First-contest dates on Mondays approved for DI men’s, women’s basketball

[OrangeXtreme]

The new rules permit schools to begin playing their first regular-season contest on the Monday that is 22 weeks before the start of the Division I Men's and Women's Basketball Championship finals.

Currently, in both sports, the length of the playing season fluctuates between 21 and 22 weeks, based on when the championship games occur.

For three consecutive basketball seasons, including this one, the basketball season has been 22 weeks, but the next four seasons had been scheduled for 21 weeks. The new playing season model would relieve the scheduling compression that occurs in years when the playing season is shortened to 21 weeks.

Current Start Date	New Start Date	Women's Final Four	Men's Final Four
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025	Monday, Nov. 3, 2025	April 3 & 5, 2026	April 4 & 6, 2026
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026	Monday, Nov. 2, 2026	April 2 & 4, 2027	April 3 & 5, 2027
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2027	Monday, Nov. 1, 2027	March 31 & April 2, 2028	April 1 & 3, 2028
Monday, Nov. 6, 2028	Monday, Oct. 30, 2028	March 30 & April 1, 2029	March 31 & April 2, 2029
Monday, Nov. 5, 2029	Monday, Nov. 5, 2029	April 5 & 7, 2030	April 6 & 8, 2030
Monday, Nov. 4, 2030	Monday, Nov. 4, 2030	April 4 & 6, 2031	April 5 & 7, 2031

 

[althea]

FYI. That second column heading is wrong.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

FYI. That second column heading is wrong.

I'll dock myself half a days pay.

 

[althea]

I'll dock myself half a days pay.

You do an awesome job, you should get a raise. But I got very confused reading it.