Pitt released its 31-game men’s basketball schedule for 2010-11, highlighted by home-and-home Big East games against West Virginia, Villanova and USF and a non-conference schedule that includes multiple games at Madison Square Garden and Consol Energy Center.
The Panthers will open the season Monday, Nov. 8 against Rhode Island at Petersen Events Center. The 18-game Big East schedule begins against Connecticut at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 at Petersen Events Center.
The UConn game, which will be aired on ESPN2, is one of 16 nationally televised games currently on Pitt’s schedule.
Pitt will play 21 games against teams that advanced to post-season play in 2009-10, including 13 against schools that played in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
In Big East action, Pitt will face each of the 15 opponents at least once, as well as two meetings with South Florida, Villanova and West Virginia. Pitt’s other home game include Marquette on Jan. 8, Syracuse on Jan. 17 and Notre Dame on Jan. 24.
The non-conference schedule includes two games at Madison Square Garden as part of the 2K Sports Classic Coaches vs. Cancer event. The Panthers open against Maryland on Nov. 18 and will play either Texas or Illinois on Nov. 19.
Pitt will play City Game foe Duquesne on Wednesday, Dec. 1 in the first-ever basketball game at the newly opened Consol Energy Center. The Panthers also will play Tennessee in the SEC/Big East Invitational at Consol Energy Center on Dec. 11.
Pitt will take part in its fourth ESPN College Game Day when it travels to Villanova for a Saturday, Feb. 12 game.
Pitt, which has ranked among the nation’s top-10 in strength of schedule in three of the last four seasons, returns four starters from a 25-9 team. The Panthers have reached the NCAA Tournament nine years in a row.
Pitt 2010-11 men’s basketball schedule
Date Opponent Time
Sunday, Oct. 31 Northwood (Fla.) University 4 (exhibition)
Thursday, Nov. 4 Indiana (Pa.) 7 (exhibition)
Monday, Nov. 8 Rhode Island TBA
Wednesday, Nov. 10 Illinois-Chicago TBA
Saturday, Nov. 13 North Florida TBA
Coaches vs. Cancer at Madison Square Garden
Thursday, Nov. 18 Maryland 7
Friday, Nov. 19 Texas or Illinois 5 or 7
Tuesday, Nov. 23 Robert Morris TBA
Saturday, Nov. 27 Penn TBA
Wednesday, Dec. 1 Duquesne, at Consol Energy Center TBA
Saturday, Dec. 4 Rider TBA
Wednesday, Dec. 8 Delaware State TBA
SEC/Big East Invitational
Saturday, Dec. 11 Tennessee at Consol Energy Center 3:15
Saturday, Dec. 18 Maryland Eastern Shore TBA
Wednesday, Dec. 22 American TBA
Monday, Dec. 27 Connecticut 8:30
Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Providence TBA
Saturday, Jan. 8 Marquette TBA
Wednesday, Jan. 12 at Georgetown 7
Saturday, Jan. 15 Seton Hall TBA
Monday, Jan. 17 Syracuse 7:30
Saturday, Jan. 22 at DePaul TBA
Monday, Jan. 24 Notre Dame 7
Saturday, Jan. 29 at Rutgers 8
Saturday, Feb. 5 Cincinnati TBA
Monday, Feb. 7 at West Virginia 7
Saturday, Feb. 12 at Villanova 9
Wednesday, Feb. 16 South Florida TBA
Saturday, Feb. 19 at St. John’s (Madison Square Garden) Noon
Thursday, Feb. 24 West Virginia 9
Sunday, Feb. 27 at Louisville 2
Wednesday, Mar. 2 at South Florida 9
Saturday, Mar. 5 Villanova 4
All times Eastern P.M.
All home games at Petersen Events Center unless noted
