1987–1990

The modern tournament format began in 1987 as the Pacific-10 Men's basketball Tournament.^[2] The first incarnation of the tournament ran from 1987 to 1990, hosted at different school sites. UCLA was awarded the inaugural tournament, which was won by the Bruins. The Arizona Wildcats hosted the 1988 tournament and won. The Wildcats also won the 1989 and 1990 tournaments. Citing academic concerns, it was dropped after 1990 upon opposition from coaches, poor revenue, and poor attendance.^[3][4][5] The Pac-10 went back to having the regular season champion get awarded the automatic NCAA tournament bid for the 1990–2001 seasons. The Pac-10 also was viewed as weaker than East coast conferences that placed many teams in the NCAA tournament.^[6] The tournament was seen as more damaging to the conference than helpful.^[6] The NCAA selection show occurred during or immediately following the Sunday final.^[7] This meant the selection committee had to make a decision to have a placeholder for a potential team that depended upon the final result.

2002 to the present

In 1998, the Big Ten began to hold a conference tournament, leaving the Pac-10 and Ivy League the lone conferences without postseason tournaments. (The Ivy League would not begin holding its tournament until 2017.) The Pac-10 tournament was restarted by an 8–2 vote of the athletic directors of the conference in 2000 after determining that a tournament would help increase exposure of the conference and help the seeding of the schools in the NCAA tournament.^[8] Stanford University and the University of Arizona opposed the tournament, while UCLA's and USC's votes, considered the deciding votes, were swayed by permanently hosting the tournament at Staples Center.^[9][10] Los Angeles is the second largest media market in the United States. The championship game has been broadcast nationally by CBS Sports. The championship game was scheduled for Saturday before selection Sunday, as opposed to the previous iteration of the tournament holding the championship on Sunday after the selection committee had completed their work.

With the 2011 championship game attracting only 12,074 paid attendees, less than two-thirds the capacity of Staples Center, commissioner Larry Scott reopened bids from other cities to host the Pac-12 Tournament. Other models including a round-robin model and hosting the tournament at conference sites have also been considered.^[11] Ultimately, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Seattle submitted bids for consideration.^[12]

On March 13, 2012, the Pac-12 Tournament was officially moved to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for a three-year term.^[13] The tournament moved to T-Mobile Arena once it opened during the 2016–17 basketball season; the hosting contract between the Pac-12 and the arena ran through 2020.^[14] In October 2019, the contract was extended through 2021-2022.^[15]

The 2020 tournament began on March 11, and teams played the first round. It was cancelled on March 12 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with no further games played.^[16] The 2021 tournament was played, but with only family of student-athletes & members of the individual athletic departments as spectators in attendance.^[17][18]

Tournament MVP by School

through 2023 tournament

†Arizona had Co-MVP winners for the 1990 tournament.^[20]

*Arizona & California are the only schools to have a tournament MVP from teams that did not win the Conference Title Game.
Arizona State, Utah & Washington State have yet to have a player win tournament MVP.

Performance by team

through 2023

† Arizona vacated 2017, 2018 titles due to NCAA penalty
Key

Coaches with championships

• 4 – Lute Olson (Arizona – 1988, 1989, 1990, 2002)
• 3 – Dana Altman (Oregon – 2013, 2016, 2019)
• 3 – Sean Miller† (Arizona – 2015, 2017, 2018)
• 3 – Lorenzo Romar (Washington – 2005, 2010, 2011)
• 2 – Tommy Lloyd (Arizona – 2022-23)
• 2 – Ben Howland (UCLA – 2006, 2008)
• 2 – Ernie Kent (Oregon – 2003, 2007)
• 1 – Steve Alford (UCLA – 2014)
• 1 – Tad Boyle (Colorado – 2012)
• 1 – Tim Floyd (USC – 2009)
• 1 – Walt Hazzard (UCLA – 1987)
• 1 – Mike Montgomery (Stanford – 2004)
• 1 – Wayne Tinkle (Oregon State – 2021)

notes:
† Arizona vacated 2017, 2018 titles due to NCAA penalty
^[20]

