Best Virginia Talks Potential Backyard Brawl Matchup in TBT

Originally posted on WV Sports Now | By Ethan Bock | Last updated Jul 20, 2024 7:46 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — Best Virginia secured an opening-round win over Brotherly Love, winning 94-69. Now the WVU alumni-based team will have 48 hours to prepare for a potential Backyard Brawl matchup in the second round.

Zoo Crew, Pitt’s alumni team, plays Million $ Worth of Game on Saturday night.

“It’s kind of how [TBT] set up the bracket on purpose. I’m from West Virginia, so I take it a little bit more personal,” Best Virginia HC/GM Chase Harler said. “Esa [Ahmad] and I played against them in college and I don’t think I ever lost to Pitt. I hope if they win, I keep that tradition going.”

Ahmad couldn’t hold back without throwing any shots at the Panthers.

“I’m also 1-0,” Ahmad said with a smirk.

Harler and Ahmad started in the 2018-19 edition of the Backyard Brawl, as the Mountaineers won in Morgantown, 69-59. Ahmad recorded 13 points and seven rebounds that game, which would be his only Backyard Brawl. Harler had three games in college versus Pitt, winning all three contests.

The Mountaineer duo knows what the Backyard Brawl is like, even if it’s July during a TBT event. The same goes for the other side with the former Pitt players. Marcus Keene, who attended Youngstown State and Central Michigan while in college, has already been educated on the importance of the Backyard Brawl.

Keene was brought on the team as an outsider but seemingly fits in quite well with the ex-West Virginia players. Keene finished with 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting in 16 minutes on Saturday. Keene has played in multiple TBT tournaments, and many home-court advantages like the Xavier and Wichita State regionals.

“They say it’s the Backyard Brawl. They say I fit in right with their culture,” Keene said. “I’ll be ready, I live for playing against teams in their own arena in TBT.”

Best Virginia will play the second-round game on Monday at 8 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center on TBT Live.

This article first appeared on WV Sports Now and was syndicated with permission.

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