Both Mountaineer fans and Herd fans are ready for some Capital Classic basketball action Wednesday night at the Charleston Civic Center.
“It’s a lot of fun, it’s a good competition and it’s like a backyard brawl,” said Joan from Charleston. “It’s a fun backyard brawl.”
But this year’s Capital Classic between the Marshall Thundering Herd and the West Virginia Mountaineers is taking place earlier than in years past. Normally the games have been played in January.
Kirby Martin from Charleston is a Marshall fan and he said having the games earlier this time around means he can actually go to them.
“The last five winters I’ve gone to Florida for January and February. So I’ve missed the last five basketball games because they’ve been in January,” said Martin. “So this works out good for me good personally.”
Steve Parsons from Kenna feels the same way about the games being earlier.
“I think it’s fine. I think it’s a good tune up. I really don’t have an issue with that,” said Parsons.
Parsons said he thinks it helps both teams because it gets the games out of the way and it gives both teams a chance to see what they can do before getting to far into the season.
Mountaineer head basketball coach Bob Huggins believes these games are being played at the right time as well.
“I think it’s at the right time,” said Huggins. “I don’t think it should be played in the conference season.”
Huggins said by having these games before conference play prevent the teams from getting beat up just before a big conference game.
When it comes to this years Capital Classic, the only problem fans have is with the girls and guys games being on different nights.
Joan said she understands why the games are played on separate nights now, but she would prefer the games to be on the same night like they were in the past.
Mountaineer fan Terry England from Charleston wishes the games were played on the same night as well.
“You got to see more and you got a bigger crowd for the girls and stuff like that so ya it was better that way I thought,” said England.
Despite having the games earlier this year, coach Huggins doesn’t expect their to be any less fans in the stands. He said he is excited about the match-up .
“It’s a great game,” said Huggins. “It’s a great game and it’s a great rivalry.”
The men’s game is scheduled to get started at 7:30 p.m.