UConn Men’s Basketball Faces Tough Test at Georgetown After Villanova Loss

The UConn men’s basketball team looks to rebound from a narrow road loss to Villanova as they face a resurgent Georgetown squad on Saturday at Capital One Arena. The Huskies, ranked No. 9 with a 12-4 record (4-1 Big East), are coming off a 72-71 defeat Wednesday night, where missed free throws by Alex Karaban in the final seconds proved costly.

Head coach Dan Hurley emphasized the need for better starts from his veterans, particularly Karaban and point guard Hassan Diarra. ‘Alex is going to grow more comfortable as the season goes on with it being his team and having to deal with that pressure,’ Hurley said Friday. ‘It’s a heavy load that you carry when you win or lose games.’

UConn will be without freshman Liam McNeeley for the third straight game as he recovers from a high ankle sprain. McNeeley, a key contributor, is progressing but remains sidelined, placing additional pressure on Karaban and Diarra to step up. ‘I don’t want to see the stat sheet and see Alex have three shot attempts at halftime,’ Hurley said. ‘I want to see him attacking these games even more so with Liam out.’

Georgetown, under second-year head coach Ed Cooley, has emerged as a Big East contender with a 12-3 record (3-1 Big East). The Hoyas, who have already surpassed their win total from the past two seasons, are led by standout freshman Thomas Sorber. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 15.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, making him a top candidate for Big East Freshman of the Year.

The Hoyas’ success has been bolstered by key transfers, including Micah Peavy (TCU) and Malik Mack (Harvard), who have provided immediate impact. Peavy is averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.1 assists, while Mack has contributed 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game. Guard Jayden Epps, a returning starter averaging 14.7 points, is questionable for Saturday’s game due to injury.

Rebounding will be a critical factor in the matchup. Georgetown ranks second in the Big East in rebounding margin during conference play (+4.5), while UConn has struggled to match its dominance on the glass from previous seasons. Hurley stressed the need for a more aggressive approach. ‘We’ve got a lot of nice guys on this team,’ he said. ‘I don’t think that we are as nasty competitively as we have been in the past.’

The game tips off at 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX. UConn leads the all-time series 38-36, including a dominant 89-64 victory in their last meeting on Feb. 10, 2024.