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Pittsburgh Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Panthers to beat West Virginia

By Tristan Freeman

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Terrell Brown #21 of the Pittsburgh Panthers celebrates after an and one against the Florida State Seminoles at Petersen Events Center on January 14, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 14: Terrell Brown #21 of the Pittsburgh Panthers celebrates after an and one against the Florida State Seminoles at Petersen Events Center on January 14, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – MARCH 02: Head coach Jeff Capel of the Pittsburgh Panthers calls to his team as Sidy N’Dir #11 runs up the court in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 2, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – MARCH 02: Head coach Jeff Capel of the Pittsburgh Panthers calls to his team as Sidy N’Dir #11 runs up the court in the first half during a game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on March 2, 2019 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Pittsburgh Basketball has a big game against West Virginia this weekend. What are the keys for the Panthers to get a massive resume victory?

It has been a roller coaster start to the 2019-20 season for Pittsburgh Basketball. Things started off fantastic, beating Florida State at home, which looks even better since the Seminoles turned around and defeated No. 6 Florida. The Panthers had a letdown of their own, falling at home to Nicholls State by five points.

Pittsburgh avoided a unique trap game before this one with a road win at Robert Morris, who was opening up their brand new arena. They celebrated it with an 18-0 run in the first half to take a lead over the Panthers and to have the game tied at the half. However, 25 points from Trey McGowens was too much for the Colonials to overcome, at Pittsburgh won by a final score of 71-57.

Now with a record of 2-1, Pittsburgh Basketball takes on an old rival in West Virginia (1-0). They’ve played just one game this season, beating Arkon 94-84. The Mountaineers did surrender over 50 second-half points but the collective scoring of seven players scoring 8+ points was enough to avoid an upset themselves.

In a restart of the old “Backyard Brawl” rivalry, these programs have been playing against one another for the last few years. Last season in Morgantown, West Virginia beat Pittsburgh, 69-59. But with 90% of their scoring production from that game now gone, it’ll be a new-look Mountaineers team that the Panthers will be dealing with.

It’ll be a tough game for Pittsburgh to win but the Florida State victory showed that it’s very possible. Here is a look at some specific keys for the Panthers to exact some revenge.

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