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Pitt's Zack Austin drives to the basket against Clemson's Ian Schieffelin during the first half at the Petersen Events Center on Dec. 3, 2023. Should Austin be able to help slow down West Virginia’s front court’s ability to score the basketball, the Mountaineers will have a very hard time keeping up with Pitt.
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Pitt-West Virginia preview: Panthers must take care of business in Backyard Brawl

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Pitt-West Virginia preview: Panthers must take care of business in Backyard Brawl

Having lost three of its past four contests, Pitt enters its next battle in desperate need of a win

Having lost three of its past four contests, Pitt enters its next battle in desperate need of a win. Sitting at 5-3 overall, the Panthers have few formidable opponents remaining on their nonconference schedule, but one of those few is their upcoming opponent, West Virginia.

After an offseason filled with controversy, the Mountaineers (3-4) have struggled out of the gates. But while things are gloomy in Morgantown (W.Va.), a win against a rival Wednesday evening could perhaps be what is needed to get things back on track.

This year’s Backyard Brawl will tip off at 9 p.m., and the contest will be televised on ESPN2. Here is a closer look at the matchup:

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Head coach Jeff Capel of the Pittsburgh Panthers yells during the first half of the game against the Clemson Tigers at Petersen Events Center on December 03, 2023 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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Make no mistake, Jeff Capel is well aware of the long-standing bad blood between Pitt and West Virginia. But as far as Wednesday evening is concerned, Pitt’s head coach hasn’t spent much time toward giving his team a history lesson. For Capel, the focus isn’t on the past but rather the upcoming desired result.

“We haven’t really talked about [the rivalry] much,” Capel said. “Most of these guys aren’t from here. The guys that played in it last year, it was here, so they certainly understand it. I would like to think our new guys understand what a rivalry is, I would imagine they’ve been a part of a rivalry at some level.

“We need to win a basketball game. I’m not worried about the past or anything like that. I have great respect for it. I have great respect for their program. But we need to win a basketball game, not get caught up in the past, the history and all things like that.”

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As far as rivalry preparation goes, the one area of focus Capel has noted about his team’s upcoming matchup is the environment in which it will play. Although the Panthers played a pair of games in Brooklyn, N.Y., last month, Wednesday’s Backyard Brawl marks the team’s first true road environment of the season.

“That requires unbelievable communication,” Capel said when discussing what it takes to win on the road. “It requires a level of toughness, it requires you to be unbelievably connected, and it requires you to fight. We have to make sure that we bring those things right from the beginning.”

Key players

Blake Hinson: A chaotic atmosphere like the one Pitt will see in Morgantown will be new to some of Pitt’s younger players, but not Hinson. As the veteran leader of this year’s group, players and coaches alike have expressed that Hinson will be the man the team turns to when things get tough.

Clemson forward RJ Godfrey (10) drives past Pittsburgh's Blake Hinson (2) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
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While it is still early in the season, Wednesday’s game is one Pitt can’t afford to lose, which means Hinson must be ready to perform at a high level. Hinson showed his ability to carry the Panthers on Sunday when he tallied 21 of his 27 points in the second half, almost leading Pitt to a comeback victory over Clemson.

Although another big scoring outburst like that would certainly be welcomed, Hinson can also help his team by being a calming presence. West Virginia’s crowd will do everything possible to throw the Panthers out of sync. Hinson must not only remain locked in himself but also ensure his younger teammates follow his lead.

Zack Austin: West Virginia’s backcourt has struggled without Kerr Kriisa, who is still serving his nine-game suspension he received after he admitted to accepting impermissible benefits while playing at Arizona, his former school. The bulk of the Mountaineers’ production comes down low through forward Quinn Slazinski and center Jesse Edwards.

With Fede Federiko coming off a string of sluggish performances, Austin’s efforts on the defensive end will need to be pivotal. Should Austin be able to help slow West Virginia’s frontcourt’s ability to score the basketball, the Mountaineers will have a hard time keeping up with Pitt.

Behind enemy lines

Head coach: Josh Eilert, first season (interim)

KenPom ranking: 111 (Pitt: 57)

NET ranking: 209 (Pitt: 59)

Projected starting five (points, rebounds, assists)

  1. Kobe Johnson, 6-3, junior (11.3 – 3.3 – 2.9)
  2. Seth Wilson, 6-2, junior (6.7 – 3.6 – 1.4)
  3. Josiah Harris, 6-7, sophomore (6.3 – 5.6 – 1.1)
  4. Quinn Slazinski, 6-9, graduate student (16.7 – 4.9 – 2.4)
  5. Jesse Edwards, 6-11, graduate student (15.7 – 10.0 – 1.1)

The scoop: The Mountaineers have won their last six games against the Panthers. However, unlike years past, Pitt is now the team that boasts a far superior roster.

West Virginia has struggled to find success in numerous areas on the offensive end, ranking last in the Big 12 in scoring (64.1 points per game), field goal percentage (38.3%), 3-point shooting (30.4%), assists (11.3) and turnover margin (-3.71). Matched up against a high-scoring team like Pitt, the game plan for Eilert’s group might be to simply make the contest as sloppy as possible.

Pitt’s young backcourt has shown that it struggles when facing pressure, a long-time specialty for Bob Huggins’ teams. While Huggins, who resigned in June following a drunken driving arrest, won’t be on the bench Wednesday night, this team was one he constructed.

Young guards Bub Carrington and Jaland Lowe should be prepared for another physical game. Pitt must match West Virginia’s aggressiveness and take advantage of it in the form of offensive rebounds and opportunities at the foul line.

Noah Hiles: nhiles@post-gazette.com and Twitter @_NoahHiles

First Published: December 5, 2023, 10:30 p.m.
Updated: December 5, 2023, 10:37 p.m.

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Pitt's Zack Austin drives to the basket against Clemson's Ian Schieffelin during the first half at the Petersen Events Center on Dec. 3, 2023. Should Austin be able to help slow down West Virginia’s front court’s ability to score the basketball, the Mountaineers will have a very hard time keeping up with Pitt.  (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
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