WVU Basketball

Five Things to Know Before WVU vs. Pitt

Published

2 years ago

November 12, 2021

Julia Mellett / WVSN

As West Virginia looks to host Pitt for the 188th edition of the Backyard Brawl, here are five things to know before the historic rivalry resumes on Friday.

Coliseum Will Have It’s First Ever Sold Out Game in November

According to the West Virginia athletic department and head coach Bob Huggins, Friday night’s game against Pitt will be the first ever sold out game at the WVU Coliseum, during the month of November. 14,000 fans will file into the coliseum as the Mountaineers look to start the season 2-0.

WVU Looking For 100th Victory Over Pitt

As the Mountaineers host Pitt in Morgantown, they will be searching for their 100th victory over the Panthers. West Virginia leads the all-time series 99-88, winning the last four games.

Click here to read about the series history of the Backyard Brawl.

Not a game. A Brawl.#HailWV pic.twitter.com/Z12Ijk9OJH
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops) November 12, 2021

Pitt Short-Handed After Injury and Suspension

Last week, Pitt G Ithiel Horton was charged with assault after hitting a police officer. Head coach Jeff Capel indefinitely suspended Horton following the incident.

Horton started 18 games for the Panthers last season, averaging 8.9 points.

G Jamarius Burton injured his knee, having surgery on it. West Virginia fans should be familiar with Burton, as he played at Texas Tech last season, transferring to Pitt once Chris Beard left TTU for Texas. Burton was a double-figure scorer at Wichita State a couple of seasons ago, now with his third team in four years.

Burton is listed as day-to-day, and could maybe play against West Virginia.

“I think right now it’s probably day-by-day, seeing how he does,” Capel said earlier this week. “We ramped things up a little bit more today. We’ll see how he responds to that and then we’ll make the decision going forward depending on how he’s progressing.”