This Week In Pitt Athletics
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - As we start of the new year with a new coaching search for the Pitt Panthers football team and prepare for the BBVA Compass Bowl, other Panther sports teams are getting back in action.
The men's basketball team returns to the Petersen Events Center on Saturday after a close win against Providence, to host Marquette in the Big East Game of the Week. At the Marquette game, the men's basketball team will host its first Children's Hospital Honorary Captain of the season.
The women's basketball team will play in the annual City Game against Duquesne tonight at 7 p.m. at Duquesne.
Other Pitt Panther teams in action this week include: gymnastics, swimming and diving, wrestling and indoor track and field.
Read the official press release below and find more information at pittsburghpanthers.com.
FOOTBALL
Pitt faces Kentucky in the 2011 BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 8 at historic Legion Field. The game will be nationally televised by ESPN at noon. This will be Pitt's third consecutive postseason berth and 27th all-time bowl game appearance. Last year, the Panthers defeated North Carolina, 19-17, in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The contest will be the first meeting between Pitt and Kentucky on the gridiron.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: The Pitt-Kentucky game will be a national ESPN telecast. Mike Gleason (play-by-play) John Congemi (color) and Cara Capuano (sideline) form the broadcast crew.
PITT RADIO: The radio home for Pitt football is 50,000-watt flagship KDKA-FM, Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan. Games are also carried on the Pitt Sports Radio Network. Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play), three-time Pitt All-American Bill Fralic (color) and John Seibel (sideline) will call the action.
ESPN RADIO: The game will be a national ESPN Radio broadcast with Clay Matvick (play-by-play), Herm Edwards (color) and Elizabeth Moreau (sideline) calling the action.
SIRIUS XM RADIO: The Pitt-Kentucky game will be aired on SIRIUS channel 120 and XM channel 140.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
No. 5 ranked Pitt (13-1, 1-0 Big East) gets back into its schedule when it plays its first BIG EAST road game on Tuesday, Jan. 4 at Providence (11-4, 0-2 Big East). Tipoff at the Dunkin Donuts Center is at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Regional and aired locally on FSN Pittsburgh with Don Orsillo (play-by-play) and Ron Perry (color analyst) calling action. Christian Ackerknect will handle production. The Panthers return to the Petersen Events Center on Saturday, Jan. 8, when they host Marquette at 2 p.m. That game is slated as a 'Big East Game of the Week' and will be an ESPN-Regional/WTAE-TV telecast. Pitt began conference play with a 78-63 home win over No. 4 Connecticut on Dec. 27. Ashton Gibbs finished with 21 points, Brad Wannamaker added 14 and Nasir Robinson and Gary McGhee each contributed double-doubles in the win.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The Panthers travel to Duquesne for the annual City Game on Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. The Panthers continue BIG
EAST play on Sunday, Jan. 9 with a noon tip at Louisville. That contest will be broadcast on ESPNU. Pitt enters 2011 riding a three-game win streak, its longest of the season. The Panthers drained a program-best 12 three-pointers in a 94-78 win at Central Michigan on Dec. 31. Taneisha Harrison tallied a season-best 25 points to lead five scorers in double figures.
GYMNASTICS
The Pitt gymnastics team opens the 2011 season on Friday, Jan. 7 with a dual meet against Ball State at 7 p.m. at Fitzgerald Field House. Not only do the Panthers return the 2009 and 2010 EAGL Rookies of the Year in Alicia Talucci and Meaghan Biros, but they will field their most talented freshmen class in recent history. Head Coach Debbie Yohman returns for her 25th season at the helm and is backed by assistants Michael Rowe and Terry Karwoski.
SWIMMING AND DIVING
Coming off a winter recess, the Pitt swimming and diving team hosts Backyard Rival West Virginia at Trees Pool on Saturday, Jan. 8. Diving begins at 11 a.m., while swimming events start at noon. The Panthers enjoyed several highlights during the 2010 portion of its schedule, including earning votes in the TYR/CSCAA dual-meet poll in December.
WRESTLING
The wrestling team will host its annual Pitt Duals on Sunday, Jan. 9 at Fitzgerald Field House. The Panthers will face four opponents, starting with Drexel at 9 a.m. and continuing with matches against Davidson, Millersville and Northwestern. Pitt returned from the prestigious Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. with a fifth-place finish. Six Panthers placed in the top-eight while junior Matt Wilps claimed the 197-pound title.
TRACK AND FIELD
Pitt's men's and women's track and field teams travel to State College, Pa. on Saturday, Jan. 8 to compete in the Penn State Relays. The Panthers opened the season with a successful showing at the Kent State Gala in which 18 different athletes recorded top-five finishes.
PANTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY
The men's basketball team will hosts its first Children's Hospital Honorary Captain of the season when it hosts Marquette on Saturday, Jan. 8.
For more information on all Panthers athletics, please contact the Pittsburgh Athletic Media Relations Office at (412) 648-8240.
