College Basketball Basics

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A single governing body, known as the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), is charged with overseeing the 1,200 voluntary college and university members that comprise the association. Volunteers from the association's member schools manage the organization and make rules to ensure fairness among all intercollegiate athletics.

Among the 1,200 colleges and universities that make up the NCAA, only 1,006 are considered active members. According to the NCAA:

an active member is a four-year college or university or a two-year, upper-level collegiate institution that has been accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting agency and duly elected to active membership under the provisions of the Association bylaws.

Active members are allowed to compete in tournaments and other championship events.