Georgetown Hoyas vs Washington State Cougars Picks and Predictions March 31st 2025

Georgetown, Washington State Face Off in College Basketball Crown

A new era of postseason college hoops begins Monday as Georgetown and Washington State meet for the first time ever in the opening round of the inaugural College Basketball Crown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. With both teams in transition and dealing with key absences, this matchup is less about star power and more about resilience, opportunity, and building for the future.

Georgetown (17-15) enters its first postseason since the 2021 NCAA Tournament and celebrates its first winning season since 2018-19. For head coach Ed Cooley, that progress is significant—even if the Hoyas won’t be at full strength.

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“We’re not going out there with a full deck, but we’re going out there with some guys who are eager,” Cooley said. “We’re excited… we’ll try and represent the Big East the best way we can.”

The Hoyas will be without starting big man Drew Fielder, who entered the transfer portal after starting 31 games this season and averaging 7.1 points and 5.4 rebounds. Also absent is standout freshman Thomas Sorber, a Big East All-Freshman selection who recently declared for the 2025 NBA Draft after undergoing turf toe surgery. Sorber averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 24 games.

Still, the Hoyas see this tournament as a step forward and a stage to showcase their evolving identity under Cooley.

Cougars Also Adjusting, Eyeing Postseason Run

Washington State (19-14), meanwhile, returns to postseason play for a fourth straight year—this time under new head coach David Riley. The Cougars will also be shorthanded with leading scorer Nate Calmese (15.2 ppg) and sharpshooter Isaiah Watts (11.0 ppg) both entering the transfer portal after their WCC tournament loss to San Francisco.

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“It’s busy,” Riley said of managing rosters amid the transfer portal era. “We have to go recruit players in the portal and we have to dive in and get to know all these people as humans over a week, which is crazy in it of itself.”

Despite the roster turnover, Washington State remains a tough out, having won an NCAA Tournament game earlier this year—their first such victory since 2008. The Cougars will look to rely on their depth and defensive grit to carry them in Las Vegas.

New Tournament, New Opportunity

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This new postseason format gives both teams a chance to compete, experiment, and build momentum toward next season. With Georgetown aiming to snap a postseason win drought that dates back to 2015, and Washington State looking to extend their recent tournament success, Monday’s matchup holds more weight than a typical consolation bracket.

The winner will advance to face either Nebraska or Arizona State in Wednesday’s quarterfinals.

For those keeping an eye on college basketball predictions, this matchup offers value in evaluating how emerging rosters handle postseason pressure. Get expert insight into this first-round clash and other tournament action with the latest college basketball picks.