The rule on calling timeouts

gtown965

All-Conference
Feb 12, 2026
510
1,535
93
In college basketball, can a coach of an opposing team call a timeout when the ball is in the other teams hands preparing to put he ball in play?

No, in college basketball (under NCAA rules), a coach from the opposing team cannot call (or be granted) a timeout when the ball is in the other team's hands preparing to put the ball in play, such as during a throw-in or when the opposing team has possession for an inbound pass.

 

Lameguy

Senior
Mar 20, 2026
266
545
93
What if it was after a made basket and the player was getting ready to throw it in

Good question — this is one of those situations that trips people up.
After a made basket in NCAA basketball:

🚫 The opposing coach still cannot call a timeout​

If your team just scored and the other team is:
  • grabbing the ball
  • stepping out of bounds
  • getting ready to inbound
👉 Only the team that is about to inbound (the one that was scored on) can call a timeout.

Why?​

Because after a made basket:
  • The ball is live for a throw-in
  • The inbounding team has player control (or the right to it)
  • The scoring team does not have possession, so they can’t be granted a timeout

🔑 The only exception​

If the referee has not yet made the ball available (for example, there’s a brief delay before the inbound), technically it’s still a dead ball — and either team might get a timeout in that tiny window.
But in real game flow:
  • After a made basket, refs usually allow a quick inbound
  • So practically speaking, the scoring team almost never gets that chance

🧠 Bottom line​

After you score:
  • You cannot stop play with a timeout to set your defense
  • Only the other team (inbounding) can call it
If you’ve ever seen a team try to call one there and get ignored — that’s exactly why.


this is what ChatGPT says
 
  • Like
Reactions: gtown965
KSR

Latest

  1. 01 KSR Football House of Blue Hot Take Review celebrates Kentucky's overtime win at South Carolina!
  2. 02 KSR Football Kentucky's Coaches Demand Juice, and Kenny Darby Continues to Deliver
  3. 03 KSR Football The Football Gods rewarded Nic Anderson vs. South Carolina: 'He's battled a lot in his career.'
  4. 04 KSR Kentucky inexplicably dropped out of the AP Poll. This is why voters should feel bad about themselves.
  5. 05 KSR Football Kentucky drops out of AP Poll Top 25 despite win over South Carolina