I’m not going to spend much time banging on how bad the non-con is this year. I think everyone already knows it. Some of it was out of Pitt’s hands with the non-con tournament squeeze, deal falling through at MSG, and a team dropping out of the Philly Classic. Still the next 3 years of tournaments are already set.

Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said today Pitt will play in the 2014 Maui Invitational. It’s Pitt’s first trip to Maui since Dixon became head coach.

Pitt will play in the Philly Classic in November. In 2012, the Panthers will play in the preseason NIT in New York. In 2013, they will play in the Legends Classic In Brooklyn.

The preseason NIT is always a big deal, and the Maui Invitational is fantastic because of the ESPN backing and promotion. The Brooklyn game is obviously a new one, but considering that will be in the new NBA arena there, so I expect the promoters to get some really good teams to try and get some attention from MSG.

Add in the fact that Dixon and his wife have a history with Hawaii — where they met and Dixon was an assistant. Not that I think Dixon is going anywhere, but getting to coach his team in Hawaii in a few years has to be another enticing carrot.