Since the new Big East was established ahead of the 2013-14 season, Georgetown and DePaul have been no strangers to the conference's basement. At least one of the two programs has finished in the bottom three of the conference standings in each of those 12 seasons, and both have finished there in seven. Ed Cooley and Chris Holtmann are in the early stages of rebuilding their respective programs, making comparison basically unavoidable whenever the two meet. This season, both squads have just two wins across Quads 1 and 2. Georgetown has the slight edge on KenPom, and DePaul is just ahead in the NET. Despite how even they appear on paper, Holtmann's Blue Demons have been a real thorn in Ed Cooley's side, winning all four meetings over the last two seasons. Can the Hoyas end that streak at home?
Georgetown (10-10, 2-7 Big East) has had a disappointing season thus far, but the Hoyas just pulled off an incredible win at Providence to snap a six-game losing streak. Ed Cooley's squad was down as many as 21 in the second half and had a win probability of just 0.6% with 13 minutes remaining before erupting for a 42-19 run to win in regulation, 81-78. KJ Lewis powered the surge with 21 second-half points, finishing with 26 for the game. Vince Iwuchukwu contributed 16 points. It was Cooley's first win at his old stomping grounds since leaving Providence for Georgetown, and a victory that could prove to be a turning point in the Hoyas' season as they head into the back half of conference play.
DePaul (12-8, 4-5 Big East) is coming off a home win over an upstart Seton Hall side, 67-60. Four Blue Demons scored in double figures, paced by CJ Gunn's 19 points. Defensively, Gunn's career-high four blocks helped limit Seton Hall to 37.7% shooting from the field, the Pirates' fifth-worst mark of the season. The Blue Demons' fourth conference win already matches their total from the 2024-25 campaign as Chris Holtmann's rebuild of the DePaul program takes a step forward in Year 2.
Georgetown vs. DePaul: When and Where
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 8:30 pm ET
Location: Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Georgetown vs. DePaul: Where to Watch or Stream
Watch (TV): FS1
Streaming: FuboTV
Georgetown vs. DePaul: Series History
All-time series: Georgetown leads 36-18
Last meeting: DePaul 56, Georgetown 50 (January 6, 2026)
Projected Starting Lineups
Georgetown Hoyas
Malik Mack (13.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.2 APG, 36.8% FG, 30.5% 3PT)
KJ Lewis (15.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 2.7 APG, 2.0 SPG, 41.8% FG, 32.8% 3PT)
Isaiah Abraham (6.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 47.8% FG, 42.9% 3PT)
Caleb Williams (10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 47.4% FG, 39.4% 3PT)
Vince Iwuchukwu (10.2 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 51.5% FG)
DePaul Blue Demons
RJ Smith (7.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.4 APG, 39.8% FG, 36.4% 3PT)
Layden Blocker (11.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 38.7% FG, 31.7% 3PT)
CJ Gunn (14.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 44.8% FG, 35% 3PT)
Kaleb Banks (6.7 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 43.3% FG, 35.4% 3PT)
NJ Benson (10.3 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 60.6% FG)
In the January 6 matchup, Georgetown held a three-point halftime lead before making just one field goal in the entire second half and falling by six. The Hoyas shot 23% from the field and 8% from three for the game. With 18 points in the affair, KJ Lewis was the only Hoya to score in double figures. DePaul shot just 35% from the field and were led by Brandon Maclin's 13 points off the bench. NJ Benson pulled down 16 rebounds on no shortage of opportunities. Both sides will look for a better offensive performance in Round 2, specifically from their respective scoring guards Malik Mack and CJ Gunn.
Ed Cooley just got his first win as the visitor at his former school - can he follow that up with his first win over Chris Holtmann's DePaul program?