When Does College Basketball Start?
- College basketball season begins November 9.
- Students can pursue several methods for getting regular season tickets.
- Many colleges provide free and/or discounted tickets to encourage student attendance.
If you’re wondering when college basketball will start for the 2021-22 season, you’re in the right place. The first NCAA game will take place on November 9, 2021, and the season will end on March 6, 2022, with March Madness following.
Whether you’re looking forward to seeing Duke play Kentucky or Michigan State battle it out with Kansas, opening week promises to be full of unmissable moments. Read on to learn more about the upcoming season.
When Does the 2022 March Madness Tournament Begin?
Many college students and even some basketball fans don’t really start paying attention to college hoops until March Madness begins. This monthlong event pits the best-ranked college teams against one another through several rounds of elimination play.
March Madness kicks off with Selection Sunday on March 13, when the selection committee chooses teams and seeds them among other teams based on record. The 2022 Final Four competition will take place in New Orleans.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| First Four | March 15-16, 2022 |
| Round 1 | March 17-18, 2022 |
| Round 2 | March 19-20, 2022 |
| Sweet 16 | March 24-25, 2022 |
| Elite Eight | March 26-27, 2022 |
| Final Four | April 2, 2022 |
| National Championship | April 4, 2022 |
How to Get Student Tickets for College Basketball Games
Getting into the basketball games at your own college can be challenging, especially if the team is playing well enough to be in contention for Selection Sunday. Fortunately, many schools sell season passes to students at discounted rates.
If you don’t want to purchase a full season’s worth of tickets, you can sometimes snag game-day tickets for individual events. You may want to go to your college’s box office early on the morning of the game and see if any tickets remain.
Student ticket pricing varies by school. At the University of Minnesota, a season pass costs $99. Individual tickets typically hover between $10 and $15, though some schools provide free tickets to students.
Season Tickets
For students who know they want to attend the majority of games, season tickets can be a great way to save money and ensure you get a seat at every event. That said, not all schools offer season tickets to students. Check with your school’s box office or sports department to learn more about availability.
How a school distributes season tickets can also vary. Some schools use a first-come, first-served method, while schools with more demand for tickets may employ a lottery system.
Game-Day Tickets
If season tickets are outside your student budget, individual tickets may be the best option. If your school is particularly competitive in basketball, getting last-minute game-day tickets may be your best bet. A couple hours before game time, your college’s box office will release any unsold tickets. Plan to arrive 30-60 minutes before the office opens to stand in line.
Some schools may allow you to use your student ID to get free or discounted tickets depending on the game.
March Madness Tickets
Getting March Madness tickets can prove difficult even for students of the schools playing. Season tickets do not include March Madness games, so even those who went to all the regular games won’t receive preferential treatment. That said, the NCAA does provide schools with March Madness tickets, some of which go to students.
Some schools use a lottery to disburse these tickets, while others hand them out on a first-come, first-served basis. Students should pay attention to any ticket announcements and try to get tickets for these games as soon as possible.
Feature Image: Tim Nwachukwu / Staff / Getty Images Sport / Getty Images