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Pitt basketball non-conference schedule ranked among nation's weakest

Pitt's non-conference schedule is one of 10 worst in nation

Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

The Pitt Panthers non-conference schedule is one of the lowest-rated in the country, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing according to SB Nation's Cardiac Hill.

The Panthers are likely to play Michigan and either Virginia or Kansas St. in the pre-season NIT, according to ESPN, but their next toughest non-conference game is against Detroit on Dec. 1.

Pittsburgh muddled through a 22-17 record last season, including a 5-13 Big East conference record, that landed the Panthers in 13th place in the hotly-contested Big East.

Cardiac Hill believes that the soft non-conference schedule will allow the Panthers' younger players to gain experience and develop chemistry before heading into the rigors of the conference schedule.

Cardiac Hill wrote:

Could it be stronger? Of course. Would I prefer to see another quality team or two in there? Absolutely. But when it's all said and done, with a lot of new parts this year (i.e. Steven Adams, Trey Zeigler, and James Robinson, most notably), playing some weaker teams up front to develop a bit of chemistry probably isn't the worst thing in the world. And after last season's nightmare, getting some wins under their belt might not be a bad little confidence booster.

The rest of the Panthers' non-conference schedule is listed below:

Mount St. Mary's (Nov. 9),Fordham (Nov. 12), Oakland (Nov. 17), Howard (Nov. 27), vs. Duquesne (Dec. 5 at Consol Energy Center), North Florida (Dec. 8), Bethune Cookman (Dec. 15), Delaware State (Dec. 19), Kennesaw State (Dec. 23)

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.