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Georgetown didn't play in a holiday event but can join that elite group this week with victories over two Top 25 teams.

Sophomore center Greg Monroe notched career-highs with 24 points and 15 rebounds as the No. 15 Hoyas handled the first part of that equation by downing No. 22 Butler, 72-65, in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.

Undefeated Georgetown (7-0) now travels to Anaheim, Calif. to face No. 17 Washington in the John Wooden Classic on Saturday.

"Just watching TV and hearing everybody talk about the different conferences this year, a lot of people don't think that highly of the Big East," Monroe said. "And I think that some of the teams are kind of taking it personal and they're trying to prove that the Big East is still the Big East."

The 6-foot-11 Monroe, who may jump to the NBA after this season, overpowered the Bulldogs (6-3) in the paint with a series of dunks, layups and a nifty little baseline jumper from eight feet.

With continued play like this, Monroe may force his way into the Big East Player of the Year conversation -- a conversation that currently includes Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, West Virginia's Da'Sean Butler, Syracuse's Wesley Johnson and Villanova's Scottie Reynolds.

"My main focus is just to do whatever it takes for my team to win," Monroe said. "In some aspects of the game you have to be dominant as far as rebounding. But, I think just doing the things that my team needs on a daily game basis and the things we need to win that game, that's what I have to do."

That is music to the ears of Georgetown coach John Thompson III.

"He's unselfish," Thompson III said, lumping his center into an impressive group of past Hoyas that includes current NBA players Jeff Green and Roy Hibbert.

"That's how we approach things, that's how we've always approached things," Thompson added. "You can't start looking down the line. The next game is the only thing that's important. He's heard that for going on two years now."

There were plenty of NBA scouts in the stands, but Thompson said it was premature to discuss whether Monroe may jump to the pros.

"We are seven games into the year," he said. "We'll do it at the end of the year."

Junior guard Austin Freeman added 18 points for Georgetown, which dominated on the boards (43-30) and in the paint (30 points to 16).

Sophomore Gordon Hayward poured in a game-best 24 points and Shelvin Mack added 12 points for Butler.

Butler has now lost nine of its last 10 meetings against Top-25 opponents, including losses this year to then-No. 22 Minnesota and then-No. 19 Clemson in the 76 Classic in Anaheim over Thanksgiving weekend.

The Hoyas have cruised through a soft early schedule in which their only true test came in a one-point win over Temple. Five of the Hoyas' wins came by more than 15 points and those were against teams that have losing records.

Monore and the Hoyas suffered through a brutal January last season that ultimately caused them to miss the NCAA Tournament. Thompson figures this week will prepare them for the brutal Big East schedule.

"I wanted to have back-to-back very difficult games," the coach said.

Monroe isn't looking ahead to the Big East slate in January. He figures that one win at a time will help Georgetown get to where it wants to go.

"We don't have to be considered," he said. "We're just going to try to win games and put ourselves in the conversation."