The Summit League is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and to honor four decades of history, here are 40 stats to get you ready for the 2021-22 men’s and women’s basketball campaigns:
 
40. The three-point percentage that Western Illinois graduate student Will Carius shot last season, one of 14 Summit League men’s players to shoot 40 percent or better from distance last year, making up the country’s top shooting league from deep. 
 
39. As in, North Dakota, the 39th state in the Union. The Bison begin their 14th season in the Summit, while the Fighting Hawks kick off their fifth. 
 
38. The percentage of the Western Illinois women’s offense that came from the three-point line last season, as the Leathernecks yet again played an up-tempo, aggressive-from-distance style.
 
37. Led by junior Heaven Hamling, the percentage the North Dakota State women shot as a team from three last year, the eighth-best mark in the country. 
 
36. The amount of field goals the Kansas City women made while scoring 101 points in a thrilling overtime win over Oral Roberts in January. 
 
35. The amount of rebounds the Omaha women grabbed in their upset of top-seeded South Dakota State in last year’s Summit League Tournament opener. 
 
34. The number worn by North Dakota State senior Rocky Kreuser, who returns to Fargo after an All-Summit First Team season. 
 
33. As in, the Denver men named Jeff Wulbrun the 33rd coach in program history during the offseason, landing a coach with nearly 20 years of college coaching experience.
 
32. As in, St. Thomas will become the 32nd institution to be a full member of the Summit League over its 40-year history. 
 
31. The amount of minutes Kansas City senior Naomie Alnatas played per game last year in a season that saw her score over 16 points per game and land on the All-Summit League First Team.
 
30. The amount of points scored by South Dakota State redshirt senior Myah Selland against Oral Robers last February, a career-high for the Preseason Player of the Year. 
 
29. The percentage of defensive rebounds South Dakota State sophomore Baylor Scheierman grabbed while on the floor last year, the best rate in the Summit League.,
 
28. The amount of games played by Oral Roberts junior, and Preseason Player of the Year, Max Abmas last season in a campaign that saw him lead the country in scoring (24.5 ppg) and spearhead the Golden Eagles’ trip to the Sweet 16. 
 
27. The combined number of Summit League wins the South Dakota women have posted over the past two years. 
 
26. Points scored by North Dakota State junior Sam Griesel in a win over South Dakota in last season’s regular season’ finale, a career high for the Preseason All-Summit League First Teamer.
 
25. Points scored by North Dakota graduate student Bentiu Panoam in a Fighting Hawks win over South Dakota last February, a career high outing from a player that’ll lead a new-look UND team.
 
24. The percentage of offensive possessions the Denver women got to the free throw line in Doshia Woods’ first season, the best mark in the country. 
 
23. Points scored by Omaha sophomore La’Mel Robinson against South Dakota in January, a career high for a player that ended his redshirt freshman season with a lot of momentum.
 
22. The amount of games started by South Dakota senior Xavier Fuller in his debut season in Vermillion, which ended with All-Summit League Honorable Mention honors.
 
21. Wins by the South Dakota State women last year, the 10th straight season the Jackrabbits posted 20 or more wins.
 
20. Points scored by South Dakota State senior Douglas Wilson in the Jackrabbits’ win over Kansas City on the last day of the regular season to clinch a share of the title.
 
19. The amount of games Denver junior Uju Ezeudu scored in double figures last season en route to an All-Summit League Second Team campaign. 
 
18. The ranking held by Gonzaga when the South Dakota State women upset the Bulldogs last December. 
 
17. Percentage of possessions that Summit League men’s teams turned the ball over last year, the third-lowest (and best) rate in the country for a league that was responsible as a collective with the ball.
 
16. As in, Sweet 16, where the Oral Roberts men advanced to last season. 
 
15. The amount of wins that the North Dakota State women posted last year, equalling their highest mark in 12 seasons. 
 
14. The points per game that Oral Roberts graduate student Keni Jo Lippe averaged last season, a performance that landed her on this year’s Preseason All-Summit League Second Team. 
 
13. Points scored by South Dakota senior Mason Archambault in a win over Kansas City last January, which was the halfway point of a 10-game Coyotes’ winning streak.
 
12. In thousands, the 12,000-seat capacity of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, which will host the Summit League men’s and women’s tournaments yet again in March.
 
11. The amount of two-point field goal attempts that South Dakota redshirt senior Hannah Sjervern took per game last year, and which the preseason All-Summit League First Teamer made at an efficient 54.4 percent.
 
10. The percentage of possessions that the Kansas City men stole the ball from the opposition last season, the best mark in the league. 
 
9. The NCAA Tournament seed that the South Dakota State women earned in last year’s NCAA Tournament, and did so with the first at-large bid in their Division I program history.
 
8. The amount of double doubles Western Illinois senior Evan Zars recorded last season, part of an All-Summit Honorable Mention campaign. 
 
7. The amount of consecutive games that Kansas City junior Josiah Allick scored in double figures to close last season. 
 
6. The average number of three pointers North Dakota junior Maggie Manson shot each game last year, one of the highest figures in the country.
 
5. Wins that the Omaha women logged over the final seven games of last season, which included a thrilling run to the final of the Summit League Tournament. 
 
4. The amount of non-conference home games the Denver men will play at Magness Arena this season as Jeff Wulbrun looks to generate momentum in his debut season.
 
3. The margin of victory for the Oral Roberts men in both their NCAA Tournament first and second round victories over Ohio State and Florida, respectively, en route to the Sweet 16.
 
2. The amount of Division I basketball programs on both the men’s and women’s side in the state of Minnesota now that St. Thomas has joined the NCAA’s top division. 

1. As in, the one team on each the men’s and women’s side that will cut down the nets in Sioux Falls in March.