Honestly, if you walked into Capital One Arena on January 10, 2026, you would’ve felt it. That specific, heavy kind of tension that only bubbles up when two old-school Big East programs like Georgetown and Seton Hall get together. It isn’t just about the box score. It’s about two programs trying to claw their way back to the top of a mountain that currently feels like it’s owned by UConn.
The Pirates ended up walking away with a 76-67 win that night, but the score tells maybe half the story.
Georgetown actually led for about 30 minutes of that game. You’ve seen this movie before if you’re a Hoya fan. They looked sharp early, built an 11-point lead in the second half, and then… the wheels didn’t just come off; they basically disintegrated. Seton Hall, meanwhile, did what Shaheen Holloway teams do. They stayed gritty. They played "white-knuckle" defense.
The January 10 Meltdown: Georgetown vs Seton Hall Breakdown
Let’s look at the actual basketball. Georgetown was sitting pretty with a 47-36 lead. Ed Cooley’s squad was hitting triples, and Malik Mack was orchestrating. Then, the Pirates flipped a switch.
Seton Hall went on a 40-20 run to close out the game. Think about that for a second. In the most critical part of the game, the Pirates doubled Georgetown’s output. Adam "Budd" Clark was the main reason. The junior guard from Philadelphia absolutely lived at the free-throw line, finishing with 22 points. He’s only 5'10", but he plays like he's 6'5" and angry at the rim.
Georgetown’s shooting, on the other hand, went stone cold. They finished at 33.9% from the field. You aren't winning many Big East games shooting like that. The Pirates’ frontcourt, led by Stephon Payne III and freshman Najai Hines, basically turned the paint into a "no-fly zone." They out-rebounded the Hoyas and turned every interior pass into a wrestling match.
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Why Georgetown Fans Are Frustrated
It’s the "almost" factor. Ed Cooley is in his third year now. The honeymoon is over. People want results. Against Seton Hall, the Hoyas showed they have the talent to compete—Malik Mack, Isaiah Abraham, and the 7-foot-1 Vince Iwuchukwu are a real nucleus—but the "discipline" Cooley talked about in the post-game presser just wasn't there.
They committed 12 turnovers, and four of those happened in a disastrous two-minute span in the second half. That is how you lose a lead in this league.
The Historic Weight of the Pirates and Hoyas
This wasn't just another game on the schedule. This was the 123rd time these two schools have played. When you talk about Georgetown vs Seton Hall, you’re talking about a series that dates back to 1909.
The rivalry really cooked in the 80s. John Thompson Jr. vs. P.J. Carlesimo. Those games were essentially legal street fights. While the national spotlight might not be as bright on this matchup as it was in 1982 (when Georgetown won by 40 points), the regional pride is still massive.
Currently, the series is almost perfectly split. After the January 2026 win, Seton Hall trails the all-time series 61-62. They are literally one win away from evening a century-old rivalry.
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What the Numbers Actually Say
People love to look at the KenPom rankings or the NET, but in the Big East, the only stat that really matters is "points allowed."
- Seton Hall's Defense: They are currently 1st in the Big East in scoring defense, giving up only 63.1 points per game.
- Georgetown's Shooting: The Hoyas are struggling at the bottom of the league in field goal percentage (43.6%) and three-point accuracy (31.2%).
Basically, Seton Hall is a defensive grinder, and Georgetown is an offensive work-in-progress. When those two styles met in D.C., the grinder won. Shaheen Holloway has built a culture where his guys believe they can come back from anything. This win over Georgetown was their third consecutive game erasing a double-digit second-half deficit. That isn't luck. That's a psychological edge.
The Malik Mack vs Budd Clark Duel
If you’re a scout, this was the matchup to watch. Malik Mack is the flashy, high-IQ guard that Georgetown desperately needs to lead them back to relevance. He had 14 points, but he struggled mightily with Seton Hall’s length, going 4-for-16.
Budd Clark is the opposite. He’s a relentless, north-south runner who forces the refs to make a decision every time he drives. He went 10-for-12 from the stripe. In a game decided by nine points, that’s the difference right there.
Where Do Both Teams Go From Here?
Seton Hall is sitting pretty at 14-2 (4-1 Big East) and finally cracked the AP Top 25 (coming in at No. 25). They look like a lock for the tournament if they keep this up. Their identity is set: they’re going to defend you until you hate playing basketball, and then they're going to let Clark or TJ Simpkins close it out.
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Georgetown is in a tougher spot. At 9-7 overall and 1-4 in the conference, they are teetering. The talent is clearly better than the Patrick Ewing era, but the "winning DNA" hasn't fully bonded yet. They have a stretch of games coming up against Villanova and Marquette that will basically decide if they're playing for a postseason bid or just playing for pride.
Actionable Insights for the Remainder of the Season
If you are following these teams, keep an eye on these specific factors:
- Georgetown's Interior Passing: Watch Vince Iwuchukwu and Julius Halaifonua. In the Seton Hall loss, they had zero assists combined. If the bigs can't facilitate out of the post, the guards will continue to see double-teams.
- Seton Hall's Three-Point Reliance: Or lack thereof. They only shot seven triples against Georgetown. That is a risky way to live in modern basketball. If a team packs the paint, can the Pirates hit enough outside shots to stay alive?
- The Return Matchup: Check your calendars for the rematch at the Prudential Center. Seton Hall has a massive home-court advantage in Newark, and Georgetown will need to find a way to handle the "Rock" crowd if they want to split the season series.
For Georgetown to turn the corner, they need Isaiah Abraham and KJ Lewis to become consistent secondary scorers. Relying on Malik Mack to do everything is a recipe for more 33% shooting nights. For Seton Hall, the goal is simple: stay healthy. They play a physical, exhausting brand of ball that takes a toll by March.
Whatever happens, the Georgetown vs Seton Hall saga continues to be one of the most honest barometers of Big East basketball. It’s tough, it’s ugly sometimes, but it’s always real.