Pitt, WVU Fans Disappointed By First Round Exits
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The first round of the NCAA Tournament was a disappointing one for local college basketball fans.
Pitt lost to Wisconsin, and then West Virginia fell to Stephen F. Austin in an upset Friday night. That means the Backyard Brawl rivals won't be playing each other next week like a lot of fans had hoped.
There was a lot of Pitt spirit at Hough's Taproom and Brewpub in Greenfield Friday night, that is, until the Panthers fell to Wisconsin 47-43.
"It's inconsistency with Pitt program this year," said fan George Polats. "The ups and downs, and not knowing how they were going to perform game to game."
Amongst the Pitt fans were a handful of West Virginia fans rooting for the Mountaineers against SF Austin.
"Every time I come out and watch them, it's tough to convince them to put it on a TV," said WVU fan Evan Williams. "When there's a Pitt game or a Penguins game on, I have to beg."
The Mountaineers couldn't hold up either, losing in a 70-56 upset.
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Some basketball fans were hoping both Pitt and WVU would last long enough to play each other, but that wasn't the case.
"We have Backyard Brawl history," said one fan.
Despite a Panthers' loss, fans say they'll stick by their team, regardless of the outcome.
"I just like to be able to root for the home team and where I went to school," said Pitt fan Austin Whismant.