Who's The King Of The Big 12 Conference?

who won men

The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is a championship tournament in the Big 12 Conference, which is composed of 16 universities competing in the NCAA Division I. The tournament is a single-elimination format with four rounds, with the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament. Kansas has historically dominated the Big 12 postseason, winning 12 out of 25 titles, but in 2025, Houston took home the men's Big 12 title.

Characteristics Values
Year of the latest win 2025
Winner of the latest tournament Houston
Runner-up of the latest tournament Arizona
Number of universities in the conference 16
Year of the formation of the conference 1994
Year of the first conference play 1996
School with the most Big 12 postseason titles Kansas
Number of Big 12 postseason titles won by Kansas 12

shunwild

The 2025 men's Big 12 title was won by Houston

Houston's 2025 victory marked the first time since 2005-2019 that a current Big 12 member, other than Iowa State or Kansas, won the tournament. These two schools have historically dominated the tournament, winning 18 of 27 titles. Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles, with 12 out of 25 wins.

The Big 12 Conference expanded to 16 members in the 2024-25 season with the return of Colorado and the addition of Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah. The expansion brought a diverse range of campuses and enrolment sizes to the conference, enriching the competitive landscape. The 2025 tournament showcased the heightened competition and the rising talent across the expanded conference.

Houston's triumph in the 2025 men's Big 12 tournament was a significant achievement, navigating through a larger pool of competitors and showcasing the depth of basketball talent across the expanded conference. Their victory over Arizona demonstrated their determination and skill, setting a new chapter in the history of the Big 12 Conference.

shunwild

Texas Longhorns won the 2021 championship

The Texas Longhorns had a successful 2020-21 season, but they did not win the 2021 Men's Big 12 basketball conference. That honour went to the Kansas team.

The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team has a rich history and a passionate fan base, and they entered the 2021 Big 12 Tournament as one of the top five favourites to win. The team has had a strong tradition in college basketball, with a talented roster and dedicated coaching staff. Their hard work and determination paid off as they secured a spot in the tournament, showcasing their skills and competitiveness.

The Longhorns had a challenging road to the tournament, facing tough opponents along the way. Their strategy and teamwork were put to the test, but their resilience and unwavering spirit kept them in contention. The team's success in the 2020-21 season was built on a foundation of strong defence and a well-rounded offensive game. Their ability to adapt to different playing styles and exploit their opponents' weaknesses proved crucial in their victories.

While the Longhorns fell short of winning the 2021 championship, their performance left a lasting impression. Their tenacity and unwavering belief in themselves served as an inspiration to their fans and fellow competitors. The team's journey in the tournament was a testament to their growth and the enduring spirit of the game. The Longhorns' loss, while disappointing, only fuelled their determination to come back stronger in future competitions.

Although the Texas Longhorns did not lift the trophy in 2021, their impact on the tournament was undeniable. Their journey inspired future generations of players and fans, reminding us all that victory lies not only in winning but also in the courage and passion brought to the game.

shunwild

Iowa State and Kansas have won 18 of 27 titles

The Big 12 Conference is a group of 16 universities that compete in the NCAA Division I. It was formed in 1994 but did not begin conference play until 1996. Between 2005 and 2019, no current Big 12 member besides Iowa State or Kansas won the tournament. Iowa State and Kansas have dominated the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, winning a combined 18 out of 27 titles. Kansas has won the most Big 12 postseason titles, with 12 out of 25 wins.

Iowa State and Kansas' success in the tournament has been consistent, with one of the two schools taking the championship every year between 2005 and 2019. This streak was broken in 2021 when the Texas Longhorns won the championship game against Oklahoma State, becoming the first school from outside the original Big Eight Conference to win.

The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is a single-elimination tournament with four rounds. The top six seeds receive byes in the first round, and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner of the tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship tournament.

The conference has expanded over the years, starting with 12 members and growing to 16 in the 2024-25 season with the addition of Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah, and the return of charter member Colorado. The schools that composed the Big 12 Conference in the 2022-23 season have won six national titles, including three since the inception of the conference.

shunwild

Kansas has won the most postseason titles: 12 out of 25

The Big 12 men's basketball tournament is a championship tournament in the Big 12 Conference, which comprises 16 universities competing in the NCAA Division I level. The Big 12 Conference was formed in 1994 and began conference play in 1996. The Big 12 men's basketball tournament has been held since 1997.

Kansas has been dominant in the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, having won the most postseason titles: 12 out of 25. They have also appeared in 15 championship games. This period of success for Kansas began in 2005 and ended in 2019, with no other current Big 12 member winning the tournament during this time, apart from Iowa State. Together, these two schools have won 18 out of 27 titles.

The Texas Longhorns broke the streak in 2021, becoming the first school from outside the original Big Eight Conference to win the tournament. The Big Eight Conference and the Southwest Conference are precursors to the Big 12 Conference, which was formed when they merged. The schools that composed the Big 12 Conference in the 2022-23 season, except West Virginia, were members of these precursor conferences.

The Big 12 Tournament was held in Kansas City from 2010 through to 2025.

shunwild

The Big 12 Conference was formed in 1994

The Big 12 Conference, the second youngest of the major college athletic conferences in the United States, was formed in February 1994. The conference was established when all eight members of the Big Eight Conference joined forces with four members of the Southwest Conference: Baylor, Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech. This expansion resulted in a total of twelve members, leading to the conference's apt moniker—the "Big 12." However, it's worth noting that the Big 12 does not claim the history of the Big Eight as its own, despite essentially being an expanded version of that conference.

The formation of the Big 12 Conference came amidst dynamic shifts in the early 1990s, with Texas engaging in discussions with the Pac-10 (now known as the Pac-12) due to shared academic interests. Texas leaders found the prospect of association with universities like UCLA, Stanford, and Cal in academics highly desirable. However, an offer from the Pac-10 didn't materialize until after the formation of the Big 12.

In the initial years of the Big 12 Conference, its twelve members competed in two divisions in most sports. The two Oklahoma universities and the four Texas universities formed the South Division, while the remaining six universities from the former Big Eight Conference comprised the North Division. This divisional structure remained in place until 2011, after which the conference underwent significant membership changes during the 2010-2013 realignment and subsequent realignments.

The Big 12 Conference holds a prominent position in college athletics, being one of the Power Four conferences—the four highest-earning and most historically successful FBS football conferences. As a member of Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the Big 12 sponsors championship competitions in a range of men's and women's NCAA-sanctioned sports. The conference's football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the higher level of NCAA Division I football competition. Over the years, the conference has witnessed the coming and going of members, with recent additions and impending departures shaping its evolving landscape.

Frequently asked questions

Houston won the men's Big 12 title in 2025.

Kansas has won the most titles, winning 12 out of 25.

The Texas Longhorns won the 2021 championship game against Oklahoma State.

The Big 12 Conference originally included 12 universities, but it has since expanded to 16.

Written by
Reviewed by

Explore related products

Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment