NCAA Division I independents (independent schools) are four-year institutions that do not participate in a conference in a given sport. This does not mean that Division I independents schedule each other for competition like conference schools do. There are considerably fewer independent schools than in years past; many independent schools later join (or attempt to join) established conferences, and some that are going to join play a conference-like schedule with other teams in that conference.

In college basketball, 12 schools are currently Division I independents:

• Chicago State University
• Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne
• Longwood University
• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• University of North Dakota - On June 21, 2006, UND President Charles Kupchella announced they will be moving their athletics program to Division I.
• North Dakota State University
• Savannah State University
• University of South Dakota - On June 21, 2006, following the University of North Dakota’s decision to reclassify its athletic programs to Division I, The University of South Dakota President James W. Abbott announced the formation of a committee to review division and conference options.
• South Dakota State University
• University of Texas-Pan American
• University of California-Davis - will join Big West Conference in 2007, and plays every Big West team twice currently.
• Utah Valley State College
• California State University-Bakersfield - On June 1, 2006, Cal State Bakersfield President Horace Mitchell announced that they will be moving their athletics program to Division I.

Conference Arenas

College basketball