Villanova Scheduling: Panthers Release Date for Throwback Big East Duel

Villanova Men’s Basketball will play their return game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on Tuesday, Nov. 17, as announced by the Panthers in their out-of-conference schedule reveal; they didn’t announce a time for the opening tip-off.

The Wildcats beat Pitt, a former Big East foe, 79-61 at the Finneran Pavilion last season, but these two teams look quite a bit different in the eight months that have transpired since. Villanova had to rebuild a roster that made the NCAA Tournament but retained just two players who played significant minutes, while the Panthers enter a do-or-die year for head coach Jeff Capel.

Pitt has a much-improved roster from recent seasons, with college basketball insider Jon Rothstein calling them a sleeper pick for the Big Dance… but with just one tournament appearance in eight years with the once-proud Panthers, Capel will need to show he can get over the hump.

Other finalized dates for the Wildcats include the season opener in Rome against Notre Dame (Nov. 1), at Kansas (Nov. 27) and a neutral site game at XFinity Mobile Arena against Wisconsin (Dec. 12).