17.5.4 First Contest. (Revised: 4/27/06 effective 8/1/06, 1/18/18 effective 8/1/18, 10/9/24 effective 8/1/25)

(a) Men. An institution shall not play its first regular-season contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in men's basketball prior to the Monday of the 22nd week prior to the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship game (see Figure 17-2).

(b) Women. An institution shall not play its first regular-season contest (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in women's basketball prior to the Monday of the 22nd week prior to the Division I Women’s Basketball Championship game (see Figure 17-2).