Pitt adds Central Michigan to its 2020-21 home slate

Pitt added Central Michigan to its men’s basketball non-conference schedule next season, according to a copy of the game contract obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The Panthers and Chippewas will play Dec. 18 at Petersen Events Center at a time to be determined.

Pitt will pay Central Michigan $85,000 in cash and/or travel reimbursements upon completion of the game. The Panthers also are giving Morgan State $85,000 for a Nov. 25 game. As with Morgan State, the Central Michigan game is not part of a larger series.

The Chippewas join what is now an almost complete non-conference schedule for the Panthers. In addition to Central Michigan and Morgan State, Pitt will play the fourth and final game in a series with longtime rival West Virginia, will play three games in the Myrtle Beach Invitational in November, and reportedly have games set with Drexel and Gardner-Webb.

Pitt also is likely to play in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, though matchups for that event have yet to be announced. Given, however, that the Panthers finished in a three-way tie for last place in the league, they face the possibility of being the lone ACC team excluded. Should they be part of the field, they have just one opening on their non-conference schedule.

The Chippewas, led by former Providence coach Keno Davis, finished 14-18 last season, including a 7-11 mark in the Mid-American Conference. They were ranked No. 216 of 353 Division I teams by KenPom.com. The top four scorers on that team were seniors.

— By Craig Meyer