The Pitt men’s basketball team will play in its first ever SEC/Big East Basketball… The Pitt men’s basketball team will play in its first ever SEC/Big East Basketball Invitational this year — and will do so in style.

Pitt will play Tennessee in the new Consol Energy Center Downtown as part of a doubleheader on Dec. 11.

“This is a great event for the city of Pittsburgh,” head coach Jamie Dixon said in a press release. “With our terrific fan support and opening of the new Consol Energy Center, it’s easy to see why Pittsburgh was selected to host this outstanding event.”

This is the fourth year of the Invitational in which two teams from each conference are selected to participate. The Volunteers are coming off an Elite Eight appearance, whereas the Panthers bowed out in the second round.

The arena will officially open Aug. 18 with a Paul McCartney concert, and it is also set to host the first and second rounds of the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The times have not been announced yet for the doubleheader, which includes Rutgers and Auburn in the first game, but the games will be televised on ESPN and ESPN2.

“We’re honored to be chosen to host such a high-profile major college basketball event in our first season of operation,” general manager of Consol Energy Center/SMG Jay Roberts said in the press release.