VIVA LAS HOYAS: Georgetown Will Head to FOX’s Crown Tournament

The season continues with mandatory fun in the desert!

Your Georgetown Hoyas have received an invitation to participate in the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament. For a fanbase that has navigated a season of both promise and challenges, this bonus opportunity offers a chance to see their team compete on a national stage once more. Georgetown will face Washington State on Monday, March 31st at 11 PM ET. Fellow conference foes Villanova, Butler, and DePaul will join the Crown field.

The College Basketball Crown is a brand-new postseason tournament poised to make its debut in the college basketball landscape. This 16-team, single-elimination competition is the brainchild of FOX Sports and AEG, two significant entities in the world of sports broadcasting and live entertainment. Set to run from March 31st to April 6th, 2025, the tournament’s timing places it after the initial flurry of the NCAA Tournament, offering a compelling extension to the college basketball season.

The field promised to consist of teams from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East conferences, along with a selection of additional at-large participants, all vying for the inaugural Crown title. The involvement of major players like FOX Sports and AEG suggests a serious commitment to this event, hinting early on at its potential to overtake the NIT and become a significant part of the postseason college basketball calendar. Its placement after the initial NCAA rounds also suggests an intent to capture the continued interest of fans eager for more high-stakes basketball.

FOX has invited:

• Washington State Cougars: 19-14 (8-10), West Coast Conference
• Georgetown Hoyas: 17-15 (8-12), Big East
• Boise State Broncos: 24-10 (14-6), Mountain West
• George Washington Revolutionaries: 21-12 (9-9), A-10
• Oregon State Beavers: 20-12 (10-8), West Coast Conference
• Villanova Wildcats: 19-14 (11-9), Big East
• USC Trojans: 16-17 (17-13), Big Ten
• Arizona State Sun Devils: 13-19 (4-16), Big 12
• Cincinnati Bearcats: 18-15 (7-13), Big 12
• DePaul Blue Demons: 14-19 (4-16), Big East
• Butler Bulldogs: 14-19 (6-14), Big East
• Nebraska Cornhuskers: 17-14 (7-13), Big Ten
• UCF Knights: 17-16 (7-13), Big 12
• Colorado Buffaloes: 14-20 (3-17), Big 12
• Utah Utes: 16-16 (8-12), Big 12
• Tulane Green Wave: 19-14 (12-6), AAC

The tournament will unfold under the bright lights of Las Vegas, hosted at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and T-Mobile Arena. The opening rounds will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, with the intensity escalating as the semifinals and championship games move to the T-Mobile Arena. Ensuring fans across the nation can follow the action, all games will be broadcast on FOX and FS1.

• First Round – Monday, March 31 and Tuesday, April 1 (MGM Grand Garden Arena)
• Second Round – Wednesday, April 2 and Thursday, April 3 (MGM Grand Garden Arena)
• Semifinals – Saturday, April 5, 7 and 9:30 p.m. ET on FOX (T-Mobile Arena)
• Final – Sunday, April 6 5:30 p.m. ET on FOX (T-Mobile Arena)

Adding to the tournament’s unique atmosphere, Circa Resort & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas has joined as a Founding Partner and the Official Host Hotel for the tournament’s referees. For fans who travel to Las Vegas, Circa will also host the “Crown Town Fan Fest at Stadium Swim” on April 4th, promising an exciting fan experience leading up to the final games.

The decision to host the tournament in Las Vegas injects a sense of spectacle and spotlight, potentially drawing in a wider audience and creating a memorable experience for everyone involved. The national broadcast commitment from FOX and FS1 further underscores the monetary backing of this new event in the college basketball world.

The invitation to the College Basketball Crown comes after the conclusion of a Big East Conference season that saw its top echelon perform exceptionally well. St. John’s, Creighton, UConn, Marquette, and Xavier all secured berths in the NCAA Tournament, a testament to the conference’s overall strength.

With Xavier, a team often mentioned as being on the NCAA Tournament bubble, successfully making March Madness, Villanova and Georgetown were left to be contractually obligated selected for the Crown. Georgetown finished seventh in the Big East standings with an 8-12 conference record and an overall mark of 17-15.

The College Basketball Crown is designed for teams that did not qualify for the NCAA Tournament, with automatic bids allocated to the top two finishers from the Big Ten, Big 12, and Big East that fall into this category. The rest of the invites are based on NET and willingness to travel. No BIG EAST or Big Ten teams joined the NIT this year (Oklahoma State of the Big 12 joined).

This new tournament provides a valuable platform for teams like Georgetown to continue their season and gain national attention, even without the coveted NCAA Tournament bid. That said, beginning the offseason work of recruiting the transfer portal can’t be skirked

Georgetown’s journey to this season has not been without its hurdles. The team faced a significant setback with the season-ending injury to freshman center Thomas Sorber. Chances are that the Hoyas would still be on the outside of the NCAA Tournament looking in, but having Sorber would have made a significant difference in how the last chapter of Georgetown’s season was written.

The biggest significance to this postseason opportunity is likely the presence of Micah Peavy. As a graduate student, Peavy will be exhausting his college eligibility at the conclusion of this season. Since joining the Hoyas, Peavy has been a consistent and impactful player, earning recognition on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll five times and securing a spot on the All-BIG EAST First Team.

This tournament offers Georgetown fans a precious final opportunity to witness Peavy’s talent and dedication in action, hoping he can lead the team to a memorable performance in Las Vegas. His leadership and skill will be crucial as the Hoyas navigate this competition without Sorber.

However, amidst the excitement of another chance to compete, a segment of the Georgetown faithful may find themselves with mixed emotions. For some, the focus has already begun to shift towards the future of the program. With the transfer portal set to open, the prospect of evaluating the current roster and actively recruiting new talent to address team needs for the next season holds significant weight. While Georgetown fans will undoubtedly support the Hoyas in the Crown tournament, a significant part of their attention may already be turning to the crucial offseason ahead and the strategic moves necessary to build a stronger team for the future.

Ultimately, the invitation to the College Basketball Crown presents Georgetown with a valuable chance to compete in a postseason tournament. Despite the challenges they have faced, this is an opportunity for the team to gain further experience, showcase their talent on a national stage via FOX and FS1, and provide their loyal fans with at least one more game to cheer for. While the absence of the freshman star is a significant factor, the tournament also allows other players to step up and demonstrate their abilities. For the fans, this unexpected journey to Las Vegas offers a welcome extension to the season and a chance to support their team in a new and exciting venture.

So, as the Hoyas prepare to head to the bright lights of Las Vegas, Georgetown fans have every reason to be engaged and hopeful. The College Basketball Crown represents another shot, a new challenge, and a final opportunity to see the impactful play of Micah Peavy and the team. Let’s get ready to cheer on the Hoyas!