INDIANAPOLIS - It's official: college basketball will be played in 2020-21.

In an announcement made by the NCAA Wednesday afternoon, Division I men's and women's college basketball teams will begin their respective seasons on Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020. The Aggies will be able to engage in full practices beginning Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020.

Other rulings that came as a result of Wednesday's decision by the NCAA Division I Council included an elimination of closed scrimmages and exhibition games across the board for the season. Additionally, the DI Council reduced the maximum number of total games from 31 to 27. In order to be eligible for the NCAA Tournament, teams will also be required to play at least 13 games against NCAA Division I competition.

Prior to the first day of official practice on Wednesday, Oct. 14., teams are allowed to hold up to 12 hours per week of preseason practices, team workouts and team meetings. Skill work will still be restricted to eight hours per week until Oct. 14.

A proposal was on the table to begin the season on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic Nov. 25 was selected. Another reason why Nov. 25 was chosen was due to the fact that college campuses will be less populated because of Thanksgiving breaks. Games previously scheduled before Nov. 25 may be rescheduled.

The DI Council also extended the dead period for recruiting through the rest of the 2020 calendar year. Though they will not be permitted to recruit in person, coaches can communicate with recruits by phone and by mail. 

For more information on the Aggies' men's and women's basketball schedules for the 2020-21 season, keep visiting NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow the Aggies on Facebook (NM State Aggies, NM State Men's Basketball, NM State Women's Basketball), Twitter (@NMStateAggies, @NMStateMBB, @NMStateWBB) and Instagram (@NMStateAggies, @NMStateMBB, @NMStateWBB).

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