George Mason athletic director Tom O'Conner announced Wednesday that the George Mason men's basketball team would not accept a bid from the two lower tier College Basketball tournaments, the College Basketball Invitational or the CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). The reason for not wanting to participate in either tournament is financial according to O'Conner.

If Mason isn't chosen for NIT, they won't pursue CBI or CIT tournaments, AD O'Connor says. "Financially not in our best interests" #masonmbb

— Steven Goff (@GMUWashPost) March 7, 2012

Given the fact that the last time the Patriots were in the CIT they blew a 25-point lead to Fairfield, this may not be a bad idea, but this decision would also deprive George Mason from playing against other competition they normally wouldn't play.

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