Pitt releases 2016-17 men’s basketball non-conference schedule

The University of Pittsburgh men’s basketball team released its 2016-2017 non-conference schedule Tuesday in an announcement from head coach Kevin Stallings.

In addition to the Panthers’ loaded ACC schedule, which includes 12 games against 2016 postseason qualifiers, Pitt’s non-conference schedule features five teams that made the postseason a year ago: Yale, Morehead State, Maryland, Duquesne and Buffalo.

The Panthers will open the season by appearing for the first time in the 22nd annual 2K Classic, which benefits the Wounded Warrior Project.

“Anytime you are playing an ACC schedule and in a high-level event like the 2K Classic you will have a schedule that will challenge and excite your players and your fan base,” Stallings said in a press release.

Pitt will host two games in the opening round of the 2K Classic at the Petersen Events Center against opponents to be named later. The season opener will take place Nov. 11, followed by another home game Nov. 14.

The Panthers will then travel to New York and compete in the 2K Classic Championship Rounds along with Marquette, Michigan and SMU at Madison Square Garden Nov. 17 and 18.

Pitt returns home to meet 2016 NCAA Tournament qualifier Yale Nov. 22, and College Basketball Invitational finalist Morehead State Nov. 25. The Panthers then head to College Park, Maryland, to meet the Maryland Terrapins in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge Nov. 29.

Maryland reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament last year and will likely be ranked to start the season. Pitt has won three straight meetings against the Terps, but Maryland leads the all-time series, 5-4.

Next, the Panthers come back to Pittsburgh for the annual City Game against the Duquesne Dukes at Consol Energy Center Dec. 2. Pitt has won 15 straight games in the matchup and leads the all-time series, 53-31.

The Panthers will then host 2016 NCAA Tournament qualifier Buffalo at the Pete Dec. 7, before traveling to Newark, New Jersey for a neutral-court matchup against the Penn State Nittany Lions Dec. 10.

The game against Penn State will be the nightcap of the inaugural Never Forget Tribute Classic, an event partnering with Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund to help educate children who lost parents in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Pitt concludes its non-conference schedule back at the Pete, with home games against Rice Dec. 17, Omaha Dec. 21 and Marshall Dec. 28 before entering conference play.