Pitt has officially finalized and released its basketball schedule. That is to say, the TV stuff is established. Hope you have ESPN3.com and Pitt Panther Television if you want to watch much of this year’s non-con.

Four non-con games (not even including the exhibition games) are on Pitt Panthers TV and four are on ESPN3.com out of 13 non-cons. The other five are on various other places like Comcast-Philadelphia (Penn), CBS College Sports (Duquesne), ESPN2 (Oklahoma St.), ESPN (Tenn) and ESPNU (Wagner).

I’ve already stated that this year’s non-con is on the weak side. ESPN breaks down the individual Big East teams’ non-con schedules, and see the same thing.

Toughness scale (1-10): 1 — The Panthers won the Big East last season and return a core that could challenge for yet another title. So why not a better nonconference slate? The Panthers were expecting an ACC team to play in the Philly HoopGroup Classic but that fell through, leaving them to play host Penn. Winning at Tennessee in the SEC/Big East Challenge won’t be a walk, but the Vols will be picked in the bottom-third of the SEC. Oklahoma State is a decent opponent at the Garden, and neighboring Duquesne always play the Panthers tough. Long Beach presents a decent mid-major challenge. But as a whole, this nonconference schedule is about as bad as it gets for a top-10 program.

Pitt has done a very, very good job of non-con scheduling the last few years. A clunker happens, but this is worse because the schedule is completely devoid of any decent games at home. The few decent ones are neutral sites or away.

Quick, how many three-point shots do you think Nasir Robinson has taken in his career? I put the over/under at 20, before checking. Turns out to be 18. He took all of two shots last year from behind the arc (missed them) and a whopping 16 as a sophomore (hitting 5).

Given his shooting form, this isn’t really a surprise. I love Nas. He is the embodiment of gritty for this Pitt team. Despite being 6-5, he has been a key player and plays so much bigger than his size at the power forward spot. But he is not an offensive weapon.

Given his size and going into his final season, it really isn’t a surprise to read that he is interested in trying to play at the small forward position.

“Most definitely, I want to play small forward,” said Robinson, who averaged 9.4 points and 4.9 rebounds as a junior last season. “I can play both. For me, it doesn’t matter. Wherever coache has me, it doesn’t matter. As long as I’m on the floor, I’m happy. But most definitely, yes, I want to play small forward.”

Robinson, who stands 6 feet 5, said he has recently discussed with Dixon the possibility of playing some small forward. One advantage to Robinson playing some at small forward is having power forward manned by 6-foot-9 Talib Zanna, who could make the Panthers a more dominant rebounding team.

Presently at the SF spot, are J.J. Moore and Lamar Patterson. Bryan at Pitt Script isn’t opposed to the idea since he isn’t wild about either of those guys, and it would allow more opportunity for some combinations of Zanna, Dante Taylor and Khem Birch inside.

Obviously Nas has limited range. He might be able to attack the basket on offense, but it’s safe to say most of us would instinctively shout, “No!” if Nas was standing behind the arc to line-up a shot. The plus would be his defense. He would definitely be asset on the perimeter. Especially in situation where the rotation has Ashton Gibbs playing at point.

Woodall will be the starting point guard (at least to start the season). Gibbs will be shooting guard, but you know he will get some time at point. As a senior, a trusted player of Coach Dixon and someone who needs to show he can handle some point guard duties for his future he will get some opportunities. In those situations, the shooting guard will potentially be one of the freshmen guards (Durand Johnson or Jack Johnson) or Isiah Epps. Players who can shoot, but the defense may be a little suspect. Which when added to Gibbs’s defense cries out for more help on the perimeter defense, not more offense.

Not sure how often this could happen. If it will happen. But as counter-intuitive as it may seem, maybe it’s worth experimenting. Especially with such weak competition to start the season.