WASHINGTON (DC News Now) – Georgetown men’s basketball team will head to New York this week for the Big East tournament, taking place at Madison Square Garden.
Despite finishing the regular season with a 17-14 overall record, the Hoyas have turned a corner in year two under head coach Ed Cooley. A marked improvement over last year’s campaign, Georgetown enters the tournament as the seventh seed, and the team believes they have what it takes to make a deep run.
Speaking to the media after practice, players were clear: the goal is to win it all. “I feel like we have a high level of confidence,” said junior guard Jayden Epps. “We know what we’re capable of, and we know what we can do. We’ve had a lot of ups and downs this season, but we’ve also shown we can compete with anyone.”
The confidence stems not just from their on-court performance, but from the culture that’s been cultivated in Cooley’s second year at the helm. The team’s growth has been evident, even when faced with adversity, such as a season plagued with injuries. The Hoyas have been without their star freshman, Thomas Sorber, after he went down with a lower leg injury in the team’s loss to Butler in February.
“We know in order to win games, everyone has to step up,” said senior guard Micah Peavy. “We haven’t had a full squad for most of the year, but we’ve still been in close games, and we’ve learned how to execute when it counts.”
Cooley has stressed team-first mentality, emphasizing the importance of unselfish play, high energy, and strong execution. “When we play the right way and execute as a unit, I believe we can beat anyone,” Cooley said. “I want our guys to know that every time we step on the floor, we have a chance to win.”
While the Hoyas’ physical play has been impressive at times, what has stood out even more is the development of their team culture. “We’ve been through a lot, but I feel like the culture we’ve built — the toughness, the resilience, and the ability to fight through adversity — has made us stronger as a team,” said Epps.
The work the team has put in off the court hasn’t gone unnoticed, either. Cooley spoke about the growing connection between the team and the community, which he believes is a crucial element for the program’s future. “The engagement with our fans and the hope we’re instilling in the community is something we’re really proud of,” Cooley said. “We know that building this infrastructure will be key to continued success in the evolving landscape of college basketball.”
The Hoyas will face DePaul in the first round of the Big East tournament this Wednesday. In the regular season finale, Georgetown lost to the Blue Demons, so the Hoyas will look to exact revenge in the conference tournament.
