WVU, Pitt in Talks to Extend Basketball Series

More Backyard Brawls between the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia are on the way.

PITTSBURGH -- All signs point to the Pitt Panthers and West Virginia continuing their men's basketball rivalry well into the future. 

Following a press conference in which he introduced the program's new interim head coach, Josh Eilert, West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker said that he and his counterpart at Pitt, Heather Lyke are in talks to extend the series past its current 2023 expiration date. 

“I called her and told her we would definitely love to extend it,” Baker said. “We would extend in pretty much every sport our series with Pitt. It’s a great rivalry, a great series, draws well for both. So, I think it makes a ton of sense. I’m for continuing the series.”

The Panthers and Mountaineers revived their rivalry on the hardwood in 2017 after a five-year hiatus that coincided with the breakup of the Big East. It was originally just a four-game series but the two schools agreed to extend it, adding games during the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons after the 2020 game was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

West Virginia is Pitt's most frequently-played opponent. The two schools have met 189 times, with game No. 190 slated for December in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Panthers own a 101-88 deficit in the series and have lost six in a row, including a two-game losing streak at the WVU Coliseum dating back to 2012. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Report: Pitt C Federiko Federiko Updates Health

Pitt Target Mylachi Williams Sets Commitment Date

Former Pitt G Ithiel Horton Making Third Transfer 

Pitt Predicted to Land Four-Star DB Koy Beasley

Pitt Cracks PFF Preseason Top 25

Pitt Returns ACC's Best CB Duo

• Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt