For the first time in five years, Georgetown (17-14) will miss the NCAA tournament. Instead, theHoyas will play in the National Invitation Tournament Tuesday night at McDonough Arena.

Exclusion from the field of 68 teams was widely expected, with a 60-56 loss to DePaul in the first round of the Big East tournament marking the final nail in Georgetown’s coffin. However, many observers were surprised to see the selection committee list the Blue and Gray on their “first four out” of the tournament.

Despite the disappointment, Georgetown was made a No. 4 seed in the 32-team NIT and will host former Big East rival West Virginia (17-15) Tuesday night in McDonough Arena, the first men’s game to be played there since a 61-57 loss to Old Dominion on December 12, 2009.

The Bob Huggins-coached Mountaineers finished in a tie for sixth-place in the Big 12 this season, although they notched wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma, both of which are NCAA tournament contenders.

Tip off against West Virginia is 7 p.m. Tuesday. Student tickets are free on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 5:30 p.m. Current season ticket holders can buy tickets for $28 on guhoyas.com. The game will also be aired on ESPN.