Playing NCAA D1 Basketball What to Expect (2024)

If your goal is to play NCAA division 1 basketball, it is probably a good idea to know exactly what this entails. If you know what to expect, then you can go into the situation prepared and ready to take on the challenges of being a college student athlete at the division 1 level. This isn’t going to be a walk in the park. As a student athlete playing NCAA D1 Basketball you need to be prepared to have a busy schedule all year round. It would be an advantage for you if you are already someone who is able to organize yourself and manage your time well. Now, let’s get some real NCAA D1 basketball insight …

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A DIVISION 1 BASKETBALL PLAYER

Being a division 1 basketball player teaches you the true meaning of hard work. What do I mean by this? I mean you are going to be pretty much non-stop from the moment you wake to the moment you go to sleep.What does a typical dayin the life of a D1 basketball player look like?It will consist of the following: basketball practice, strength and conditioning, classes, film review, supplemental workouts and competition games.

All these activities are considered whats called “Countable Athletically Related Activities” (CARA). This means that the NCAA has rules that limit the time that student athletes can spend on these activities per week. To find out what these limits are you will need to check with the campus athletics department at the school.

What activities can you do as a D1 basketball player that don’t count towards your CARA?Here is a list of all the things you can do/participate in that are not classes under your countable athletically related activities:

• Media activities
• Academic meeting
• Sports psychologist sessions
• Nutritionist sessions
• Student athlete host duties
• Team fundraising
• Injury prevention and treatment
• Community service
• Compliance meetings

Time spent on activities of a D1 student athlete:

FACT: Did you know that 67% of D1 student athletes reported to a survey taken by the NCAA that they spend as much or more time on athletics during the OFF-SEASON as during their competitive season (based on 2015 NCAA GOALS study).

What do competition days look like for a D1 basketball player?During a typical day of competition as a NCAA Division 1 student athlete you can expect to spend between 4 to 9 hours on basketball. This was discovered by the NCAA themselves as they regular conduct studies on their student athletes.

NOTE: The NCAA research staff conduct national research for all its Division 1 members. They do this on a variety of topics which include: academic performance, student-athlete well-being, finances of intercollegiate athletics programs, gender-equity and diversity issues.

THE PERCEPTION OF A D1 STUDENT ATHLETE

You can expect the average day of a D1 college basketball player to look very different to an average day of a non-athlete student. There is a general consensus that NCAA D1 players live a life of fame and glamour. While this may true for a very small percentage of the top players, for the majority of the student athletes who aren’t projected to go onto play professionally, you will find out that it is four years of constant hard work both on the court and in the classroom.

When players think of playing NCAA D1 basketball they tend to imagine the bright lights of the large arena, a seas of fans chanting and cheering them on, awesome uniforms and shoes that look amazing, and all the publicity that goes along with playing in a big-time D1 school. While this is true, you do have this, there is another side of the reality that you must be aware of too.

THE REALITY OF D1 BASKETBALL

The intensity in which you are expect to work is on a whole new other level. College Coaches require you to give100% effort all of the time. High energy and intensity is required of you at every practice, workout and game. If you don’t perform to the standard, you will quickly be corrected by a member of the Coaching Staff. You must going in knowing that you cannot hide or coast at the NCAA Division 1 level. You have probably heard this time and time again but, it is like having a full-time job.

D1 basketball players get a lot of respect for the time and dedication they put in. It takes a lot from a student athletes to constantly make a push for excellence on the court while pursuing a degree. The stats on high school players going on to play college basketball are small as we have previously covered in this earlier article here. Remember, there are plenty of player who are probably good enough to play college basketball its just a lot of them can’t or choose not to put themselves into such a high intensity, hard grind, situation like playing for a D1 school.

D1 caliber players are the players who are consistently looking for ways to elevate their game and become a better player.

Here is what a typical student athletes daily schedule could look like:Do you think you can do this? Are you up for this type of daily schedule? Think about it.

• 5 to 6 am – Wake up, get ready and have breakfast
• 6 to 8 am – Strength and conditioning training or Team Practice
• 8 to 8.30 am – Team meeting
• 9 to 1 pm – Classes
• 1 to 2 pm – Lunch
• 2 to 2.30 pm – Film study with the team
• 2.30 to 3pm – Prepare for practice (taped, looked at etc.)
• 3 to 6 pm – Team practice or Strength and Conditioning
• 6 to 7 pm – Shower, treatment, rehab
• 7 to 7.30 pm – Dinner
• 7.30 – 9 pm – Study time and academic support
• 9.30 – 12 am – Homework and sleep

Playing NCAA D1 BASKETBALL AND THE PRESSURE

When you play for a D1 school you need to be aware that the school you are playing for need to win. You need to perform or you are not going to play, this is the truth of the matter. Other sources of pressure to consider when playing D1 basketball are: the fans, teammates, and social media. These can all greatly impact your personal feelings of pressure.

Going back to playing,NCAA D1 Basketball, playing time is not guaranteed. Going in as a freshman you are going to be competing with upperclassmen who are more experienced, stronger and more skilled (typically) with Junior College transfers and graduate transfers not to mention other freshman players.

NOTE: On holidays, you should expect there to be workouts, practices, and games. If you are lucky you will get a few days at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Playing NCAA D1 Basketball is A BALANCING ACT

The life of a D1 basketball player is definitely a balancing act. There are going to be many big learning experiences that are going to shape you for life. It is a big change from high school basketball. In comparison it is a much bigger time commitment than you have previously experienced. However, once you get your schedule and routine figured out, it will become “easier” NOT easy, but you will learn and adapt to the demands placed upon you. D1 College Coaches will really reinforce to you that school comes first. You need to figure out the balance that is study and basketball. Remember, playing at this level is a grind that you just have to get through. You have to take responsibility for your studies and your performance. You cannot use basketball as an excuse for not getting things done.

If we can’t get it done in the classroom, we can’t get it done on the court.

All College Coaches

Players who play NCAA Division 1 basketball, their lives are dictated by basketball. It is their passion, their drive and their motivation in life. Now all you need to do is answer this one question:Is this you?