Pitt to Host Central Michigan on Dec. 18

Pitt will host Central Michigan on Dec. 18 at Petersen Events Center as part of its non-conference schedule for the 2020-21 season, according to a report by Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

The Panthers have never faced Central Michigan, which plays in the Mid-American Conference. The Panthers are 35-25 all-time (.583) against teams from the MAC.

The Chippewas went 14-18 in 2019-20 under eighth-year head coach Keno Davis and finished fourth in the MAC West Division with a 7-11 conference record. They finished their season with a first-round loss to Ohio University in the first round of the MAC Tournament, before the remainder of it was canceled.

Central Michigan finished No. 216 in adjusted efficiency, according to KenPom.com, and was ranked No. 198 in the NCAA’s NET Rankings.

The Chippewas will have to replace leading scorer David DiLeo and top rebounder Kevin McKay, who both graduated, but will return leading distributor Devontae Lane (3.4 assists per game, 9.1 points per game). Dallas Morgan (13.8 points per game, 7.2 3-point attempts per game) will return as an outside shooter and Rob Montgomery (11.4 points per game, 6.1 rebounds per game) has a versatile game.

Central Michigan is the fifth non-conference opponent to be revealed for Pitt in 2020, joining a trip to West Virginia on Nov. 13 and home games at The Pete against Drexel, Gardner-Webb and Morgan State.

Pitt will also play three games as part of the Myrtle Beach Invitational Nov. 19-22, potentially facing Charlotte, Dayton, Loyola, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn and/or Utah State. The Panthers also are expected to be part of the 2020 ACC-Big Ten Challenge, with an opponent and date to be determined.

That leaves three additional games to be released from Pitt’s 2020-21 scheduled. Pitt head coach Jeff Capel told the Tribune-Review last month that all but one of his team’s games had already been scheduled. Pitt will not have City Game rival Duquesne on its schedule for the second consecutive season.