The team played its home games in the Petersen Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and are members of the Big East Conference.

Pitt entered the 2011–12 season picked to finish fourth in the Big East Conference,[2] ranked #11 in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll,[3] and with the Big East pre-season player of the year, Ashton Gibbs.

They received a number 1 seed in the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, but were upset by eventual national runner-up Butler in the third round.

Four freshman joint the team, including McDonald's High School All-American Khem Birch.

[2] Pitt guard Ashton Gibbs received preseason Player of the Year and first-team all-conference selections.