Ayrton Oneill
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is the championship tournament in the Big 12 Conference. It has been held annually since the first full basketball season in 1997. The tournament features 16 teams and is a single-elimination format with four rounds. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament. The 2025 Big 12 men's basketball tournament was held in Kansas City, marking the 24th time the city has hosted the tournament. The Houston Cougars won the 2025 tournament, beating 15 other teams to claim the championship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Big 12 men's basketball tournament |
| Inception | 1997 |
| Type | Single-elimination tournament |
| Number of Rounds | 4 |
| Number of Teams | 16 |
| Qualification | Top six seeds get byes in the first round |
| Seeding Basis | Regular-season records |
| Winner's Qualification | NCAA Championship tournament |
| Notable Participants | Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State, Houston Cougars |
| Venues | Kemper Arena, Kansas City; American Airlines Center, Dallas; Ford Center, Oklahoma City; Sprint Center, Kansas City; T-Mobile Center, Kansas City |
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What You'll Learn
Tournament format
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds. The top six seeds receive a bye in the first round, and seeding is based on regular-season records. The winner of the tournament is awarded the Big 12 Conference automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament.
The tournament has been held annually since the first full basketball season in 1997. From its inception until 2003, and again in 2005, the tournament was held at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri. In 2003, 2004, and 2006, it took place at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, and in 2007, it was hosted at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The tournament returned to Kansas City in 2008, this time at the Sprint Center, and again from 2010 through 2025, with the exception of 2009 when it was held in Oklahoma City.
The format of the tournament typically involves four rounds of single-elimination games, with the number of teams varying over the years. In 2025, the tournament included 16 teams, with the Houston Cougars claiming the championship title. The tournament began with a match-up between the No. 12 and No. 13 seeds, followed by a game between the No. 9 and No. 16 seeds. The remaining teams then competed in subsequent rounds until the championship game, which is played between the winners of the semi-final round.
The success of certain teams in the tournament has been notable. Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles, with 12 out of 25 wins, and Iowa State and Kansas have dominated the tournament for several years, winning 18 out of 27 titles between them. However, in recent years, other teams have emerged as champions, such as the Texas Longhorns in 2021, breaking the streak of wins by schools from the original Big Eight Conference.
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Tournament history
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament has been held annually since the completion of the first full basketball season in 1997. The tournament is a single-elimination format with four rounds, with the top six seeds getting byes in the first round. The winner of the tournament automatically qualifies for the NCAA Championship tournament.
Between 2005 and 2019, only two schools, Iowa State and Kansas, won the tournament, with those two schools winning 18 of 27 titles. The remaining current Big 12 schools have only accounted for six additional tournament titles. This streak ended when the Texas Longhorns won the championship game against Oklahoma State in 2021. Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles, winning 12 out of 25 while appearing in 15 championship games.
The tournament was held in Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, every year from 1997 to 2003, and again in 2005. In 2003, 2004, and 2006, it was held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, and in 2007, it took place in the Ford Center at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 2008, it returned to Kansas City, this time at the Sprint Center. The 2009 edition was again held in Oklahoma City, with the event returning to Kansas City from 2010 through 2020. On October 24, 2018, it was announced that the tournament would remain in Kansas City through 2024, and on June 12, 2020, it was announced that it would stay in the city through 2025.
The 2024 tournament was won by No. 7 Iowa State, who defeated No. 1 Houston 69-41 in the championship game. The Houston Cougars won the 2025 tournament, beating 15 other teams to claim their first championship since joining the league in 2023.
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Past winners
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament has been held annually since the 1996-97 basketball season. The tournament location has varied, but it has most frequently taken place in Kansas City, Missouri.
Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles, claiming the championship 12 out of 25 times and appearing in 15 championship games. Between 2005 and 2019, only Iowa State and Kansas won the tournament, with those two schools winning 18 of 27 titles.
- 2025: Houston Cougars
- 2024:
- 2023:
- 2022:
- 2021: Texas Longhorns
- 2020:
- ...
- 1997:
Unfortunately, I cannot provide a full list of past winners, but the Texas Longhorns' 2021 victory broke a streak where only Iowa State and Kansas had won the tournament since 2005.
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Venues
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament has been held annually since the first full basketball season in 1997. The tournament has been hosted by various venues over the years, with Kansas City, Missouri, being the most frequent choice.
Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri
This venue, located in Kansas City, Missouri, hosted the tournament every year from its inception in 1997 up until 2003, and again in 2005. This venue was the consistent home for the tournament's early years, setting the stage for the competition and creating a strong foundation for the years to come.
American Airlines Center, Dallas, Texas
The tournament ventured outside of Kansas City for the first time in 2003, landing at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. This venue hosted the tournament for three consecutive years, from 2003 to 2006 (excluding 2005). This change in location brought a new dynamic to the tournament, offering a different atmosphere and experience for the teams and fans.
Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
In 2007, the tournament found itself in a new home once again, this time at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This venue hosted the championship for just one year before it moved back to Kansas City.
Sprint Center/T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, Missouri
The tournament returned to Kansas City in 2008, this time taking place at the Sprint Center (now known as the T-Mobile Center). This venue has been the primary host of the tournament since then, creating a long-standing association with the city. The T-Mobile Center has been praised for its electric atmosphere, making the Big 12 championship feel more like an NCAA tournament game.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
In 2009, the tournament returned to Oklahoma City, this time at a different venue. This was the last time the tournament was held in a city other than Kansas City for its entirety.
Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
While the men's tournament has primarily been held in larger arenas, the women's tournament has had a different home in recent years. From 2021 to 2023, the women's tournament was hosted at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, keeping the tradition of hosting the tournament in a central location for most teams in the conference.
The Big 12 tournament venues have played a significant role in shaping the history of the competition, with Kansas City, Missouri, being the longstanding and frequent choice for both the men's and women's tournaments. These venues have witnessed the intense competition, the celebrations of victory, and the heartbreaks of defeat, all contributing to the rich legacy of Big 12 basketball.
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Seeding
The Big 12 men's basketball tournament has been held annually since the 1996-97 basketball season. The seeding in the Big 12 tournament is based on the teams' regular-season records. It is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds, where the top six seeds get byes in the first round.
The winner of the tournament is given an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament. The seeding in the Big 12 tournament affects a team's odds of winning the championship. While a team's odds of winning depend partly on their seed, the dynamics of the bracket also play a role. In some cases, a team with a better seed may face a more challenging path to the championship than a team with a worse seed.
Historically, Kansas has been the most successful team in the Big 12 tournament, winning 12 out of 25 postseason titles and appearing in 15 championship games. Between 2005 and 2019, only two schools, Iowa State and Kansas, won the tournament, with those two schools accounting for 18 of the 27 titles during that period. The Texas Longhorns ended the streak of wins by original Big Eight Conference teams in 2021 when they won the championship game against Oklahoma State.
The 2025 Big 12 men's basketball tournament was won by the Houston Cougars, who beat 15 other teams to take the championship, their first since joining the league in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Big 12 has a basketball tournament.
The Big 12 basketball tournament started in 1997, a year after the Big 12 was formed.
The tournament has been held in various cities across the US, including Kansas City, Dallas, and Oklahoma City.
The Big 12 basketball tournament is held annually.
The tournament is a single-elimination format with four rounds. The top six seeds receive byes in the first round, and seeding is based on regular-season records.
