Pitt basketball's nonconference schedule include trips to West Virginia, Madison Square Garden
Pitt basketball’s nonconference schedule will keep the Panthers tucked inside Petersen Events Center for seven consecutive games (nine overall), with trips to Morgantown to play West Virginia and Madison Square Garden for a date with St. John’s adding a bit of spice to the preseason.
“Our nonconference schedule is really going to help us prepare for the challenges of our 20-game ACC schedule,” coach Jeff Capel said in a statement. “Matchups against some traditional rivals like West Virginia and St. John’s should excite our fan base, but I also think the rest of our schedule will be intriguing as we look to establish our playing style and identity with this team.
“I have been pleased throughout the offseason with what I have seen from this group and am eager to get back in the gym with them.”
Before the action starts for real, Pitt will play an exhibition at the Pete on Nov. 1 against Division II Gannon.
Then, it opens the season at home Nov. 9 against The Citadel, followed by a renewal of the Backyard Brawl on Nov. 12 against the Mountaineers. The two old rivals did not play last season due to schedule changes created by the covid-19 pandemic, but they have played 187 times, with West Virginia holding an 99-88 advantage.
The seven-game home stretch includes UNC-Wilmington (Nov. 16), Towson (Nov. 19), Vanderbilt (Nov. 24), Maryland-Baltimore County (Nov. 27), Minnesota in an ACC/Big Ten Challenge (Nov. 30), Colgate (Dec. 9) and Monmouth (Dec. 12).
Pitt and St. John’s will be the marquee game of the Gotham Classic at MSG on Dec. 18. Pitt is 4-1 against St. John’s in their past five games in New York City.
Pitt concludes nonconference play Dec. 21 at home against Jacksonville before ACC play begins following the holiday break.
The complete ACC schedule is expected to be announced next month, but Pitt will the host for Duke, Virginia, Louisville, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame, N.C. State, Miami and Boston College. The Duke game will be retiring coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final trip into Pittsburgh as coach of the Blue Devils.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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