Georgetown, Marquette Meet in Big East Basement Battle

Two struggling teams look to end season series on a high note

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Georgetown (13-14, 5-11 Big East) and Marquette (9-18, 4-12) will wrap up their season series on Tuesday night in Washington, with both teams looking to end their recent skids. The two programs sit at the bottom of the crowded Big East standings, separated by just one game. Georgetown has lost four straight, while Marquette has dropped three in a row.

Why it matters

This matchup between the two cellar-dwellers in the Big East highlights the struggles both programs have faced this season. With the conference tournament looming, both teams will be looking to build some momentum and avoid finishing at the very bottom of the standings.

The details

Georgetown has found various ways to lose during its current four-game slide, including a 93-89 shootout loss to Butler and a 51-47 defeat at Seton Hall where the Hoyas shot just 27.3% from the field. Marquette, meanwhile, has secured its first losing record in Big East play since 2020-21, snapping head coach Shaka Smart's streak of guiding teams to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Freshman guard Nigel James Jr. has been a bright spot for the Golden Eagles, leading the team in scoring and assists.

  • The teams will wrap up their season series on Tuesday, February 23, 2026.
  • Georgetown last defeated Marquette on December 17, snapping an eight-game losing streak to the Golden Eagles.
  • Marquette's last win over Georgetown at home was in 2017.

The players

Caleb Williams

A Georgetown player who led the Hoyas with 16 points in their recent loss to Butler.

Nigel James Jr.

A freshman guard for Marquette who leads the team in scoring and assists, and was recently named to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.

Shaka Smart

The head coach of the Marquette Golden Eagles, who is in his first real struggles in Milwaukee after guiding teams to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances, the last four with Marquette and 2021 with Texas.

Ed Cooley

The head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, who expressed frustration after his team's recent loss to Seton Hall, saying they "did everything we could do to lose this game -- everything possible to lose this game."

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What they’re saying

“We did everything we could do to lose this game -- everything possible to lose this game.”

— Ed Cooley, Head Coach, Georgetown Hoyas (bnd.com)

“He's got the ball in his hands so much I think he's in the top one percentile in the country for usage, meaning that there's a lot of times where the possession ends with a shot, an assist or a turnover from him and a lot of times good things are happening when that occurs.”

— Shaka Smart, Head Coach, Marquette Golden Eagles (bnd.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.