Coaches by all-time winning %

(1.000) – Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), (6−0)
(.750) – Walt Hazzard (UCLA), (3−1)
(.727) – Lute Olson (Arizona), (16−6)
(.720) – Sean Miller (Arizona), (18−7)†
(.710) – Dana Altman (Oregon), (22−9)
(.667) – Tim Floyd (USC), (6−3)
(.667) – Bill Frieder (ASU), (2−1)
(.636) – Steve Alford (UCLA), (7−4)
(.600) – Tad Boyle (Colorado), (18−12)
(.600) – Jim Harrick (UCLA), (3−2)
(.579) – Ben Howland (UCLA), (11−8)
(.577) – Lorenzo Romar (Washington), (15−11)
(.571) – Henry Bibby (USC), (4−3)
(.571) – Mick Cronin (UCLA), (4−3)
(.571) – Cuonzo Martin (California), (4−3)
(.500) – Ernie Kent (Oregon/Washington St.), (11−11)
(.500) – Ben Braun (California), (7−7)
(.500) – Tony Bennett (Washington St.), (3−3)
(.500) – Steve Lavin (UCLA), (3−3)
(.500) – Ralph Miller (Oregon St.), (3−3)
(.500) – Andy Russo (Washington), (3−3)
(.500) – Kyle Smith (Washington State), (3−3)
(.500) – Murry Bartow (UCLA), (1−1)
(.467) – Andy Enfield (USC), (7−8)
(.462) – Wayne Tinkle (OSU), (6−7)
(.455) – Mike Montgomery (Stanford/California), (10−12)
(.429) – Johnny Dawkins (Stanford), (6−8)
(.417) – Bobby Hurley (ASU), (5−7)
(.412) – Larry Krystkowiak (Utah), (7−10)
(.400) – Mark Fox (California), (2−3)
(.400) – Kevin O’Neill (Arizona/USC), (2−3)
(.400) – Kelvin Sampson (Washington St.), (2−3)
(.333) – Mike Hopkins (Washington), (3−6)
(.333) – Craig Robinson (Oregon St.), (3−6)
(.333) – Lou Campanelli (Cal), (2−4)
(.333) – Jay John (OSU), (2−4)
(.333) – Don Monson (Oregon), (2−4)
(.333) – George Ravelling (USC), (2−4)
(.300) – Jerod Haase (Stanford), (3−7)
(.250) – Herb Sendek (ASU), (3−9)
(.000) – Craig Smith (Utah), (0−2)
(–) – Mark Madsen (California), (0−0)
Note:† Miller’s six wins and tournament titles in 2017 & 2018 vacated due to NCAA penalty (Miller’s revised tournament record - 12-7, .632)
Coaches with at least one win are listed here. Current coaches are in bold.

Coaches by tournament wins

22 – Dana Altman (Oregon), (22−9)
18 – Sean Miller (Arizona), (18−7)†
18 – Tad Boyle (Colorado), (18−12)
16 – Lute Olson (Arizona), (16−6)
15 – Lorenzo Romar (Washington), (15−11)
11 – Ben Howland (UCLA), (11−8)
11 – Ernie Kent (Oregon/Washington State), (11−11)
10 – Mike Montgomery (Stan/Cal), (10−12)
7 – Andy Enfield (USC), (7−8)
7 – Ben Braun (Cal), (7−8)
7 – Larry Krystkowiak (Utah), (7−10)
6 – Tommy Lloyd (Arizona), (6−0)
6 – Steve Alford (UCLA), (6−3)
6 – Tim Floyd (USC), (6−3)
6 – Wayne Tinkle (OSU), (6−7)
6 – Johnny Dawkins (Stanford), (6−8)
5 – Bobby Hurley (ASU), (5−7)
4 – Mick Cronin (UCLA), (4−3)
4 – Henry Bibby (USC), (4−3)
4 – Cuonzo Martin (California), (4−3)
3 – Walt Hazzard (UCLA), (3−1)
3 – Jim Harrick (UCLA), (3−2)
3 – Steve Lavin (UCLA), (3−3)
3 – Andy Russo (Washington), (3−3)
3 – Kyle Smith (Washington State), (3−3)
3 – Mike Hopkins (Washington), (3−6)
3 – Craig Robinson (OSU), (3−6)
3 – Jerod Haase (Stanford), (3−7)
3 – Herb Sendek (ASU), (3−9)
2 – Bill Frieder (ASU), (2−1)
2 – Mark Fox (California), (2−3)
2 – Kelvin Sampson (WSU), (2−3)
2 – Lou Campanelli (Cal), (2−4)
2 – Jay John (OSU), (2−4)
2 – Don Monson (Oregon), (2−4)
1 – Murray Bartow (UCLA), (1−1)
0 – Craig Smith (Utah), (0−2)
0 – Mark Madsen (California), (0−0)
Note:† Miller’s six wins and tournament titles in 2017 & 2018 vacated due to NCAA penalty (Miller’s revised tournament record - 12-7, .632)
Only coaches with 1 or more wins listed here. As of March 11, 2023

All-time records by seed

As of March 11, 2023

†Arizona vacated all wins & titles from 2017, 2018 due to NCAA penalty
*USC vacated its win vs. ASU in the 2009 Pac-10 Tournament.^[20]

