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Pittsburgh Basketball: Ranking 2022-23 non-conference opponents

By Tristan Freeman

Nov 12, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers students cheer during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers students cheer during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boo Buie Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Boo Buie Northwestern Wildcats (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Vanderbilt Commodores

2021-22 record: 19-17 (7-11 in SEC)

Star guard Scotty Pippen is off to the NBA, taking with him 20 ppg and 4.5 apg of production. Jordan Wright is the lone double-digit returning player (12.3 ppg and 6.4 rpg), while 7’0 center Liam Robbins will be fully healthy to go after missing half of last season with injuries.

Look for juniors Trey Thomas and Myles Stute to have much larger roles in the offense and UC-Davis transfer guard Ezra Manjon averaged 15.0 ppg and 3.4 apg last season and will help fill the void left by Pippen. Wright will have to be an All-SEC player for Vandy to have any hope of success but they’ll be home with Pittsburgh arrives and look to make it two straight.

3. Northwestern Wildcats

2021-22 record: 15-16 (7-13 in Big Ten)

The loss of star forward Pete Nance, as well as backup forward Ryan Young has been devastating for the frontcourt of the Wildcats. That leaves Robbie Beran and UTEP transfer Tydus Verhoeven to take most of the minutes inside. But guards Boo Buie and Chase Audige are one of the better guard duos in the country and will be a handful for the Panthers.

Oddly enough, this is the third time in four years these two programs have faced off in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, with Pittsburgh having won the other two in close contests. The Panthers have the edge from a talent standpoint and certainly inside, where Hugley could have a big game on the road.

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