Game 9: Georgetown Hoyas (6-2) vs. No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels (7-1)
When: Sunday December 7 at 5:00 p.m.
Or: Dean E. Smith Center (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
TV: ESPN (Kevin Brown and Cory Alexander)
Radio: Team 980 (Rich Chvotkin), SiriusXM (channel 973)
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Series: Georgetown leads 5-4 (Last meeting: March 25, 2007; GU 96-84 OT in the East Regional final)
KenPom ranking: Georgetown 91 (80 off. / 117 def.); North Carolina 24 (38 off. / 29 def.)
Double: DraftKings UNC-10.5
The Tar Heel Report
The scouting report begins and ends with the frontcourt. Freshman sensation Caleb Wilson has been a force, averaging 19.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game (Georgetown University Athletics). He’s paired with 7-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, who adds 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per contest (Georgetown University Athletics).
This duo presents a significant challenge to a Georgetown front line lacking Vince Iwuchukwu.
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Key players to watch:
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Ryan Evans: While the bigs grab the headlines, Evans keeps the offense moving, pacing the team with 4.0 assists per game.
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Caleb Wilson: The freshman leads the team in points and rebounds and has already recorded five double-doubles.
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Henri Veesaar: Efficient and dangerous, Veesaar leads the ACC with a passing percentage of nearly 65 percent and has a familiar bond with Hoya guard KJ Lewis from their time together in Arizona.
The most alarming statistic for Georgetown fans is UNC’s rebounding margin. North Carolina ranks in the top 30 nationally in rebounding margin (+10), while the Hoyas are 215th (+1.1).
If the Tar Heels are allowed to break down the offensive glass like they did against Kentucky — where they grabbed 20 offensive rebounds — it’ll be a long night in Chapel Hill.
What is at stake
For Ed Cooley and his program, Sunday offers a golden opportunity to accelerate the rebuilding process. A road victory against a Blue Blood opponent would be the most important win of the Cooley era and instantly validate the roster-building strategy for the 2025-26 campaign.
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The Hoyas have already shown they can compete with Power 4 teams, as evidenced by wins over Maryland and Clemson, but a win at the Dean Smith Center carries a different weight. This would indicate that Georgetown is not only improving, but capable of beating the nation’s best in hostile environments – especially without Iwuchukwu.
Conversely, a devastating loss would highlight the work that remains to be done, particularly when it comes to interior depth and defense. Heading into Big East play, a competitive performance, especially on defense, is the minimum expectation for Hoyas fans eager to see their team return to the national conversation.
