West Virginia-Pitt agree to relaunch basketball Brawl

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia and Pitt agreed to renew the basketball Backyard Brawl with a four-game series beginning during the 2017-18 season.

Mountaineers athletics director Shane Lyons and Pitt’s Scott Barnes announced the resumption of the series Thursday. Both officials had been willing participants since landing their current positions about four months apart in early 2015, but the Brawl was only able to restart after the departure of Panthers coach Jamie Dixon (who now will come to Morgantown annually as TCU’s coach).

With former Vanderbilt coach Kevn Stallings beginning his tenure at Pitt, the deal was done fairly quickly.

“The fans are the real winners because whether the game is in the WVU Coliseum or the Petersen Events Center, it will be great for college basketball,” Lyons said.

Backyard Basketball

Overall record: WVU leads 96-88
In Pittsburgh: Pitt leads 56-44
At Petersen Events Center: Pitt leads 7-2
In Morgantown:  WVU leads 61-30
At WVU Coliseum: WVU leads 25-10
Last 20 games: Pitt leads 13-7
Last 10 games: Pitt leads 6-4

The series is slated begin in Pittsburgh during the 2017-18 season before returning to Morgantown during 2018-19. Pitt will host again in 2019-20 and West Virginia gets the game in 2020-21.

“This has been such a great rivalry, and it is a game that fans of both schools look forward to,” WVU coach Bob Huggins said. “Pitt has been our biggest rival since I can remember and we have been theirs. The game makes sense.”

The teams haven’t met since Feb. 16, 2012, a 66-48 West Virginia win that gave the Mountaineers a 96-88 series lead.

“I saw the passion and intensity of the Pitt-West Virginia series from afar and felt it was important that we work to renew the series,” said Stallings. “I can’t wait to witness this rivalry firsthand.”

The Backyard Brawl football series resumes in 2022 with a four-year series.





More Sports

Sports
Beanie Bishop posts top 40-yard dash time at Big 12 Pro Day
March 29, 2024 - 1:21 am
High School Sports
Herbert Hoover improves to 10-0 with 2-1 win over Hurricane
The Huskies collected a pair of victories Thursday in the Guard the Capital Invitational in Charleston.
March 29, 2024 - 12:51 am
High School Sports
Independence bests Wahama, 10-2 in the Guard the Capital Tournament
March 28, 2024 - 9:03 pm
High School Sports
Photo gallery: University defeats Bridgeport, 12-3
March 28, 2024 - 6:24 pm