Game 9: Georgetown Hoyas (6-2) at No. 16 North Carolina Tar Heels (7-1)
When: Sunday, December 7 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Dean E. Smith Center (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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 East Regional Final)
KenPom Rankings: Georgetown 91 (80 Off. / 117 Def.); North Carolina 24 (38 Off. / 29 Def.)
Line: DraftKings UNC -10.5
The Tar Heel Report
The scouting report starts and ends with the frontcourt. Freshman sensation Caleb Wilson has been a force, averaging a team-high 19.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game (Georgetown University Athletics). He is paired with 7-foot Arizona transfer Henri Veesaar, who is adding 14.5 points and 8.5 boards per contest (Georgetown University Athletics).
This duo presents a massive challenge for a Georgetown front line missing Vince Iwuchukwu.
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Key Players to Watch:
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Ryan Evans: While the bigs get 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 in field goal percentage at nearly 65% and possesses a familiar connection to Hoya guard KJ Lewis from their time together at Arizona.
The most alarming statistic for Georgetown fans is the rebounding margin for UNC. North Carolina ranks in the top 30 nationally in rebounding margin (+10), while the Hoyas sit at No. 215 (+1.1).
If the Tar Heels are allowed to crash the offensive glass as they did against Kentucky—where they grabbed 20 offensive rebounds—it will be a long evening in Chapel Hill.
What’s at Stake
For Ed Cooley and his program, Sunday offers a golden opportunity to accelerate the rebuilding process. A road victory over a ranked “Blue Blood” opponent would be the most significant win of the Cooley era and would instantly validate the roster construction strategy for the 2025-26 campaign.
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The Hoyas have already shown they can compete with Power 4 teams, evidenced by wins over Maryland and Clemson, but a victory at the Dean Smith Center carries a different weight. It would signal that Georgetown is not just improving, but capable of beating the nation’s best in hostile environments—especially missing Iwuchukwu.
Conversely, a devastating loss would highlight the work that remains, particularly regarding interior depth and defense. With Big East play looming, a competitive showing—especially on defense—is the minimum expectation for Hoyas fans eager to see their team return to the national conversation.
