did coaching styles evolve over the decades, especially with innovators like Frank Keaney or Adolph Rupp?” He answered,  “As coaches and players began to explore the creative options available within the rules, Keaney, and later Rupp, realized that quick players combined with an up-tempo style of offense and full-court defense could dominate teams that were not accustomed to the pace. Paul Westhead, Dean Smith, and other coaches thrived this way. While most basic principles remain unchanged, such as the value of teamwork, organization, and selflessness, rule changes always create an opportunity to exploit opponents’ lack of preparation. The first to adapt will gain the upper hand. We see this today as more coaches are telling players to either shoot threes or layups, and avoid mid-range shots.” This transitions into the topic of players and coaching innovations in the game. 

As coaching styles changed, the players’ techniques did too – this was heavily influenced by the creative minds on the sidelines, the coaches. Many adjustments continued at both the playing and coaching levels. In the late 1930s, Hank Luisetti from Stanford University popularized the one-handed shot. Before that, most players used two hands for shooting. Outside shots, or field goals, were usually two-handed push shots, where players kept both hands on the ball and pushed it toward the basket without jumping. Luisetti changed this by introducing a one-handed shot, which allowed for quicker and more controlled shooting. In the 1950s and 60s, his style evolved into the push-off jump shot, where players jumped while shooting, using one hand to guide the ball and their legs to create power. This became the foundation for modern jump shots used in basketball today (History of Basketball, 2025). 

On the topic of coaching and the different styles used, I talked with Tim about how he has seen college basketball evolve over the years, from playing style to recruiting to coaching. He said that, “Playing styles have completely changed for several reasons. The rule changes prohibiting holding the ball eliminated slower play. The three-point line changed the strategy, and international players influenced taller players to face the basket and shoot longer jump shots. Recruiting changed when it became possible and popular for players to play for a school for one or two years and then move on to the NBA.  Putting a team together without the time to develop everyone at the same time became much harder and lessened the quality of team play. Coaching changed as well, since coaches had to decide whether to recruit elite talent who would likely only be around for one year or build a team around players who could grow together as a unit.  Coaching styles also changed, sometimes for the good and sometimes not, because players no longer receive criticism the same way.”

Basketball is known for its tall players. Many have helped lead teams to national championships. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (7’1”) grew up in New York City and was slated to play in a professional basketball league. He is one of the most influential players whose game changed the rules. Kareem dominated the game by dunking the ball. The dunk became vital to the game thanks to Kareem (History of Basketball, 2025). While on the topic of Kareem, I asked Tim how tall players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or agile ones like Bob Cousy influence gameplay and rule changes. “Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem led to rules changes because their skill set and size combined made some believe they had an unfair advantage. Making the lane bigger and outlawing dunks were attempts to slow them down.”

Since we talked about Kareem and his impact on the game, I asked Tim, “Which players does he believe have had the most significant impact on college basketball’s evolution, and why?” He was excited to answer, saying, “Kevin Durant was the most successful player to only play one season and influenced other players to leave college early. Shaquille O’Neal, Artis Gilmore, Ralph Sampson, and Patrick Ewing raised the power with sheer size and/or strength. Akeem Olajuwon, Bill Walton, Lew Alcindor (Kareem), and Wilt Chamberlain demonstrated more athleticism than big men were supposed to have. Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Phil Ford, David Thompson, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Pete Maravich, and Michael Jordan were all ahead of their time in creativity and play-making at their respective positions. My list could go on and on, but that is my top 17.” 

As basketball’s history shows, it has undergone significant turns, challenges, and changes. There is no more substantial influence on college basketball than that of media and television. NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) games were nationally televised from the 1960s to the 1980s. All three major networks (ABC, CBS, NBC) showed collegiate games from November to March. The rights to televise these games were worth a few million.. This increase in anticipation started in 2003.  They averaged $545 million viewers per year just for the rights (History of Basketball, 2025). While on the topic of television networks, I asked Tim, “How did television and media coverage shape the growth and popularity of college basketball?” His answer was simple: “The more mainstream coverage allowed more fans to watch, the more popular the sport became.”

Another growth in basketball’s popularity is March Madness. March Madness is the crown jewel of the college game. Every college dreams of and drives for a ticket to play in the multi-week tournament. The final game allows the winner to have the thrill and bragging rights of their victory. Many coaches and players benefit in their careers by reaching the championship game. The coaches, fans, and players anticipate this significant part of college Basketball. 

While talking with Tim, of course, we had to talk about all things March Madness. I asked him “What do you think makes March Madness such a powerful event for fans and players alike?” He said, “It is the epitome of success for players and loyal fans, and it is the biggest money maker (and loser) for casual fans.” I also wanted to dive deeper into the tournament, so I asked him, “How has the NCAA tournament evolved—both in structure and in cultural importance—since it began?” 

He thought hard on this question before finally giving me his answer, “From a structural standpoint, the tournament has changed significantly in two ways, which are intertwined. First, more teams are now included.  Secondly, teams that do not win their conference title or tournament are no longer excluded, as they were in the past. That means multiple teams from the same conference are now eligible to be included. From a cultural perspective, the extreme rise in popularity can be attributed to product distribution through television and the growing popularity of gambling. People who have no interest in college basketball during the season are eager to jump into the office pool and fill out a bracket, and millions of dollars are wagered on games by people who have never seen the teams they are betting on play.”

To end our time together, I asked Tim two last questions about what he sees for the future. The first question was, “How have NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals and the transfer portal changed the game, for better or worse?” He mentioned, “The NIL deals have changed the game for the better from the perspective of players who have been denied a share of the rewards that came to schools through their efforts. They have changed the game for the worse by reducing the quality of actual play, as coaches can no longer build and develop individuals and teams like they used to, simply because they don’t have time. By the time players learn to play together under a complete system, they are gone, either to try the professional ranks or seek more money at another school.” Even though players are getting money for contributing to their school, there is a downside because they no longer stay at a school to develop and win as a team; instead, they move on to the next team that offers them more money. 

The last question I asked was, “Where do you see college basketball headed over the next 10–20 years, especially with changes in player compensation and media rights?” He stated, “I hope I am wrong, but it appears to be moving in the direction of becoming professional basketball for younger or less skilled players who hope to make it to the NBA but can make a nice living for a few years in college while they pursue that dream.” This all points back to NIL; it has changed the game we’ve known over the past few years. 

To conclude, the game of basketball had many challenges and changes.  Significant changes came with collegiate basketball, and the college game’s apex is March Madness – three weeks of play that culminate in the Final Four weekend (History of Basketball, 2025). A notable mark is the three weeks. We find brackets to predict who will play who and who will win it all.  This is what makes college basketball and the NCAA Tournament, also known as March Madness, a significant event. Although many bracket predictions will be busted, it’s all part of the fun.

College basketball has become an integral part of many sports fans’ lives and will remain a tradition. From the 1890s to the present day, the game has undergone changes in rules, play, and levels. However, the love for the game has always been the same. From its beginnings to its popularity among fans of a specific university and the excitement of March Madness, basketball has made its mark and significantly impacted the sports industry.