Pitt basketball set to open ACC play Dec. 3 at Virginia

After seven nonconference games, Pitt will open its ninth season in the ACC on Dec. 3 at Virginia.

The entire Pitt men’s basketball schedule was released Thursday night on the ACC Network.

The Panthers’ final home game March 1 will be a historic event — Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game in Pittsburgh. Krzyzewski has said he will retire at the end of the season.

The first ACC game at the Petersen Events Center will be Dec. 28 against Notre Dame. Other conference home games include Boston College (Jan. 8), Louisville (Jan. 15), Virginia (Jan. 19), Syracuse (Jan. 25), Virginia Tech (Feb. 5), N.C. State (Feb. 12), Georgia Tech (Feb. 19) and Miami (Feb. 22).

The road schedule includes games at Virginia Tech (Jan. 1), Louisville (Jan. 5), Syracuse (Jan. 11), Clemson (Jan. 22), Boston College (Jan. 29), Wake Forest (Feb. 2), Florida State (Feb. 9), North Carolina (Feb. 16) and Notre Dame (March 5).

“The Atlantic Coast Conference schedule is always challenging with so many outstanding programs,” Pitt coach Jeff Capel said in a statement. “I like what I have seen from our team this offseason and believe we will come out hungry to compete and prove ourselves in what I believe is the best conference in the country.

“We are also looking forward to having fans back at the Petersen Events Center and feeding off the great college basketball atmosphere the Oakland Zoo helps provide.”

A total of 15 of Pitt’s 20 conference games will air on the ACC Network. The other five will be available on either ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

The Panthers open the season Nov. 9 at the Pete against The Citadel. They also will play an exhibition game Nov. 1 against Gannon, also at the Pete.