Pitt Men’s Basketball Will Face A Stronger Non-Conference Schedule In 2014-15

By Brett Tunno | Jul 8, 2014

Mar 22, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jamie Dixon talks with his players in the second half of a men

Jamie Dixon and his Pitt basketball team received much criticism last season for their extremely weak non-conference basketball schedule.

The lack of quality opponents also hurt the Panthers NCAA tournament seeding, resulting in a 9 seed and a third-round date with the No.1 team in the country, the Florida Gators.

Pitt’s non-conference opponents were announced for the upcoming season Tuesday, and I can assure you that we won’t be hearing criticism about scheduling this year. (See full schedule here.)

Pitt has the potential to face 10 squads that made the Big Dance last season, a number of teams who found themselves in the NIT, and some potential “Cinderellas.”

Pitt returns three starters and 11 total players who contributed to Pitt’s scoring last season and 26-10 record, as the Panthers reached their 12th NCAA tournament in the last 13 years. I expect this team to be better than last season.

The schedule is highlighted by Pitt’s first-ever appearance in the EA Sports Maui Invitational, where Pitt could potentially face off against former Panther Sean Miller and his Arizona Wildcats (33-5 in 2014, Elite Eight berth).

Pitt will play three total games Nov. 24-26 at the Lahaina Center in Maui, Hawaii. The Panthers could also square off against Steve Fisher’s San Diego State Aztecs (31-5, Sweet 16), Missouri (23-12), BYU (23-12, Second Round), Kansas State (20-13, Second Round), Purdue (15-17), and Chaminade. The tournament matchups will be announced at a later date on ESPN.

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Because Pitt has also scheduled a road game against Hawaii (20-11), NCAA rules allow for an additional non-conference game. Therefore, Pitt will play 14 instead of the usual 13 non-conference games.

Pitt’s opponent last year for the ACC/Big Ten Challenge was a weak Penn State squad, but this year the Panthers will travel to Indiana (17-15) to face Tom Crean’s Hoosiers. Indiana was very powerful a few years ago, so expect this to be a great matchup.

Pitt will open its season against Niagara (7-26), and will face other teams including Samford (13-20), St. Bonaventure (18-15), Manhattan (25-8, Second Round), Oakland (13-20), Holy Cross (20-14), Florida Gulf Coast (22-13), Bryant (18-14), and Duquesne (13-17) in the 83rd City Game.

A few teams that cannot be overlooked include St. Bonaventure, Manhattan, Oakland, Holy Cross, and Florida Gulf Coast. Anyone who follows college basketball understands that these teams have potential to be Cinderellas come March Madness time. Florida Gulf Coast made it to the Elite Eight a few seasons ago.

As for Pitt’s ACC opponents, Pitt will play home and away games against Syracuse (28-6, Third Round), fellow Big East member and newcomer Louisville (31-6, Sweet 16), Florida State (22-14, NIT Semis) and Boston College (8-24).

Nine home games at the Pete include Syracuse, Louisville, North Carolina (24-10, Third Round), Florida State, Clemson (23-13, NIT Semis), Miami (17-16), Georgia Tech (16-17), Notre Dame (15-17) and Boston College.

Road opponents include Syracuse, Louisville, Duke (26-9, Second Round), Virginia (30-7, Sweet 16), NC State (22-14, Second Round), Florida State, Virginia Tech (9-22), Boston College, and Wake Forest (17-16).

The addition of Rick Pitino’s Louisville Cardinals will make the ACC an even stronger conference. I expect this conference to to gain strength and become the best of NCAA college basketball.

Pitt will have plenty of chances building its NCAA Tournament resume with a squad that returns most of last year’s team, minus Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna.

Here is the order of Pitt’s non-conference opponents:

Nov. 14 vs Niagara
Nov. 16 vs Samford
Nov. 21 @ Hawaii
Nov. 24-26 Arizona, San Diego State, Missouri, BYU, Kansas State, Purdue, Chaminade (Maui Invitational)
Dec. 2 Indiana (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
Dec. 5 vs Duquesne (City Game)
Dec. 13 vs St. Bonaventure
Dec. 17 vs Manhattan
Dec. 20 vs Oakland
Dec. 23 vs Holy Cross
Dec. 30 vs Florida Gulf Coast
Feb. 2 vs Bryant

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