Though the Georgetown University Hoyas (18-16, 8-12 Big East) ended their season in an 81-69 loss to the eventual champion University of Nebraska Cornhuskers (21-14, 7-13 Big Ten) in the College Basketball Crown, Head Coach Ed Cooley reiterated the optimism that many Georgetown fans have maintained over the course of the season.
“It’s my goal to never be in this tournament again,” Cooley told Georgetown Athletics after the Hoyas’ loss. “I think the accommodations are great, it’s nice to see all the bright lights, but this is not what we’re trying to build our program to be.”
Coming off a frustrating 9-23 debut season in 2023-24 that saw the Hoyas win just two conference games — both against DePaul University — Cooley retooled most of the roster, bringing in a total of four transfers. Future first team all-Big East forward Micah Peavy from Texas Christian University and 2024 Ivy League rookie of the year guard Malik Mack from Harvard University both headlined the transfer class.
In addition to a strong portal class, Cooley successfully recruited a whopping eight high school seniors, led by future Big East all-freshman team and all-Big East third teamer center Thomas Sorber. After a stellar first year that saw him average 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, Sorber declared for the NBA draft and is projected to go in the first round if he elects not to ultimately return to the Hilltop.
With high expectations hanging over Cooley and his men, the Hoyas proved their mettle early on in the season, winning 12 of their first 14 games and starting out conference play 3-0. Although Georgetown was able to take advantage of a very weak out-of-conference slate — the Hoyas had the 183rd ranked non-conference strength of schedule (SOS) — the team still went 9-2 and picked up two wins against future 2025 NCAA tournament teams Mount St. Mary’s University (23-13, 12-8 MAAC) and St. Francis University (16-18, 8-8 Northeast) in dominant fashion.
The Hoyas got off to a dazzling start to Big East play, eclipsing their 2023-24 Big East win total in their first three games with wins over Creighton University (25-11, 15-5 Big East), Seton Hall University (7-25, 2-18 Big East) and Xavier University (22-12, 13-7 Big East).
Following their hot start to the season, Georgetown found themselves put to the test for the first time on the road against perennial conference power Marquette University (23-11, 13-7 Big East). The underdog Hoyas gave their all against the Golden Eagles, who at the time ranked 7th in the Associated Press Poll, but ultimately succumbed down the stretch 74-66. However, big performances from Mack (18 points, 5 assists) and Sorber (11 points, 13 rebounds) put the Big East on notice.
The encouraging effort against a Top 10 opponent sparked a renewed interest in the team both on campus and in Washington, D.C., evidenced by a crowd turnout of 17,168 at Capital One Arena for a showdown against the two-time defending champions University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies Jan. 11. The Hoyas went back and forth with the then-9th ranked Huskies in the first half but ultimately caved in a 68-60 loss that saw most of the crowd clear out following an early-second-half blitz from UConn.
From then on, the Hoyas devolved into a tailspin, with the group losing five of their next seven games. While Georgetown notched wins over Villanova University (21-14, 11-9 Big East) 64-63 and Butler University (15-20, 6-14 Big East) 73-70 at home, the group showed real growing pains in losses to DePaul University (14-20, 4-16 Big East) — which snapped DePaul’s 39-game Big East losing skid — and against Cooley’s former home at Providence College (12-20, 6-14 Big East). The loss to a middling Friars squad was particularly disappointing, as a rowdy and bitter crowd in Rhode Island played a part in the Hoyas faltering down the stretch — although Cooley would get sweet revenge in a 93-72 blowout over the Friars back home Feb. 19.
The breaking point for the Hoyas came Feb. 15 when Sorber endured a season-ending left foot injury in a 97-86 loss to Butler on the road. The loss of Sorber and his post presence proved too big of a loss for the Hoyas, as the team would manage to win just two more conference games before losing to DePaul for the third time (and the second time in four days) 71-67 in the first round of the Big East tournament.
With the Hoyas out of contention for an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, the team accepted an invitation to the College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas, Nev. Georgetown drew the Washington State University Cougars (19-15, 8-10 West Coast) in the first round. However, shortly before the game, Georgetown announced that a number of players would be out for an undisclosed health issue, leaving the rotation severely shorthanded.
