PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh and West Virginia University announced Thursday the renewal of the Backyard Brawl on the men’s basketball hardwood with a four-game series beginning next season. Pitt will host the Mountaineers in 2017 and 2019, while making the trip to Morgantown in 2018 and 2020.
“We are extremely excited to announce the renewal of this great rivalry,” said Athletic Director Scott Barnes. “Coach Stallings and his staff did an outstanding job working with their counterparts at West Virginia to help make this happen. The Pitt-West Virginia games will serve as marquee non-conference matchups that will garner heavy interest in the area and on the national stage.”
Pitt and West Virginia have met 184 times previously with the Panthers trailing, 96-88, in the all-time series. The two programs have not met since the 2011-12 season when both schools were members of the Big East Conference. Pitt has won 10 of the past 14 meetings and five of the past six contests at the Petersen Events Center.
“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 head coach Kevin Stallings. “Our goal in scheduling is to put together games that will generate great interest from our amazing fan base as well as prepare our team for conference and postseason play. Bob Huggins is an outstanding coach and competing against his program enables us to accomplish both of those things. I can’t wait to witness this rivalry firsthand.”
