Pitt released its entire men's basketball schedule for the upcoming season and for the first time in more than 20 years the Panthers will open Big East play with three of their first four games on the road.

Pitt opens Big East play with a Dec. 28 home game against DePaul and then plays three consecutive games on the road against Syracuse (Jan. 2), Cincinnati (Jan. 4) and Connecticut (Jan. 13).

The nine days between games is the longest stretch between games all season.

The tough early-season schedule continues a recent trend for the Panthers, who opened with back-to-back games on the road to start the Big East the past two seasons. However, this is the first time the Panthers have played three of the first four conference games on the road since the 1988-89 season.

After the Connecticut game the Panthers play host to Louisville and Georgetown.

Seven Big East games will be on national television, including a game against Villanova on CBSSunday Feb. 21.

The complete schedule is as follows:

2009-10 PITT MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

(as of September 10, 2009/All times are subject to change)

Date Opponent (TV) Location Time

Saturday, Oct. 3 FAN FEST Petersen Events Center 1-4 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 27 BLUE-GOLD SCRIMMAGE Petersen Events Center 7 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 1 SLIPPERY ROCK (Exh.) Petersen Events Center 4 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 8 COKER COLLEGE, S.C. (Exh.) Petersen Events Center 4 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 13 WOFFORD Petersen Events Center 7 p.m.

O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Tuesday, Nov. 17 BINGHAMTON (ESPN2) Petersen Events Center 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 19 EASTERN KENTUCKY Petersen Events Center 7 p.m.

O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic Semifinals and Finals (Kansas City, Mo.)

Monday, Nov. 23 vs. Wichita State (ESPN2) Sprint Center 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 24 Consolation Game (ESPN-U) Sprint Center 7:45 p.m.

Championship Game (ESPN2) Sprint Center 9:50 p.m.

(vs. Iowa or Texas)

Saturday, Nov. 28 YOUNGSTOWN STATE Petersen Events Center TBA

Wednesday, Dec. 2 vs. Duquesne (CBS-CS) Mellon Arena 7 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 4 NEW HAMPSHIRE Petersen Events Center TBA

Jimmy V. Classic (New York, N.Y.)

Tuesday, Dec. 8 vs. Indiana (ESPN) Madison Square Garden 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 12 KENT STATE Petersen Events Center TBA

Saturday, Dec. 19 MOUNT ST. MARY'S Petersen Events Center TBA

Tuesday, Dec. 22 OHIO Petersen Events Center TBA

Monday, Dec. 28 *DePAUL Petersen Events Center TBA

Saturday, Jan. 2 at *Syracuse Syracuse, N.Y. TBA

Monday, Jan. 4 at *Cincinnati (ESPN) Cincinnati, Ohio 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 13 at *Connecticut (ESPN2) Hartford, Conn./XL Center 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 16 *LOUISVILLE Petersen Events Center TBA

Wednesday, Jan. 20 *GEORGETOWN Petersen Events Center TBA

Sunday, Jan. 24 at *Seton Hall Newark, N.J./Prudential Center TBA

Thursday, Jan. 28 *ST. JOHN'S Petersen Events Center TBA

Sunday, Jan. 31 at *South Florida Tampa, Fla. TBA

Wednesday, Feb. 3 at *West Virginia Morgantown, W.Va. TBA

Saturday, Feb. 6 *SETON HALL Petersen Events Center TBA

Monday, Feb. 8 ROBERT MORRIS Petersen Events Center TBA

Friday, Feb. 12 *WEST VIRGINIA (ESPN) Petersen Events Center 9 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 18 at *Marquette (ESPN) Milwaukee, Wis. 9 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 21 *VILLANOVA (CBS) Petersen Events Center Noon

Wednesday, Feb. 24 at *Notre Dame (ESPN2) South Bend, Ind. 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27 at *St. John's New York, N.Y./MSG TBA

Thursday, March 4 *PROVIDENCE (ESPN) Petersen Events Center 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 6 *RUTGERS Petersen Events Center TBA