Big 12 men's basketball tournament

Big 12 men's basketball tournament
Name	Big 12 men's basketball tournament
Sport	College basketball
Conference	Big 12 Conference
Established	1997
Number of teams	14
Current stadium	T-Mobile Center
Current location	Kansas City, Missouri
Most recent champion	Texas Longhorns men's basketball (2023)
Most titles	Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball (12)

Big 12 men's basketball tournament is the postseason men's college basketball championship for the Big 12 Conference. Established in 1997, the event determines the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament and has featured programs such as the Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball, Texas Longhorns men's basketball, Baylor Bears men's basketball, Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball, and Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball. The tournament has been staged in major arenas including the American Airlines Center, Sprint Center, and United Center, attracting television partners like ESPN and ABC.

History

The tournament began after the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, succeeding postseason traditions from the Big Eight Conference and involving charter members like Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball, Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball, Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball, and Missouri Tigers men's basketball. Early finals featured rivals such as Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball versus Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball and Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball versus Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball. Realignment in the 2010s introduced programs like TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball, West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball, and later Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball, Houston Cougars men's basketball, and BYU Cougars men's basketball into conference discussions affecting tournament composition. Landmark moments include Bill Self-led Kansas championships, Scott Drew-coached Baylor Bears men's basketball breakthrough, and the dramatic upset runs by Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball and Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball in various seasons.

Format

The tournament has used single-elimination brackets with seeding based on regular-season standings involving institutions such as Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball, Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball, Texas Longhorns men's basketball, and Baylor Bears men's basketball. Formats have varied with membership changes: earlier editions featured 12 teams including Missouri Tigers men's basketball and Nebraska Cornhuskers men's basketball, while later configurations expanded to 10 and then 14 teams incorporating TCU Horned Frogs men's basketball, West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball, Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball, Houston Cougars men's basketball, and BYU Cougars men's basketball. Tiebreakers have referenced head-to-head results involving programs like Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball and Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball and metrics from conferences including the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. Byes for top seeds have mirrored structures used by the Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeastern Conference in postseason play.

Champions and Results

Championship histories highlight dynasties by Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball and notable titles by Texas Longhorns men's basketball, Baylor Bears men's basketball, Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball, and Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball. Tournament MVPs and coaches of the year have included figures such as Bill Self, Rick Barnes, Scott Drew, Lon Kruger, and Bob Huggins. Upsets involving Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball and Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball have reshaped NCAA seeding for programs like Michigan State Spartans men's basketball, Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, and North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball in broader tournament storylines. The automatic bid has sent champions to compete against winners from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten Conference during the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.

Tournament Records and Statistics

Individual and team records include scoring performances by players from Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball, Texas Longhorns men's basketball, Baylor Bears men's basketball, and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball. Coaching records feature victories accrued by Bill Self and appearances by Lon Kruger and Rick Barnes. Statistical leaders in rebounds, assists, and three-point shooting have been compared with national standouts from Villanova Wildcats men's basketball, Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball, and Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball. Attendance and win streaks reference rivalries such as Kansas–Texas rivalry and matchups like Oklahoma–Kansas State rivalry. Awards such as Most Outstanding Player often went to athletes who later played in the National Basketball Association for teams including the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, and Boston Celtics.

Venues and Attendance

The tournament has rotated through arenas including the Kemper Arena, United Center, American Airlines Center, Sprint Center (now T-Mobile Center), and Allen Fieldhouse for special events. Cities that hosted include Kansas City, Missouri, Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, and Omaha, Nebraska. Attendance figures have sometimes rivaled major events like the NCAA Final Four attendance benchmarks and concert crowds at Madison Square Garden. Local economies in host cities such as Kansas City, Missouri and Dallas, Texas have seen impacts similar to those reported for the MLB All-Star Game and NFL Draft.

Broadcast and Media Coverage

Television rights have been held by networks and entities including ESPN, ABC, and syndicated partners, with commentary teams featuring broadcasters associated with CBS Sports and Fox Sports. Digital coverage involves platforms like ESPN+ and distribution through partners such as iHeartMedia and Sirius XM. Media narratives have included analysis from outlets like The New York Times, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and coverage by regional newspapers such as The Kansas City Star and The Dallas Morning News. Social media engagement has involved platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram with highlights often amplified by YouTube channels and official conference feeds.

Category:College basketball tournaments in the United States