The Big 12 Conference is a Division I college athletic conference located primarily in the mid- and south-central parts of the United States. Despite its name, it currently consists of 10 fulltime university members— Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Christian, Texas Tech, and West Virginia. These teams square off for numerous competitions, including the highly anticipated Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Following each team’s regular season, the 10 go head-to-head in a single-elimination competition leading up to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Seeded based on their season record, the teams battle it out in 5 rounds over a 4-day period. The buzzer-beating action culminates with the championship playoff, in which the winner earns an automatic bid into the Big Dance.
Since 1997, the competition has brought some of the most exciting and nail-biting moments in the conference. It’s a prime time for upsets and blowouts—when the greats are toppled or favorites go all the way, and future NBA stars are born in front of us. There’s nothing like watching the Big 12 Tournament in person, and there are plenty of affordable tickets for all fans.
So far, the Kansas Jayhawks have the greatest success in the tournament with 10 wins, most recently in 2016. Can they nab the title again this year, or could Iowa State repeat last year’s victory? The 2018 event returns on March 7 for its tenth year at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a must-see showdown for fans of college basketball, so don’t wait long to get your Big 12 Tournament tickets.
