You don't understand why winning a ten week round robin against 9 different teams of every size, shape and style on home courts and true road venues is more impressive and a bigger deal to coaches and players than a weekend tourney at a neutral site where you only play three games? Getting the auto bid from winning the conference tourney is only a big deal when you are in a one bid league. If Iowa State lost their first game in the Big 12 tourney this year they would still be 100% guaranteed to go to the ncaa tourney. AT BEST, a Big 12 tourney title earns then one additional seed in the tourney. And yes, there is a regular season trophy although I don't blame you for not knowing that.