By Ed Morrone

Even though the Pride’s season ended with an NIT quarterfinal loss to Old Dominion on Mar. 22, it continues on through an unlikely adversary.

For every game George Mason wins in the NCAA Tournament (four so far), the Patriots bring Hofstra right along for the ride.

After all, the Pride defeated Mason twice in an 11-day span, which was thought to be good enough to stamp Hofstra’s ticket to the NCAA Tournament. However, the selection committee chose the Patriots over Hofstra, a move scrutinized by many immediately following Selection Sunday.

But among Mason jubilation and Hofstra dejection over the decision, the Patriots have proved they belong. In fact, saying they belong is an understatement.

Mason has rolled through Michigan State (Final Four contender last year, national champion in 2000), North Carolina (last season’s champion), Wichita State (a very strong mid-major program that the Patriots have now defeated twice) and last but not least, Connecticut, who has won two national titles since 1999 and was considered the favorite to win it all this year.

And while Mason carries an 0-2 record against the Pride this season, it’s unprecedented run through the Tournament couldn’t be better for Hofstra. Sure, Hofstra fans and players wonder what could have been had they been selected over Mason, but as the Patriots become America’s Team, the Pride became America’s Forsaken Team. From Dick Vitale to Stuart Scott to Seth Davis, all of the top sports experts in the country acknowledged the Pride’s unjust predicament (Davis even went as far as saying is Mason wins it all, the Patriots should have to play the Pride to determine a true national champion).

So this has all worked out splendidly for the Pride, who should open up next year as preseason favorites with all eyes on the new conference that nobody can stop talking about. And believe it or not, Hofstra players and coaches are even rooting for Mason.

“I think it’s great for us, for the CAA, for the mid-majors because they’re representing all of us,” Pride junior guard Carlos Rivera said. “I’m proud of what they’re doing and I hope they win it all.”

“I want them to win the whole thing,” assistant coach David Duke added. “The more they win, the better it looks for us. I mean, look at who they’ve beaten. People are finally starting to see what a good league this is.”

Mason is also earning the CAA a lot of money. Each NCAA game played is worth $1 million to the participating teams’ conference, so between Mason and first-round loser UNC Wilmington, the CAA has garnered almost $6 million with a chance for more.

And after being ignored for so many years, Mason’s run signifies the coming out party of mid-major programs. The CAA and Missouri Valley Conference proved they belonged with the big boys this year and with growing parity in college basketball, they are probably here to stay.

“We’re rooting for George Mason,” Hofstra head coach Tom Pecora said. “I’m really getting a kick out of it.”