Simple math puts doubt on the future of the challenge. Denver, leaving for the West Coast Conference next school year, is the Summit League’s second defection since agreeing to the challenge. The Big Sky, meanwhile, nets one addition next year with Southern Utah and Utah Tech joining the fold, while Sacramento State leaves to the Big West.

But for now, the Big Sky tries to get on the board after the Summit League has taken the first two years of challenges based on a points system that awards 1 1/2 points for a road win and one point for a home win, with scoring margin as a tiebreaker.

Early returns on the men’s side, according to Ken Pomeroy’s metrics, show the Big Sky has ascended to the 17th-best conference in the country, well ahead of the Summit League in 24th. Last season, the Big Sky rated No. 22 among 31 conferences and the Summit was 17th.

Both of WSU’s home games this week stream on ESPN+ but road games are available on the Summit League’s online subscription service.

MEN START AT HOME

The Weber State men (3-4) begin at home with a somewhat familiar foe as they tip off with Oral Roberts (3-6) at 7 p.m. Wednesday. WSU is 6-2 all-time against ORU, with four matchups in the last 13 years, including a Weber road win two seasons ago.

Weber State has risen from No. 303 in KenPom to start the season to its current spot at 210, and is No. 182 as the NCAA’s NET rating went live to start the week. Oral Roberts is 291 in KenPom and 280 in NET.

The Golden Eagles have struggled defensively this season but can stay in games by shooting a lot of 3-pointers and making them at a strong-enough clip. WSU is No. 29 nationally in defensive 3-point attempt rate and No. 8 in defensive 3-point percentage (24.8%) against Division I teams.

Senior guard Ty Harper (No. 1) leads ORU at 16.4 points per game. He and junior Connor Down (No. 5) account for 47% of the team’s 3-point attempts and combine to shoot 36.5% from deep.

WSU then travels to Minnesota to take on St. Thomas (6-3), a new-to-DI team quickly becoming formidable in the Summit League. This game has been moved to 11 a.m. MST Sunday.

The Tommies rate No. 178 in KenPom and 139 in NET. The team does everything well offensively except shoot the 3 at a high percentage and rebounds well on the defensive glass.

Sophomore guard and Marquette transfer Nolan Minessale (No. 4) is the man to watch; he scores 20.9 points per game and shoots 63.3% on two-pointers.

WOMEN GET TOUGH DRAW

Weber State’s women’s team (2-5, No. 221 NET) starts on the road with South Dakota State at 6 p.m. MST Wednesday. SDSU (6-2) is No. 57 in NCAA NET and went 30-4 last season. The Jackrabbits have a win over Kansas State and also beat up Montana by 24 points.

SDSU shoots 36% from 3 as a team, led by senior guard Madison Mathiowetz (No. 3), who’s 15 of 29 (51.7%) this season while scoring 11.9 points per game. Senior forward Brooklyn Meyer (No. 31) powers the team, averaging 21.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

The Wildcats return to Ogden for their first home game in three weeks when North Dakota State (5-2) comes to the Dee Events Center at noon Saturday. The Bison are No. 68 in NET.

Junior forward Avery Koenen (No. 22) leads NDSU at 17.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, shooting 72.6% from the field in seven games. Sophomore guard Marisa Frost (No. 12) adds 12.3 points per game for a team shooting 54.1% from two-point range this season.