Inside The Panthers

Breaking Down Pitt Basketball's Non-Conference Schedule

The Panthers won't face many difficult challenges during their non-conference slate.

Stephen Thompson

Breaking Down Pitt Basketball's Non-Conference Schedule
Breaking Down Pitt Basketball's Non-Conference Schedule /
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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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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:

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