MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Hours before he was introduced as the new WVU men’s basketball head coach on April 3, Ross Hodge got his first taste of the West Virginia-Pittsburgh rivalry. Shortly after arriving in Morgantown the morning before his first press conference, Hodge stopped by Kendrick Family Ballpark to see the Mountaineers and the Panthers meet on the diamond.
Seven months later, Hodge will lead his Mountaineers onto the court at Hope Coliseum in the 192nd edition of the Backyard Brawl.
Ross Hodge. Photo by Greg Carey
“No one is insulated from the passion and the feeling of this game and the excitement of it. You can’t run from that. But at the same time, you can’t allow that to get outside of our character to try to do things that maybe you shouldn’t be able to do out there, or you shouldn’t be trying to do,” Hodge said.
“It is a blessing to be able to play in these types of games. This is what these guys work hard for. They are certainly looking forward to the challenge.”
The Mountaineers and the Panthers bring matching 3-0 records into Thursday’s matchup. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1.
“You can’t really shy away from the fact that it is a big game. You don’t have to be here long. Even though our players have never actually played in this game and I haven’t coached in this game, it doesn’t take long to realize how important the game is to so many people around this state and our university, while at the same time understanding that regardless of what happens [Thursday] night, there’s 25-26 more regular season games.”
Nov 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers head coach Jeff Capel reacts on the sidelines against the Eastern Michigan Eagles during the second half at Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
While the Mountaineers have defeated Mount St. Mary’s, Campbell and Lehigh, Pitt has knocked off Youngstown State, Longwood and Eastern Michigan. Thursday’s game will be the first for both sides against a power conference opponent.
“I respect everybody and each team challenges you in different ways,” Hodge said. “But [Pitt] is the best team of the four, not only on paper but from a production standpoint. It will be a great test and it is kind of what we need at this moment. It gives us an opportunity to take a step up.”
The Panthers are paced by sophomore guard Brandin Cummings. He is averaging 18.5 points per game. However, his status is unclear for Thursday’s game. Cummings did not play in Monday’s game against EMU after suffering an ankle injury.
“Until you hear otherwise, I think you always kind of have to assume they are going to play.”
Pittsburgh averages 28.3 free throw attempts per game.
Nov 10, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers guard Barry Dunning Jr. (22) celebrates with the student section after defeating the Eastern Michigan Eagles against at Petersen Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
“They have done a really good job of getting to the foul line. They have made more free throws than their opponents have attempted, which is always a good sign. They have defended well. It kind of starts with [Damarco] Minor. He is a competitor. He is gritty. He’s tough. He’s a competitor. He can defend the ball. He gets them into their actions.
“[Brandin] Cummings can make shots. And Cameron Corhen has gotten a lot better. He was second in the league last year in the ACC in field goal percentage and he has expanded his game a little bit and given them a viable option down there.”
Corhen, a 6-foot-10 senior forward, is averaging a double-double with 15.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
“Cameron is playing at an extremely high level. He is rebounding the ball well. He has the ability to step out and make some threes, which can spread you out a little bit. He is a tough cover. Like most good players, you will have some individuals match up. But again, it is our team defense that’s got to be, one guy is never going to shut one guy down.”
West Virginia opened the season playing three games in six days, a stretch that ended with Sunday’s win over Lehigh. That victory represented WVU’s best shooting performance of the season. The Mountaineers went 23-for-49 (.469) from the floor and 7-for-19 (.368) from beyond the arc.
“We needed a little rest,” Hodge said. “Then we needed to be able to get back out on the practice floor, fine tune some things and look at some things we needed to get better at, which is really everything at this moment. Get an opportunity to get your legs back under you a little bit, but also practice.”
“We are getting really good shots and they are just not falling right now,” said WVU senior guard Jasper Floyd. “We’ve just got to continue to trust the work and have confidence in ourselves that we are going to make the next shot.”
The Mountaineers have won six of the last eight meetings in the series. The series began in 1906 and WVU leads, 101-90. Pittsburgh won last year’s meeting at the Petersen Events Center, 86-62.
