Pitt schedules non-conference matchup against Penn State
Pitt fans have received an early Christmas present in the “sweetest place on Earth.”
Pitt will play Penn State in a non-conference matchup at Giant Arena in Hershey, Pa., on Sunday, Dec. 21. The game time and television designation will be announced at a later date.
“Pitt and Penn State is a natural rivalry that makes a great deal of sense to play in the current collegiate landscape,” Jeff Capel said in the team release. “The trip to Hershey in December will give Pitt fans across the state an opportunity to see the team in action and will be a great way to tip off the holiday season.”
Pitt and Penn State haven’t squared off on the court since they met at the Barclays Center in the Progressive Legends Classic in 2017 – an 85-54 win for the Nittany Lions. And while the Nittany Lions hold a 76-72 all-time lead in the series, the Panthers have won seven of their last nine games, dating back 25 years.
Penn State is coming off a 16-15 (6-14 Big Ten) season under second-year head coach Mike Rhoades, missing out on the Big Ten tournament.
The Nittany Lions return five of their top seven scorers from last season, but the losses include last season’s leading scorer, Kanye Clary (Mississippi State). Point guard Ace Baldwin is the top returner, and the Lions also added Northern Illinois center Yanic Konan Niederhauser to fill an important role down low.
Pitt has revamped its roster this offseason, adding key pieces from the portal (Damarco Minor, Nojus Indrusaitis, Barry Dunning Jr., Dishon Jackson) and a major Australian prospect (Roman Siulepa). It’s an important season for Jeff Capel and the Panthers coming off two straight missed NCAA Tournaments.
Pitt is filling its non-conference schedule this season with big games, including West Virginia, Ohio State, Texas A&M (ACC/SEC Challenge), UCF, Villanova and Binghamton.
