The third-ranked Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team travels to the nation's capital this weekend for a pivotal Big East conference showdown against the Georgetown Hoyas. With an unblemished 7-0 record in league play and a 13-game winning streak on the line, UConn aims to continue its dominance over a struggling Georgetown squad that has lost five consecutive conference games.
Saturday's matinee contest represents more than just another game on the schedule for both programs. For the Huskies, it's an opportunity to maintain their perfect conference mark and extend their winning streak to 14 games. For the Hoyas, it's a chance to salvage some pride against a national powerhouse and potentially turn around a season that has quickly spiraled downward after a promising non-conference performance.
UConn's Impressive Run
Since suffering their lone defeat of the season to Arizona in early December, the Huskies have been virtually unstoppable. Their 13-game winning streak includes several impressive victories and has established them as one of the premier teams in college basketball. The team's most recent triumph came on Tuesday night when they broke a concerning road curse by defeating Seton Hall 69-64 in Newark, snapping a four-game losing streak in away games against the Pirates.
According to the advanced metrics that matter most in college basketball, UConn ranks among the elite. The Huskies sit at No. 9 in KenPom rankings and No. 7 in the NET, positioning them favorably for NCAA Tournament seeding. Their defensive prowess has been particularly noteworthy, with KenPom rating them as the sixth-best defense in the nation. While they've slipped slightly from their peak defensive rating in recent weeks, this unit represents a significant improvement over last season's squad and has become the backbone of their success.
The Huskies' dominance extends beyond just this season. Since rejoining the Big East conference in 2020, Connecticut has owned the rivalry with Georgetown, winning every single matchup between the two traditional powers. This historical context adds another layer of motivation for the Huskies to maintain their supremacy while the Hoyas desperately seek to end this embarrassing streak.
Georgetown's Troubles
On the opposite bench, Ed Cooley's third year at Georgetown has yet to produce the turnaround many hoped for when he replaced program legend Patrick Ewing. After showing promise during the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Hoyas have completely unraveled in Big East play, dropping their first five conference games to sit at 1-5 in league standings.
The advanced metrics paint a bleak picture for Georgetown. Ranked No. 108 in KenPom with the No. 95 offense nationally and 127th in the NET, the Hoyas simply haven't been competitive against the conference's elite teams. Their current five-game losing streak has exposed significant weaknesses that Cooley and his staff must address if they hope to avoid finishing near the bottom of the Big East standings once again.
The Historical Rivalry
When these two programs meet, it's always a significant event given their shared history. The all-time series stands at 76 meetings, with UConn holding a narrow 40-36 advantage. However, that overall record belies the recent dominance by the Huskies.
Connecticut has won 10 consecutive games against Georgetown dating back to 2021. The last time the Hoyas managed to defeat the Huskies was in a non-conference matchup in January 2017, when UConn was still competing in the American Athletic Conference. The most recent meeting between these teams occurred on February 26, 2025, when the Huskies cruised to a 93-79 victory in Hartford. In that game, Solo Ball and Tarris Reed Jr. led five UConn players in double figures, each scoring 20 points in a balanced offensive attack.
Key Storyline: Solo Ball's Shooting Slump
One of the most intriguing subplots entering Saturday's game involves UConn guard Solo Ball and his recent shooting struggles. Coming into the season, expectations were sky-high for the junior guard after his breakout sophomore campaign. Many national media outlets even included him in their preseason All-American discussions as the potential catalyst for UConn's championship aspirations.
However, the calendar flip to 2026 has brought nothing but frustration for Ball from beyond the arc. In the four games since January 1st, he has made just four total three-pointers while shooting a dismal 22% from three-point range. His scoring output has reflected this cold streak, managing only eight points in the victory at Seton Hall and seven points the previous weekend against DePaul. This marks two consecutive Big East games where Ball has failed to reach double digits, a concerning trend for a player expected to be UConn's primary offensive weapon.
The Huskies have managed to survive Ball's slump thanks to their depth and defensive excellence, but they'll need their star guard to rediscover his shooting touch as they enter the heart of their conference schedule and look ahead to March Madness. Saturday's game against a weaker Georgetown defense could provide the perfect opportunity for Ball to regain his confidence and rhythm.
Game Details and Logistics
For fans looking to catch the action, Saturday's game is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. EST tip-off at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The game will be broadcast nationally on FOX, with streaming options available through FoxSports.com. For those preferring radio coverage, the UConn Sports Network will carry the call, with additional availability on Sirius XM channel 201 and through Sirius/XM online streaming platforms.
From a betting perspective, the oddsmakers have installed UConn as significant favorites. The Huskies are listed as 12.5-point favorites over the home team, with the over/under set at 140.5 total points. The analytics community agrees with this assessment, as KenPom's predictive model forecasts a 78-65 victory for Connecticut, giving the Huskies an 87% win probability.
Health and Availability
UConn enters the contest in excellent health, with all 15 players on the roster expected to be available for head coach Dan Hurley. This clean bill of health has been consistent for the past three games and gives the Huskies significant depth and flexibility in their rotation. Having a full complement of players is crucial as the team navigates the grind of conference play and looks to maintain its momentum through the remainder of the regular season.
Looking Ahead
As the Huskies prepare for their trip to Washington, the stakes extend beyond just maintaining their perfect conference record. With each victory, UConn strengthens its case for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament and builds momentum for what they hope will be a deep March run. The combination of elite defense, balanced scoring, and a healthy roster makes them a formidable opponent for any team in the country.
For Georgetown, the challenge is monumental. Not only must they find a way to slow down one of college basketball's hottest teams, but they must also do so while breaking out of their own offensive funk. The Hoyas need a signature victory to validate Cooley's rebuilding efforts and provide hope for a program that has struggled mightily since its last NCAA Tournament appearance.
Saturday's matchup represents a classic David versus Goliath scenario within the Big East conference. While UConn aims to continue its march toward championship contention, Georgetown desperately seeks a turning point in a season that has quickly slipped away. The Huskies have every reason to feel confident, but as any college basketball fan knows, rivalries can produce unexpected results, especially when one team has nothing to lose.