Takeaways from Pitt men’s basketball’s dominating win over rival West Virginia

On Friday night, Pitt men’s basketball took on West Virginia in the 191st edition of the Backyard Brawl on the hardwood. The Panthers leaned into this rivalry to gain some passion and played a strong game. Pitt saw success from multiple new and returning players on the court. They finished up with a dominating 86-62 win over the Mountaineers. 

Damian Dunn fits right in 

Pitt senior guard Damian Dunn joined the Panthers this year as a transfer and has already shown he’s a great teammate for this Pittsburgh crew. With experience at Temple and Houston, Dunn is a seasoned player and brings crucial experience and skill. 

Against West Virginia, Dunn led Pitt in scoring with 23 points, making seven of his 12 shots, including four three-pointers. He has quickly made a name for himself in Pitt’s starting lineup and has plenty of season left to show off his ability. Dunn works extremely well with new and returning Panthers, making for a seamless fit into this Pitt team.

Get the team fired up early 

Early into Friday’s matchup, junior forward Guillermo Diaz Graham took a shot to the face when going up for a block against West Virginia sophomore forward Amani Hansberry. This forced him into the locker room, but he returned shortly after getting two stitches in his lip. 

This set the tone early for the entirety of the game, firing up not just Diaz Graham but his teammates as well. Diaz Graham had a strong night, finishing with a double-double — 10 points and 10 rebounds. 

When Pitt gets its energy up early, it shows on the court. The Panthers’ passion and drive will prove to be advantages for this team as the season progresses. 

Balanced play all over the court

Although Dunn led the team in scoring on Friday, the team showed balanced play and scoring from players all over the court. Junior forward Cameron Corhen, senior guard Ishmael Leggett and junior forward Guillermo Diaz Graham all scored double digits in points. 

First-year guard Brandon “Beebah” Cummings also had an opportunity to show off some skill, making four free throws and grabbing three rebounds on the night. He showed great composure in a high-stakes and physical rivalry matchup. With his steady and reliable help on the court, Pitt is sure to see more from him this season. Pitt’s multitude of playmakers is a threat for this team and is something that it should harness and continue to build on. 

Pitt has set the tone with this big rivalry win over West Virginia, making for an exciting start and raising anticipation for the rest of this basketball season. 

Next, the Panthers play VMI at the Petersen Events Center, with tip-off set for 7 p.m.