Without regular starters such as Peavy and sophomore forward Drew Fielder, along with other key pieces like junior guard Jayden Epps and first-year forward Caleb Williams, the Hoyas relied heavily on Mack and a supporting cast that included playing time for walk-ons sophomore forward Austin Montgomery and first-year guard Michael Van Raaphorst. In a tight back-and-forth affair, Mack’s best performance as a Hoya — 37 points, 8-12 from three — ultimately enabled Georgetown to squeak past the Cougars 85-82 and advance to the quarterfinals to face Nebraska.
Despite another big performance from Mack (25 points, 3 assists) and solid contributions from sophomore forward Jordan Burks (11 points, 6 rebounds) and first-year guard Kayvaun Mulready (9 points, 3 rebounds), Nebraska’s star senior guard Brice Williams (28 points, 5-9 from three) overwhelmed the Hoyas in a 81-69 loss that officially put an end to Georgetown’s 2024-25 campaign. One feel-good moment from the loss came at the hands of Van Raaphorst, who drilled his first career 3-pointer from the left corner early in the second half.
Metrics-wise, the Hoyas finished the year ranked 88th in the NET rankings (the primary metric-based evaluation tool used to rank and rate college basketball teams), peaking at a high of 68 on Jan. 13. In the KenPom rankings, the Hoyas finished 90th. Notably, Georgetown picked up their first Quad 1 win since the 2020-21 season when they defeated the Villanova Wildcats 64-63 on the road. The most notable in-season improvements came on the defensive side. The Hoyas finished 80th in scoring defense and 66th in turnovers forced, but were dragged down by their anemic offense, which finished tied for 239th in scoring offense and 292nd in 3-point shooting percentage.
Recognizing the desperate need for shooting, Cooley and his staff have already been hard at work in the transfer portal, securing five commitments in the past few days.
Georgetown’s most prized pickup thus far has been rising junior guard K.J. Lewis from the University of Arizona. Lewis averaged 10.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game this year for the Wildcats, who fell in the Sweet 16 to No. 1 seed Duke University 100-93. Lewis is a crafty and lengthy guard who is projected to pair nicely with Mack in the back court.
Outside of Lewis, Cooley also earned a commitment from rising senior guard Langston Love out of Baylor University. Love, who has struggled with injuries, averaged 8.9 points per game this year in 23 appearances (12 starts) for the Bears, but put up 11 points per game on 48% 3-point shooting in the 2023-24 season. Love’s career 38.9% mark from beyond the arc and veteran presence should supplement the squad’s shooting well for the next year.
Cooley also landed commitments from rising junior guard Deshawn Harris-Smith out of the University of Maryland, rising sophomore forward and former four-star prospect Isaiah Abraham from UConn and rising senior forward Duncan Powell out of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Powell, at 6-foot 8-inches and 235 pounds should serve as a force inside for the Hoyas, who would love to see him replicate his 12.2 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game from last season with the Yellow Jackets.
With five scholarship players coming in, the Hoyas also saw multiple players from this year’s roster enter the transfer portal. Fielder originally committed to the University of Southern California but flipped to Boise State University April 9. First-year forward Drew McKenna, sophomore guard Curtis Williams Jr, and Burks are still all looking for teams to land on for the next season.
Despite an up-and-down season, Hoya fans should be excited for what’s to come under Cooley’s tutelage. With the addition of five immediate impact transfers already, along with the return of the ascending Mack, the Hoyas are in good shape to take another step forward next season.
Cooley will have substantial pressure from the fanbase to make the tournament next season. With a revamped roster and continued development, Georgetown has a real opportunity to be among the Big East’s best for the 2025-26 season. The next few weeks will be critical for the program, as it remains to be seen whether Sorber returns and what additional portal activity occurs on the Hilltop. Hoya fans have much to be excited for looking ahead as Cooley and his staff continue to revive this historic yet dormant power from its long-time hibernation.
