[...]... Chicago The team became known as the Harlem Globetrotters in 1930 The Globetrotters proceeded to establish themselves as the most successful barnstorming club in the history of the sport They continue to entertain crowds around the world with their comedy-infused basketball games into the present day The first basketball league to assume major league status was the Basketball Association of America... referred to as “March Madness”—is one of America’s most popular spectator sporting events, as tens of millions of fans tune in to (and wager on) the tournament every year xiii 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 Professional basketball in the United States took longer to catch on than did the college game This was due in part to the peripatetic nature of early pro-league players, who usually sold their... soccer ball into two peach baskets (The first basketball was introduced in 1894, and an open basket with a net was Shutterstock.com xi 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 adopted in 1912–13.) The rules of the sport initially did not allow players to dribble the ball Instead, players remained stationary when handling the ball until they passed it down the court to a teammate Early basketball courts... banishment of the game induced many members to terminate their YMCA membership and hire halls to play the game, thus paving the way to the professionalization of the sport 5 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 Since Naismith and five of his original players were Canadian, it is not surprising that Canada was the first country outside the United States to play the game Basketball was introduced in France... team was required to advance the ball past it 7 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 The addition of the shot clock, seen ticking down the time above the basket during a 2009 Big Ten tournament contest, is considered a landmark change to the college game Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images 8 7 The History of Basketball 7 within 10 seconds or lose possession Five years later, in 1937–38, the centre jump following... 1939 to 64 teams in 1985 A 65th team and corresponding “play-in game” were added in 2001, when a new conference with 15 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 an automatically qualifying champion was created and the NCAA did not want to lower the number of high-profile at-large schools it could invite to the tournament In 2011 the NCAA added three additional opening-round games to the field, bringing the. .. The History of Basketball 7 New York City basketball writers organized the first National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1938, but a year later the New York City colleges took control of the event Until the early 1950s the NIT was considered the most prestigious American tournament, but, with the growth of the college-run NCAA championship, the NIT became a consolation event for teams that failed to. .. 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 franchises in the league Johnson and Bird had a fierce but friendly personal rivalry that dated back to their college days, when Johnson’s Michigan State University topped Bird’s Indiana State University in the 1979 NCAA championship game At the professional level, the two captured the basketball world’s attention as fans everywhere chose to root for one of the. .. colleges The University of Kansas was particularly important in the development of the game From 1898 to 1937, Naismith was the chairman of the school’s physical education department, and he was also the coach of the Kansas basketball team for 11 years One of his players was Phog Allen, who returned to Kansas to serve as basketball coach between 1920 and 1956 Allen became known as the “father of basketball. .. performer for the University of Cincinnati in the late 13 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 1950s and for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1970s; Larry Bird of Indiana State University, a forward of exceptional versatility who led the Boston Celtics to several championships; and Michael Jordan, a great all-around player with the University of North Carolina in the 1980s who is widely considered the best . known as the Harlem Globetrotters in 1930. The Globetrotters proceeded to establish them- selves as the most successful barnstorming club in the history of the sport. They continue to entertain. throughout the sport, helping define basketball for generations. 7 The Britannica Guide to Basketball 7 xiii College basketball grew in national popularity in the 1920s and ’30s while the pro game—which. entertain crowds around the world with their comedy-infused basketball games into the present day. The first basketball league to assume major league status was the Basketball Association of