Georgetown’s basketball team may have to find a new home away from home next season as their schedule for the 2024-25 season does not include Madison Square Garden. Head coach Ed Cooley expressed his disappointment in a press conference, stating that playing at the Garden is an opportunity he loves and adores.
The reason behind this change is St. John’s plan to play a league game on January 5, 2025, at Carnesecca Arena to celebrate Lou Carnesecca’s 100th birthday. Coach Rick Pitino initially proposed doing it with Connecticut, but the Big East rejected the idea. Pitino then mentioned Georgetown and Villanova as possible alternatives.
Coach Cooley, however, made it clear that he would follow the schedule given to him. He expressed his loyalty to the Big East, a conference he has been a part of for his entire career, and his respect for Coach Carnesecca. Despite Georgetown’s recent losses to St. John’s, Cooley praised their opponents’ performance and acknowledged them as one of the strong teams in the league.
St. John’s is currently on the bubble for making it to the NCAA Tournament and may need to win a game in the upcoming Big East Tournament to secure their spot. Hosting junior five-star wing Joson Sanon of Vermont Academy for the game shows their commitment to recruiting top talent. They are also working on setting up an official visit for Sanon, who has already visited Providence and Kentucky.
In other news, Georgetown’s Senior Day saw Sean Conway receive the start but fail to score in eight minutes of play. On a positive note, Chris Ledlum continues to impress with his consistent scoring, reaching double figures in three consecutive games for the second time this year.
As Georgetown’s schedule for the 2024-25 season excludes Madison Square Garden, fans will have to wait and see where their team will play their away games. The possibility of playing at Carnesecca Arena for St. John’s celebration of Coach Carnesecca’s 100th birthday adds an interesting twist to the rivalry between the two teams. Both teams will have a lot at stake in the upcoming Big East Tournament, with Georgetown hoping to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament and St. John’s fighting to solidify their place.
