| Bard Snubbed by Selection Committee February 26 - Despite wins over Anna Maria, D'Youville and Polytechnic, Bard was denied an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament for 2006-2007. In a world where the Raptor is both feared and misunderstood, lesser lights such as Rivier College and Villa Julie were rewarded with bids. Strength of schedule is supposed to be a vital part of the selection process. Yet Villa Julie chose to play Bard in its cozy confines, while never visiting the arena of certain doom, Stevenson Gymnasium. But in a biased decision worthy of Kenneth Massey (see below), Villa Julie, not Bard, is dancing. Rivier is even more curious. The Raiders defeated Anna Maria by a scant two points. Meanwhile, Bard blasted that same Anna Maria team by four points. It is hard to imagine that Rivier's 17 additional wins make up that differential. Manhattanville, which won the Skyline's automatic bid that will henceforth be going to Bard, could face NEAC "champion" Villa Julie in the second round- a game both teams chose not to play at Bard. Complete Bracket |