SCHEDULE NEWS: Hoyas Reportedly Scheduling UNC and not Syracuse; ESPN Invitational Confirmed

Adding UNC and losing Syracuse seems like a net gain

Your Georgetown Hoyas have confirmed that they will be joining a four-team MTE (Multi-Team Event) in Orlando during Thanksgiving Week 2025, November 27-28. Joining the Hoyas in sunny Orlando will be a formidable trio: BYU, Miami, and Dayton. There are also new reports about the schedule regarding UNC and Syracuse.

Jon Rothstein also reported that Georgetown and North Carolina are set to start a home-and-home basketball series this season, with the first game taking place in Chapel Hill.

However, Rothstein reports that Syracuse will not be on Georgetown’s 2025-26 schedule.

ESPN Events appears to have confirmed the Invitational’s full lineup.

The sponsor is Terry’s Chocolates.

In February, word trickled out from Rothstein, that the Hoyas were set to headline a mystery MTE in Orlando.

The event is now known to be the ESPN Events Invitational—previously known as the Orlando Invitational, Orlando Classic, Old Spice Classic, and Advocare Invitational.

Traditionally it was an eight-team tournament, but in 2024 it was a four-team field with Florida, Wichita State, Wake Forest, Minnesota playing over two games each during Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday.

Georgetown earned third place in the 2008 Old Spice Classic, losing to Tennessee on Friday and then crushing Maryland on Sunday.

Looking at the potential matchups next season, the BYU Cougars, fresh off their Big 12 debut, and still known for their high-octane offense. A clash with them would be a nice early test for Georgetown’s defense. It’s also worth noting that BYU’s change of plans, moving from the Diamond Head Classic (called off in 2025), showcasing the attractiveness of this Orlando event.

The Miami Hurricanes will have a new coach in Duke’s Jai Lucas. A matchup against Miami would be a prime opportunity for Georgetown to measure itself against a rebuilding ACC stalwart.

The Dayton Flyers, a perennial contender out of the Atlantic 10, are known for their passionate fanbase and disciplined play. A battle with Dayton would be a gritty, hard-fought affair, perfect for setting the tone for the rest of the season.

For Georgetown, this MTE represents a significant opportunity. Building a strong non-conference resume is crucial for NCAA Tournament aspirations, and a successful showing in Orlando could provide a massive boost.

What makes this news particularly intriguing is the potential for signifying a jump to the next level. By 2025, Ed Cooley has had ample time to solidify his system and build a roster capable of competing against anyone. This Orlando trip could be a pivotal moment in the program’s trajectory.

Georgetown will add two quality neutral-court games with this MTE, along with a visit to Maryland scheduled. Games with Syracuse and/or Notre Dame are not slated for this season.

It’s worth noting that despite the reports for skipping next season, Red Autry and Ed Cooley did previously have mutual interest in continuing the Syracuse-Georgetown rivalry.

ESPN Press Release:

ESPN revealed the fields for the 2025 Terry’s Chocolate ESPN Events Invitational, a 16-team, three bracket event set for Thanksgiving week – Nov. 24 -28 – at Walt Disney World Resort’s State Farm Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla. Terry’s Chocolate will be the title sponsor for all three brackets, which will feature 20 total games over five days.

The full 16-team group includes 2025 NCAA Tournament participants BYU, Liberty and UC San Diego. Last season’s NIT participants include Bradley, Dayton and Furman.

The MAGIC BRACKET includes BYU, Dayton, Georgetown and Miami. The semifinals will be played on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27, with the championship and consolation games on Friday, Nov. 28.

Field Highlights

• BYU (Big 12) reached its first NCAA Sweet 16 since 2011, posting a 26-10 record under first year head coach Kevin Young. The Cougars finished tied for third in their debut season in the Big 12. BYU welcomes the #1 ranked recruit in ESPN’s Top 100 for the Class of 2025, AJ Dybantsa of Brockton, Mass. (Utah Prep).
• Dayton (Atlantic 10) won the ESPN Events Invitational in 2011 and 2021, and reached the championship game in 2015. The Flyers reached the second round of the 2024 NIT, finishing with a 23-11 record. Dayton graduate Anthony Grant is in his ninth year as head coach.
• Georgetown (Big East) finished with an 18-16 record, its highest win total since 2018-19, under second year coach Ed Cooley. The Hoyas played in the 2008 Old Spice Classic in Kissimmee, winning two of three games. Georgetown has reached the NCAA Tournament 31 times, most recently in 2021.
• Miami (Atlantic Coast) will be led by first time head coach Jai Lucas, who spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Duke. Lucas replaces the Hurricanes’ winningest coach, Jim Larranaga, who led the team to a pair of NCAA Elite Eight appearances and the program’s first Final Four appearance in 2023. Miami last played Thanksgiving weekend in Kissimmee in 2016…