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Pittsburgh seeks to extend best start in Big East history

Feb 7, 2007 - 4:32 PM No. 6 Pittsburgh (20-3) at West Virginia (18-4) 7:30 pm EST

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (Ticker) -- After winning their 20th game for a school-record sixth straight year, Pittsburgh takes its show on the road.

The sixth-ranked Panthers return from a nine-day layoff Wednesday when they visit West Virginia in a Big East Conference contest.

Matching their best league start (20-3, 8-1 Big East), the Panthers seek a fifth straight road victory against the Mountaineers (18-4, 7-3), who are 11-0 at home this season and 24-2 over the past two seasons.

The "Backyard Brawl" pits two of the most efficient teams in the country. Pittsburgh leads the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.58) while West Virginia ranks second (1.53).

Winners of three straight after a home loss to Marquette on January 21, the Panthers are coming off a 72-46 rout over St. John's on January 27.

Pittsburgh held the Red Storm to 32 percent (17-of-53) shooting while holding its eighth league opponent under 70 points.

Aaron Gray had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Sam Young added 11 points off the bench for Pittsburgh, which shot 48 percent (31-of-64), held a 42-28 edge on the boards and committed just seven turnovers.

West Virginia has won two straight games since its 96-83 overtime loss at Cincinnati on January 20.

The Mountaineers got a career-high 21 points and three 3-pointers from Da'Sean Butler, 17 points from Frank Young and 16 from Darris Nichols in their 81-70 victory at Seton Hall on Saturday.

In a series that dates to 1903-04, West Virginia leads the series, 92-79. The teams split their games last season, and the Panthers have not won here since the 2003-04 season.