Georgetown Hoyas vs Uconn Huskies Picks and Predictions January 11th 2025

No. 9 UConn, Georgetown Look to Bounce Back

After seeing their respective winning streaks snapped earlier this week, No. 9 UConn and Georgetown will aim to rebound on Saturday when they clash in Washington, D.C. Both teams sit near the top of the Big East standings and hope to avoid consecutive setbacks in what promises to be a hard-fought contest.

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UConn: Searching for Consistency Without McNeeley

UConn (12-4, 4-1 Big East) nearly completed a dramatic comeback at Villanova on Wednesday but fell short, 68-66. Star junior Alex Karaban, who averages a team-high 15.9 points per game, missed two free throws in the final seconds that could have forced overtime. Despite the loss, coach Dan Hurley emphasized Karaban’s track record of success.

“He’s the winningest player in college basketball,” Hurley said, referencing Karaban’s significant contributions to UConn’s back-to-back national championships.

The Huskies will once again be without freshman standout Liam McNeeley, who is sidelined with a right foot injury. McNeeley, the team’s second-leading scorer (13.6 ppg) and rebounder (5.8 rpg), has been missed in recent games.

In McNeeley’s absence, Jaylin Stewart stepped up against Villanova, logging a season-high 32 minutes and scoring 14 points. In their previous game, it was guard Hassan Diarra who delivered a career-high 19 points to help UConn narrowly escape Providence with a win.

Despite these individual efforts, Hurley knows road games like Georgetown will be challenging. “Winning at Georgetown is going to be tough,” Hurley said.

Georgetown: A Surprise Contender With Challenges to Overcome

Georgetown (12-3, 3-1) has been one of the early surprises in the Big East under coach Ed Cooley. However, the Hoyas faltered late against No. 7 Marquette on Tuesday, falling 74-66 after leading by as many as 14 in the first half. Turnovers proved costly, as Georgetown coughed up the ball 19 times.

“You limit three of those turnovers, Georgetown walks out of this building with a win,” Cooley lamented.

Freshman sensation Thomas Sorber continued to shine, recording 11 points and 13 rebounds in the loss. Sorber leads the Hoyas in scoring (15.1 ppg) and rebounding (8.4 rpg) and has earned four Big East Freshman of the Week awards this season.

The Hoyas have been hampered by injuries, with guard Jayden Epps—their second-leading scorer (14.7 ppg)—playing just four minutes since Dec. 22 due to a lower-body injury. Epps’ availability remains uncertain for Saturday.

Key Matchup: Controlling the Ball

Turnovers could define this game. Georgetown leads the Big East in giveaways during conference play, averaging 14.8 per game. UConn’s defense will look to exploit that vulnerability while limiting their own mistakes in the absence of McNeeley.

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History and Stakes

UConn has dominated the recent series, winning eight straight against Georgetown. The Hoyas last defeated the Huskies in a Big East game on Feb. 1, 2012.

With both teams eager to stay near the top of the conference standings, this game carries significant implications. UConn seeks to avoid its first two-game league losing streak since January 2023, while Georgetown aims to prove its early-season success is no fluke.

What to Watch

• Karaban’s Leadership: Can he bounce back after a tough outing at Villanova?
• Sorber’s Impact: The freshman could be the key to Georgetown pulling off an upset.
• Turnovers: A cleaner game will likely determine the winner.

This clash of Big East contenders should deliver plenty of drama as both teams look to get back on track.