Pac-12 Tournament team records

• Margin of victory: 33 pts., Oregon (vs. Washington State), (84–51), Mar. 13, 2019
• Most points per game: 103 USC, (vs. Stanford) (78), Mar. 7, 2002
• Fewest points per game: 39 Utah vs. Arizona, Mar. 13, 2014
• Most points per half: 59 ARIZ vs. OSU (21), Mar. 12, 2008 (1st); 59 ORE vs. COLO (48), Mar. 12, 2015
• Fewest points per half: 13 UTAH vs. ARIZ (34), Mar. 13, 2014
• Most points per tournament: 278 Arizona, (3 games) Mar. 1988
• Most field goals per game
  • Team: 39 UCLA, (vs. ASU) (39-of-71), Mar. 6, 1987
  • Both Teams: 70, UCLA (39) vs. ASU (31), Mar. 6, 1987;
  • Both Teams: 70, Arizona (37) vs. OSU (33), Mar. 11, 1989
• Most field goal attempts per game
  • Team: 88, Arizona (vs. UCLA), Mar. 13, 2003 (33-of-88) (OT)
  • Both Teams, Game: 157, UCLA (69) vs. ARIZ (88), Mar. 13, 2003 (OT)
• Highest Field Goals % per game: 68.3%, CAL vs. USC, Mar. 10, 1988 (28-of-41)
• Most Assists Per Game: 23, ARIZ vs. OSU, Mar. 11, 1989
• Most Steals Per Game: 14, USC vs. CAL, Mar. 14, 2003; 14, ASU vs. USC, Mar. 13, 2008;
  • 14, UCLA vs. USC, Mar. 13, 2009
• Most blocked shots per game: 9, ORE vs. WASH, Mar. 7, 2002
• Most personal fouls per game (one team): 42, Oregon 42 (vs. UCLA) (1990)
• Highest field goal percentage per game: .683, CAL vs. USC, Mar. 10, 1988 (28-of-41)
• Lowest field goal percentage per game: .255 Utah vs. Arizona, Mar. 13, 2014 (12-of-47)

Pac-12 Tournament individual records

• Most total points scored in:
  • Half: 25, Klay Thompson, Washington State vs. Washington, Mar. 10, 2011 (2nd)
  • Game: 43, Klay Thompson, Washington State vs. Washington, Mar. 10, 2011
  • Tournament: 83, Reggie Miller, UCLA, 1987 (3 games)
• Most field goals per :
  • Game: 15, Reggie Miller, UCLA vs. Arizona State, Mar. 6, 1987 (15-of 20)
  • 15, Klay Thompson, Washington State vs. Washington, Mar. 10, 2011 (15-of-29)
  • Tournament: 27, Reggie Miller, UCLA, 1987 (3 games)
• Most field goal attempts per:
  • Game: 29, Klay Thompson, Washington State vs. Washington, Mar. 10, 2011 (15-of-29)
  • Tournament: 60, Brook Lopez, Stanford, 2008 (25-of-60, 3 games)
• Field goal percentage per:
  • Game (min 10 made): 1.000 Bryce Taylor, Oregon vs. USC, Mar. 10, 2007 (11-of-11)
  • Tournament (min 15 made): .791 Isaac Austin, Arizona State, 1988 (19-of-24, 3 games)
• Most 3-pt. field goals made

• Game: 11 Alfonso Plummer, Utah vs. OSU, Mar. 11, 2020 (11-of-16)

• Tournament: 14 Chamberlain Oguchi, Oregon, 2006 (14-of-38, 3 games)

• Highest 3-pt. FG % (min. 3)
  • Game: 100%, Bryce Taylor, Oregon vs. USC, Mar. 10, 2007 (7-of-7)
• Most total rebounds per :
  • Game: 20 Leon Powe, California vs. USC, Mar. 9, 2006
  • Tournament: 41 André Roberson, Colorado, 2012 (4 games);
• Most steals per :
  • Game: 7 James Harden, Arizona State vs. USC, Mar. 13, 2008
  • Tournament: 10 Jordan McLaughlin, USC, 2018 (3 games)
• Most blocks per:
  • Game: 6 Josh Huestis, Stanford vs. Arizona State, Mar. 13, 2013; Malik Dime, Washington vs. USC, Mar. 8, 2017; Francis Okoro, Oregon vs. Utah, March 14, 2019; Oumar Ballo, Arizona vs. UCLA, March 12, 2022
  • Tournament: 10 Evan Mobley, USC, 2021 (2 games); 10 Kenny Wooten, Oregon, 2019 (4 games); 9 Sean Rooks, Arizona, 1990 (3 games); Kingsley Okoroh, California, 2017 (3 games)

Pac-12 Tournament final game team records

• Most total points scored in a final game: 172 (Arizona 94, UCLA 78)(1990)^[20]