Big 12 Basketball

Big 12 Basketball

The Big 12 conference was not created until 1994. This conference was the direct result of a union between a former group, know as the Big 8, and four colleges located in Texas. Presently, the Big 12 is divided into two groups, Big 12 North Division and Big 12 South Division.

Basketball teams from the Big 12 compete against each other during regular season play and conclude the season with a conference championship tournament. Much like any other conference basketball tournament, the winner of these conference tournaments in both men’s and women’s competition automatically advance to the highly competitive National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Historically, the Big 12 is not known for strong basketball achievements. It receives more attention in the area of football. Men’s national championships in basketball at the NCAA tournament have gone to Big 12 teams just four times, the most recent being the University of Kansas in 1988. The University of Kansas, however, does make frequent appearances in the NCAA tournament.

Recently, teams from Big 12 Basketball have received more attention due to increased media coverage. The conference primarily has agreements with ESPN for game coverage and enjoys secondary agreements for coverage with ABC. Media coverage and sponsorships will increase support for Big 12 Basketball teams buried deep in the central United States.

Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament

The Big 12 Men’s Basketball Tournament has been held every year since 1997. It often takes place in Kansas City, Missouri. With its short history, the Big 12 Tournament has only seen 11 winners. The University of Kansas leads Big 12 basketball with five conference championship wins at the tournament. They are followed by the University of Oklahoma, with three conference championship wins. The University of Oklahoma also boasts of many players participating in the NBA draft, with more representation than any other Big 12 basketball program.

Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament

The Big 12 Women’s Tournament has been held each year since the creation of the conference following the 1997 regular season. National polls often feature some women’s teams from Big 12 basketball. The University of Oklahoma and Texas A&M typically make appearances in the top 25 ranked teams. Women’s teams from the University of Oklahoma enjoy a particularly rich basketball history, often ending the regular season with the best conference record and then going on to win the conference tournament.