Sports for Dummies: UCCS Basketball 

Welcome back to campus, fellow students! You know, there’s no better way to procrastinate all that new class homework than going to a few home basketball games.  

If a lack of basketball knowledge is holding you back from attending — don’t worry, I’ve done all the hard work for you in this story — so I could avoid doing my own homework. 

UCCS has both a men’s and women’s basketball team which play in the Gallogly Events Center, not to be confused with the Gallogly Recreation and Wellness Center, which is located between the University Center and Centennial Hall. The Mountain Lions play on Thursday nights and Saturday afternoons when they are at home.  

Right now, the basketball teams are in the midst of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference season. 

The women’s team were part of a 4-way tie for the 2023-2024 RMAC regular season champion title after winning 18 of 22 conference games last year. Their RMAC record for this season sits at 5-4. The men’s team won 8 of 22 conference games in the 2023-2024 season, and this year they also have a 5-4 conference record. 

Their record indicates how many games they have won versus the games that they have lost. The first number is the games won in the season and the second is the games lost. 

On game days, the women’s team plays before the men’s team, and there are roughly 30 minutes between games. The women’s team plays four 10-minute quarters with a 15-minute halftime, while the men’s team plays two 20-minute halves, also with a 15-minute halftime. If you’re hungry during the game, there is a concession stand next to the ticket counter near the entrance. 

Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams play with a 30-second shot clock. Simply put, a shot made by the offensive team must hit the rim before the clock runs out. If the clock runs out, the ball is handed over to the opposing team.  

The idea of a shot clock was first introduced to the NBA in 1954. It revolutionized the sport of basketball. It forced a faster and more entertaining pace within the games. 

In basketball, points are scored by getting the basketball through the hoop. The number of points scored depends on where the player who takes the shot jumps from at the time of the shot. If the player is behind the 3-point line — the wide arc designated with black paint on the court — they get three points if the shot goes into the hoop. If they are inside the 3-point line, they get just two points.  

Points can also be gained via free throws. Free throws are given to a player when they are fouled by their opposition. Depending on the type of foul, the fouled player will be given one or two free throw attempts. If a player is fouled while shooting from behind the 3-point line, they get three attempts. 

After a team’s seventh collective foul in a half — foul counts reset in the second half in both men’s and women’s — bonus free throws are in effect with the one and one free throw rule

Under this rule, if the fouled player’s first free throw attempt goes through the hoop, they get another opportunity. If the first one doesn’t go in, they don’t get another attempt. After the tenth team foul, the fouled player gets two free throw opportunities regardless of if the first free throw goes in. 

Each team will have five players on the court, which can be substituted with other players. There are positions in basketball, but the sport has evolved in ways that make positions less static. 

There are three position categories: guard, forward and center. The guards lead the offense by bringing the basketball up the court and calling plays. Forwards are versatile players with a little more focus on midrange shots. The center doesn’t have a flashy role in the offense, but they are responsible for shots taken very close to the hoop. Typically, there will be two guards, two forwards and a center on the court for each team. 

These positions translate to inner or outer arc spots on the court, or spots on either side of the 3-point line. Guards are normally outside of the line, centers are inside and forwards fill in the space wherever needed. 

Both basketball teams play on Jan. 25. in the Gallogly Events Center. The women’s game tips off at 1 p.m. and the men’s game at 3 p.m. The schedule, roster, statistics and game streams for men’s and women’s basketball (and all the other sports) can be found at gomountainlions.com

Graphic via The Scribe archives.