The Backyard Brawl is no joke.
Sophomore guard Au’Diese Toney got to experience it first-hand when the Pitt basketball team made the trip to Morgantown, W.Va.
“You could feel the heat. You could really tell that they didn’t like the other team,” said Toney, whose team lost 69-59. “Some people say that it’s a rivalry. But you could really tell that it’s a rivalry. They don’t like each other at all.
On Friday, the Panthers (2-1, 1-0 ACC) will host West Virginia (1-0) at 7 p.m. at Petersen Events Center for the first time in the Jeff Capel era.
It will be the 187th meeting between the programs, and even though it’s a nonconference matchup, the second-year Pitt coach believes it has the same type of intensity it once had.
“This game means a lot to us, and I’m sure it means a lot to them,” Capel said. “I know it means a lot to our fans, and it still is a big game. It’s a huge game, and it’s a game we want to win.”
The Mountaineers opened the season with a 94-84 victory over Akron.
West Virginia’s length — half of its players are 6-foot-7 or taller — presents a challenge, especially when the Mountaineers use their full-court press.
“What you see is what you get, for the most part,” Pitt center Terrell Brown said. “If you see someone open, hit him, because he probably won’t be open a second time. Sometimes it’s easy to just make the simple play rather than the flashy one. That’s kinda what I’ve noticed. If you get the ball, the defense is coming hot.”
Pitt has lost its last three matchups with West Virginia and is looking to avoid a four-game losing streak in the series for the first time since 1977.
The Panthers are averaging 68 points and allowing 64.3. They are coming off a 71-57 win over Robert Morris in the inaugural game at UPMC Events Center.
Junior guard Ryan Murphy is leading the team with 17 points per game, and sophomore guard Trey McGowens is right behind him at 15.
Pitt likely will need a big game from the 6-foot-10 Brown (9.7 ppg, 5.7 rebounds per game, 3.7 blocks per game) considering WVU’s height.
“This game will be a test to see where I am at and where I stand up against other big guys and how I can perform to help my team win,” Brown said.
