March 10, 2004 (9:00 a.m. ET)
Just as the NCAA Tournament selection committee faces questions each year about its picks and omissions for the Big Dance, I'm prepared to answer for my early choices for the 65-team NCAA field (plus seeds). So here we go...

1. How did you determine your four No. 1 seeds?
Based on a full season's performance. Kentucky has certainly come on strong. Stanford should not be punished for one road loss. Pittsburgh is knocking on the door for a potential No. 1 seed.

2. What was your determining factor in selecting the 33rd and 34th at-large teams?
I just took what I considered to be the best 34 teams after the 31 automatic bids were set. Colorado was the last team in based on my calculations.

3. What teams were among your last out of the tournament?
Oklahoma is the last team out as of now. It's very close when you get down to the final few teams.

4. How much did the RPI play a part in your final at-large choices? What about the "last 10 games" or "strength of schedule"?
RPI, are you kidding me? I use the VBDI, the Vitale Bald Dome Index. I've seen so many of these teams this season, and the VBDI just helps as a ratings tool.

5. Assuming Air Force and/or Utah State don't win the MWC and Big West tournaments, why should either, neither or both receive a bid?
I figured that both would win their respective tournaments. If they don't, I'll worry about it then.

6. Why did one or more teams with sub-.500 conference records receive your at-large bids?
Because the strength of the ACC is very important. Florida State went 6-10 in the ACC, but how many teams could beat the four clubs the Seminoles lost to in their last four games? The number of close losses to quality opponents shows me that coach Leonard Hamilton's team can flat-out play against top-flight competition, which is what Florida State will see in the NCAA Tournament.

Dick Vitale coached the Detroit Pistons and the University of Detroit in the 1970s before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979 (he's been an ESPN analyst ever since). Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.