UConn's Offense Finds Its Groove Again Ahead of Georgetown Rematch
A month ago, UConn's offense hit a wall. After a dismal shooting night at Seton Hall, the Huskies rolled into D.C. and struggled to find the bottom of the net against Georgetown.
The numbers told the story: just 21-of-58 from the field (36.2%) and a painful 5-of-26 from three-point range (19.2%). They were also beaten on the boards and nearly gave the game away at the free-throw line late.
Still, they escaped with a 64-62 win.
That gritty win came at a cost, though. UConn’s offensive efficiency ranking, once among the nation’s elite per KenPom, dropped all the way to No.
- For a team built on ball movement, spacing, and high-level shotmaking, it was a wake-up call.
Fast forward six games, and the Huskies look like themselves again. They’ve shot 50.3% from the field and a scorching 43.4% from deep over that stretch, climbing back to No. 20 in offensive efficiency. And now, with Georgetown coming to Gampel Pavilion on Saturday night, UConn’s offense is humming at just the right time.
“We’ve got five guys averaging between 11 and 14 points - they’re all bunched, it’s crazy,” head coach Dan Hurley said after the team bounced back from a loss to St. John’s with a win at Butler.
“That’s how our ’24 team was built - and I’m not comparing these guys to that team, but that was the type of team we had, like pick your poison. Hopefully we can get somewhere near what that team looked like at the end.”
That balance has become UConn’s calling card. Solo Ball, fresh off a 24-point performance at Butler, leads the team at 14.5 points per game.
Right behind him are Tarris Reed Jr. (14.1), Alex Karaban (13.2), Braylon Mullins (11.9), and Silas Demary Jr.
(11.2). It’s a lineup where any player can take over - and lately, they all have.
Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley has taken notice.
“Over the last couple of games they’ve shot the ball really well from the perimeter,” Cooley said Thursday in D.C. “Their ability to make 3s and really open up the game has really opened our eyes, and them getting on the offensive glass. Those are the biggest things I’ve seen since we played them.”
The Hoyas, for their part, have quietly put together a solid stretch, winning four of their last five and climbing to sixth in the Big East standings. Still, they’ve yet to knock off any of the conference’s top four teams - a hurdle they’ll need to clear if they want to be taken seriously down the stretch.
Georgetown’s strength lies in its backcourt. KJ Lewis (15.1 points per game) and Malik Mack (14.5) are two of the league’s most dynamic scorers.
Mack also ranks sixth in the Big East with 4.3 assists per game. In their last meeting with UConn, both guards came alive late - scoring 12 and 11 points, respectively - after quiet first halves that saw them combine for just eight.
But the real X-factor in that game was 7-foot-1 center Vincent Iwuchukwu. After missing time earlier this season, he erupted in the second half, grabbing 13 of his 14 rebounds and finishing with 12 points for his first double-double of the year. He’s posted back-to-back double-doubles since then, and his matchup with Tarris Reed Jr. in the paint Saturday night could be pivotal.
Karaban Chasing History
Saturday night could be a milestone moment for UConn captain Alex Karaban. With a win, he would become the winningest player in program history, breaking a tie with Samson Johnson. The Huskies are 115-24 with Karaban on the floor - a testament to both his consistency and the program’s sustained success.
Karaban is also set to make his 136th career start, which would break Jake Voskuhl’s long-standing record for most starts in UConn history.
And in a fitting twist, Johnson - now playing with the Indiana Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Noblesville Boom - was in the building at Hinkle Fieldhouse when Karaban tied his mark.
A Halftime Legend Returns
Saturday night will also feature a celebration of one of UConn’s all-time greats. Hasheem Thabeet, the 2008-09 Big East Player of the Year and a two-time NABC Defensive Player of the Year, will be inducted into the Huskies of Honor at halftime.
Thabeet’s impact on the program was massive - literally and figuratively. In three seasons at Storrs, he racked up 1,028 points, 847 rebounds, and 417 blocks, finishing second in school history in rejections. His dominance in the paint helped define an era of UConn basketball, and he went on to become the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
What to Know
- Where: Gampel Pavilion, Storrs
- When: 8 p.m.
ET, Saturday
- Series: UConn leads 41-36
- Last Meeting: Jan. 17, 2026 - UConn 64, Georgetown 62 at Capital One Arena
It’s a rematch with layers - a surging UConn offense, a Georgetown team with something to prove, and a night of potential milestones and memories. The Huskies are back in rhythm. Now, we’ll see if they can keep the beat going.