Fresh off tough losses, UConn and Georgetown are gearing up for a Saturday showdown. UConn, sitting at 12-4 (4-1 Big East), narrowly lost to Villanova in a heartbreaker, 68-66, earlier this week. Georgetown, meanwhile, is 12-3 (3-1 Big East) and trying to bounce back after a hard-fought loss to Marquette. 

The last time these two long-time rivals met, UConn absolutely dominated with an 89-64 victory. But this is a new game, and with Georgetown’s home-court advantage, things could get interesting. But before the tip-off, here’s everything you need to know. 

Injury reports & projected line-up

Let’s start with the bad news for UConn fans. Freshman forward Liam McNeeley will miss his third straight game. The high ankle sprain he suffered a few weeks ago has him sidelined. Now, the team will have to lean even more heavily on veterans Alex Karaban and Hassan Diarra.

For Georgetown, things are looking slightly better, though not perfect. Jayden Epps, one of their key returning starters, is still questionable after suffering a nasty gash to his face in the game against Merrimack. He missed the matchup against Marquette earlier this week, and his availability for Saturday remains uncertain.

Projected starting lineups

UConn Huskies:

• Jayden Ross
• Hassan Diarra
• Alex Karaban
• Samson Johnson
• Solo Ball

Georgetown Hoyas:

• Thomas Sorber
• Drew Fielder 
• Caleb Williams
• Malik Mack 
• Micah Peavy

Note: If Epps is cleared to play, expect some last-minute adjustments to the Hoyas’ lineup.

This game is more than just another Big East clash. For UConn, a win means staying near the top of the conference standings without their freshman star. For Georgetown, it’s about proving they’re no longer the team you can roll over at will. Predictions favor UConn, but Georgetown isn’t going down without a fight, especially not on their home court.

Without Liam McNeeley, UConn looks to unleash their “nasty” side 

After Villanova loss, head Coach Dan Hurley didn’t hold back when discussing what needed to change. “I don’t want to see the stat sheet and see Alex have three shot attempts at halftime. I want to see him attacking these games, especially with Liam out,” he said.

Hassan Diarra, too, got called out for being a little too passive in the first half. “You just can’t be the point guard on the team and be disengaged,” Hurley said, adding that while Diarra’s second-half performance was strong, the team needed more consistency. 

On the flip side, Georgetown’s rapid rise under Ed Cooley is turning heads. Just two years ago, they were struggling to stay afloat, and now they’re legitimate Big East contenders. Cooley’s savvy recruiting—bringing in guys like Micah Peavy from TCU and Malik Mack from Harvard—combined with breakout freshman Thomas Sorber (McNeeley’s top competitor for Big East Freshman of the Year) has completely changed the Hoyas’ picture.

Sorber leads the team in scoring (15.1 points per game). “If this was years ago, it would’ve been a couple of years of brutality for Ed,” Hurley said. “But now, they’ve got guys who impact winning and a high school big like Sorber who’s just special.”

Rebounding is going to be a major factor in this game. Georgetown’s guards have been great in giving the team the second-best rebounding margin in the Big East. For UConn, Hurley wants to see a “nastier” team emerge.  “When the ball goes up, you’ve got to make violent first contact,” the HC said. “I just think we need our nice guys when the game starts to become nastier people. And then when the game’s over, they can go back to being nicer guys.”

So, all in all, with both teams hungry for a win and plenty of storylines to follow, this game will be a fiery one. Set your clocks for 2 p.m. Saturday, January 11, 2025. The action is going down at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., and you can catch it live on FOX.