Pitt-West Virginia to renew men's basketball rivalry
Pitt and West Virginia will resume their men's basketball rivalry with a four-game series starting in 2017-18 when the teams square off at Petersen Events Center.
The teams will alternate home courts during each of the three following seasons.
“We are extremely excited to announce the renewal of this great rivalry,” Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes said in a statement. “Coach (Kevin) Stallings and his staff did an outstanding job working with their counterparts at West Virginia to make this happen.”
WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said in a statement, “One of my first goals was to reach out to (Barnes) about renewing the football and basketball rivalry because I knew it would be good for both schools. I want to thank Scott and coach (Kevin) Stallings as well as (WVU coach Bob Huggins) and his staff for their efforts in getting the basketball series renewed.”
The teams last met in 2012, a 66-48 WVU win at Pitt. Next season's game will be the 185th time the teams have met. The Mountaineers lead the series 96-88.
“I think this is great, not only for both schools but for college basketball,” Huggins, a WVU alumnus, said in a statement.
“This has been such a great rivalry, and it is a game that fans of both schools look forward to. I have great respect for Kevin Stallings, and I have followed his teams throughout the years. Pitt has been our biggest rival since I can remember, and we have been theirs. The game makes sense.”
Stallings, who is starting his first season at Pitt, also voiced his support.
“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,” he said in a statement. “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.”
Stallings added: “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 first-hand.”
