What’s the worst part of any college basketball game? Breaks. Anything that doesn’t involve the on-court product is not welcome in this establishment. That feels especially true when it comes to the NCAA Tournament when there are more eyes than ever. Even with multiple games being played at the time, if there's a game you're locked in on, halftime can feel like it lasts forever.
March Madness is upon us, and with so many games to watch at one time, a common question many fans will have is clear — How long will I have to wait to watch more basketball?
The good news is that, at least in the first weekend, there are plenty of games to watch during commercial breaks, halftime breaks, etc. But let’s say you’re a fan of Kentucky. How long should you flip between channels before going back to the original, intended purpose of rooting on your Wildcats?
Luckily, we know exactly how long you'll have to wait.
How long is halftime in college basketball?
Halftime in college basketball is meant to be 15 minutes. Of course, it’s impossible to predict the amount of time on the dot, as it takes players and coaches time to get off the court and into the locker room. At times, teams will huddle before the start of the second half, as well. And god forbid there is any type of delay for whatever reason which can increase the time further.
But the standard for college basketball halftime is 15 minutes, which is always a safe estimate for how long it will take the action to resume in March Madness.
Is halftime longer during the Final Four?
Even in the Final Four, college basketball halftime still lasts around 15 minutes. Unlike at big events in other sports like the Super Bowl and even some NBA Playoff games, the standard for halftime length stays the same on the biggest stage in March Madness, the national championship included in that as well. That doesn't mean it's still not an arduous wait until the on-court action restarts but at least you know that fans won't have to wait any longer than normal for a more meaningful game to resume.
How long is the break between March Madness games
The other aspect of March Madness when fans are left waiting is between games during the tournament, most notably during the First and Second Round games because there is so much action. With multiple games being played in the same building, that makes things complicated in terms of start times, which is why all times after the first four games in a building are listed with approximate tip times.
However, fans should know that the break is always 30 minutes from when the previous game on that floor concluded. That can mean things get pushed back, yes, but if you're paying attention, you can see that it'll be 30 minutes from the previous final buzzer every time, which gives you some semblance of a schedule to follow.