The annual culmination of the Big Sky Conference men’s and women’s basketball seasons, this event determines the conference’s automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Division I Basketball Championship tournament. The winners earn the right to represent the conference on the national stage, bypassing the at-large selection process. For example, Montana State University men’s basketball team secured its place in the NCAA tournament by winning the Big Sky Conference tournament in 2024.
This competition holds significant importance for participating institutions and their athletic programs. Winning provides not only national exposure and prestige but also financial benefits through NCAA tournament participation payouts. Historically, the event has served as a platform for smaller schools to achieve national recognition and potentially upset higher-seeded teams in the subsequent national championship tournament. It elevates the profile of the conference as a whole, influencing recruitment and overall athletic program development.