Inside The Panthers

Pitt Learns New Non-Conference Opponent

The Pitt Panthers can add another opponent to their 2024 non-conference schedule.

Stephen Thompson

Jan 23, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel on the sideline against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second half at McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports / Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

PITTSBURGH -- The Pitt Panthers can add another opponent to their 2024-25 schedule after the announcement that four mid-major teams were joining the field for the Greenbrier Tip-Off, a so-called "multi-team event" that Pitt will be participating in this coming season.

In addition to the four previously announced high-major teams that make up the main event at the Greenbrier Tip-Off, Tennessee Tech, UT Rio Grande Valley, Charleston Southern and Virginia Miliary Institute will join the field, with each team taking a trip to play one of the four high-major teams. Pitt is expected to draw VMI for an on-campus game before traveling to the Greenbrier in late November, according to a report from college basketball insider Rocco Miller.

Pitt now has a handful of non-conference games confirmed for the 2024-25 season. They'll host rival West Virginia for the 191st Backyard Brawl played on hardwood and are expected to compete in this season's installment of the ACC-SEC Challenge. At the Greenbrier Hotel during the week of Thanksgiving, Pitt will square off with two of LSU, UCF and Wisconsin following their date with the Keydets at the Petersen Events Center.

Official dates, tip-off times and television designations for these games will be announced at a later date.

VMI has won 11 games combined over the past two seasons with head coach Andrew Wilson at the helm and they will be turning over much of the top of the roster heading into this season.

Pitt head coach Jeff Capel has faced the Keydets just once before during his time in Pittsburgh. He and the Panthers knocked off VMI, 94-55 in the early days of Capel's first season at Pitt in 2018. Jared Wilson-Frame led the game in scoring with 20 points on 5 made 3-pointers coming off the bench and Au'Diese Toney and Xavier Johnson each chipped in 14 points (Johnson added 10 asssists to 2 turnovers as well) in the victory.

This young team should give the Panthers a chance to tune up before they face stronger competition down in West Virginia to open the 2024-25 season.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more! 

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

Published
Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper.  He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press.  During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general.  You can reach Stephen by email at stephenethompson00@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter. Read his latest work:

Home/Basketball