ST. LOUIS - Missouri Valley coaches are thankful they will need to schedule one less game for the next four years. An agreement was announced Tuesday between the Valley and Mountain West Conference to start a series similar to the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. | NCAA men's basketball page

The Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge could begin as early as the 2009-10 season. However, because the Mountain West has only nine members, one Valley team would have to sit out each year.

The Big East and Southeastern conferences also are involved in an interleague challenge along with the Big 12 and Pac-10 conferences.

"The challenge series is another great step for the league," said Valley commissioner Doug Elgin. "From our perspective, looking around thinking who can we play, this is the best alternative. We are the best two conferences remaining after that big six.

"It will add a lot of pizzazz and excitement to our fans when we travel to great Mountain West venues and they come to ours."

Mountain West members are Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, Texas Christian, Nevada-Las Vegas, Utah and Wyoming.

Jankovich was an assistant coach at Colorado State from 1987-91 when many of the current Mountain West members belonged to the Western Athletic Conference.

"I think it's great. Scheduling is so difficult for all of us. Us coaches, when we all get together, we all whine and complain about it," Jankovich said. "Everybody will have their work cut out whoever we draw."