It hasn’t been posted on the site officially as of yet, but Pitt releases its non-conference schedule today. Just like last year, it’s full of patsies.

This season’s non-conference schedule is similarly constructed, with 9 of the 11 games at the Petersen Events Center and no games against quality opponents on the road.

Pitt opens Nov. 20 with a home game against Howard. The Panthers also play home games against Robert Morris (Nov. 24), Loyola, Md. (Nov. 27), St. Francis, Pa. (Dec. 1), Duquesne (Dec. 4), Coppin State (Dec. 18), Richmond (Dec. 23) and Bucknell (Jan. 2).

They will play in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden, facing Memphis Dec. 7. The only road game during the non-conference schedule is Dec. 11 at Penn State.

Three teams — Memphis, Richmond and South Carolina — played in the NCAA tournament last season.

Next week the dates for the Big East schedule will be released. This sucks. It’s not just that they are facing bad teams, it’s the sheer volume of absolutely horrid teams. These are teams that are in the 200s of RPI at best. Once again, the non-con will absolutely kill the RPI.