Breaking Down Pitt Basketball's Non-Conference Schedule
PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers have a full schedule after they revealed their non-conference slate this week. Highlighted by the Backyard Brawl at home, a trip to Brooklyn for the Legends Classic and road contests against Northwestern and Vanderbilt, the Panthers have built a favorable, but still compelling non-conference slate.
Their biggest challenge against the Mountaineers on November 11 comes at home and the'll face a couple of teams on the downswing for their only true road games. But as is always the case with Pitt, a let-down loss is likely hiding somewhere in games against North Florida, Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson, Alabama State, William and Mary and UT Martin.
Pitt has had success in early-season non-conference play before. During a shortened 2020-21, the Panthers went 4-1 against opponents outside the ACC. In 2019 they went 7-2 in such contests. Head coach Jeff Capel's first year was arguably their best early-season showing - a 10-3 record in the non-conference slate that included a neutral court win over St. Louis and a one-point loss on the road to then No. 14 Iowa.
While early wins don't guarantee that the Panthers won't be once again overpowered by the gauntlet of the ACC, a strong start would work wonders for a team that doesn't have much time to gel before conference play begins.
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