PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh men's basketball program announced its 2024-25 non-conference schedule Wednesday afternoon. The Panthers will play seven home games, headlined by the Backyard Brawl with West Virginia, and four road or neutral contests against power conference opponents outside of Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Pitt opens the season Monday, Nov. 4 against Radford and will also host Murray State (Nov. 8) and Gardner-Webb (Nov. 11) before the Backyard Brawl matchup against the Mountaineers Friday, Nov. 15.
The Panthers play VMI (Nov. 18) in an on-campus game as part of the Greenbrier Tip-Off followed by games at the famed Greenbrier Resort in the picturesque foothills of the Allegheny Mountains against LSU (Nov. 22) and either UCF or Wisconsin (Nov. 24).
Pitt travels to Columbus, Ohio, to face Ohio State Friday, Nov. 29 and will also play on the road against Mississippi State (Dec. 4) in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Panthers conclude the non-conference home slate versus Eastern Kentucky (Dec. 11) and Sam Houston State (Dec. 21).
Pitt's ACC home schedule includes battles with North Carolina, Syracuse, Louisville, Clemson, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Boston College. The Panthers will also welcome ACC newcomers Stanford and Cal to the Petersen Events Center in 2024-25.
The Panthers have posted a 20+ win / 10+ conference win season in each of the past two campaigns. Pitt's 26 ACC wins over the past two seasons is fourth most in the conference, while its 46 wins overall is tied for the sixth most in the ACC.
Pitt returns four of its top six scorers from a year ago with the backcourt of Ishmael Leggett and Jaland Lowe leading the way. Leggett averaged 12.3 points, while leading the team in rebounding (5.5 rpg.) and steals (41) en route to earning ACC Sixth Man of the Year honors. Lowe came on strong over the final three months of the season averaging 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in ACC play.