Pitt’s non-con schedule is starting to hit that “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” phase.

The John Chaney Award for reckless scheduling. Amazingly, Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon has done a complete 180 on pre-conference scheduling, going from one of the easiest slates in each of his first three seasons to what will probably be the most difficult any major team plays this year. It almost cost the Panthers when they scheduled a low-reward game at Buffalo, but they rallied to a 70-67 victory. They’ve still got games at Wisconsin (Saturday) and vs. Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City (Dec. 21).

That’s why the MAC and other mid-major conferences rarely get these kind of games. If you win, you’re supposed to. If you get upset, it exposes you. Even as all the pundits say with the other breath that these teams aren’t that bad and teams should play these games. There’s no real payoff.

Wisconsin has a game against UW-Milwaukee today (also the Panthers), but there is no way that the media isn’t peeking ahead.

This game will be the highlight game of the Badgers’ nonconference season. Pitt coach Jamie Dixon and UW coach Bo Ryan have similar philosophies: Win with fundamentals and by playing smart. They also don’t mind traveling to places other top programs would never go to become tougher. Pitt was tested Saturday when it traveled to mid-major Buffalo and eked out a 70-67 win – just the second time this season that its winning margin wasn’t double-digits. That was a 74-66 win at Auburn. The Tigers lost to Wisconsin 77-63 at the South Padre Island Invitational in late November. Florida State is also a common opponent. Pitt beat the Seminoles 88-66 at home while Wisconsin beat the Seminoles 81-66 at the Kohl Center.

Pitt and Wisconsin have other similarities, too. Both have a serious All-America candidate as well as a strong and deep supporting cast. The Panthers are led by Aaron Gray, a talented 7-foot, 270-pound senior center who averages 16.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and is shooting 64 percent overall. Mike Cook, a 6-4 junior swingman, averages 11.6 points and is shooting 56.6 percent overall and 35.7 percent from 3-point range. Antonio Graves, a 6-3 senior guard, averages 10.1 points and is shooting 49.4 percent overall and 48.1 percent from 3. The Panthers have nine players who average more than 12 minutes a game.

Pitt beat Wisconsin on New Year’s Eve last season as then-senior point guard Carl Krauser scored 22 points for the host Panthers, who shot 55.1 percent. Alando Tucker had 25 points for Wisconsin, which shot 42.1 percent.

It’s Saturday, noon on ESPN. Now the bad news. Dick Vitale will be doing the screaming.

Coach Dixon seems a little envious that Wisconsin gets a warm-up after a break with Milwaukee.

In years past under Dixon, Pitt would traditionally play a major-conference team between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The Panthers preferred to play smaller conference foes the weekend after final exams.

That is not the case this season with a trip to No. 7 Wisconsin Saturday. Wisconsin gave Pitt two dates for the game and this is the one that worked best for Pitt.

“It’s not ideal,” Dixon said. “But that’s what you have to do to get two of the best teams in the country to play. As you can see, there are not a lot of teams out there playing games like these.”

Wisconsin actually has size to match up with Pitt. Two strong 6′ 11″ players in Forward-Center Brian Butch and Center Greg Stiemsma, who like Gray, is also is willing and adept at passing out if the shot isn’t there.