Backyard Brawl

Basketball

The basketball end of the rivalry has heated up over the last few years as each team has been among the best in the country. On February 9, 2006, for the first time in the history of the series, in the 169th edition, Pitt and WVU were both nationally ranked as they squared off in Pitt's Petersen Events Center. Pitt won, but mere weeks later, the two ranked teams played at WVU Coliseum--the Mountaineers took the rematch. The two teams then faced each other in the Big East Conference Tournament at Madison Square Garden. The Panthers won the 2006 rubber match, 68–57. WVU leads the all-time series, 92–80. On February 7, 2007, Pitt defeated WVU 60–47 at Morgantown, WV. They next played on February 27, 2007 and Pitt won 80–66. The February 7, 2008 meeting proved to be one of the most exciting in recent history, as 21st-ranked Pitt prevailed at home 55-54 following a three-pointer as the buzzer sounded. On March 3, 2008, Pitt traveled to The Coliseum in Morgantown for the second game of the season, resulting in a 76-62 Mountaineer victory. At the game members of the Oakland Zoo held signs which read "13-9" in remembrance of the upset in the football game.

References

External links

* [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=11808&cat=exclusives Tales From The Backyard Brawl]
* [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/page.cfm?story=12347&cat=exclusives Brawl Ball (basketball)]
* [http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/bigeast/pittsburgh/opponents_records.php?teamid=3502 Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia series history]
* [http://pittsburghpanthers.cstv.com/ University of Pittsburgh Official Athletics site]
* [http://www.msnsportsnet.com/ West Virginia University Official Athletics site]