• I am so excited about this weekend. Selection Sunday is always so special as the Cinderellas find out who they are playing. We see which teams earn the number one seeds. 65 teams get to learn where their dreams will be played out.

• The selection committee will have a very tough time deciding among the final few teams. There are so many similar records and resumes. I feel that the colonial athletic association deserves multiple bids. Drexel won at Syracuse,Villanova and at Creighton.

• Already there are close to 20 coaching vacancies out there in Division 1. It is all about what have you done for me lately. It is win or lose your job and that kind of pressure is brutal. A number of coaches that were canned didn't get enough time to build a program.

• Down in the Atlantic 10 there are two young coaches who will make a name for themselves -- Xavier's Sean Miller and Travis Ford of Mass. The Minutemen have an outstanding player who receives very little publicity in Stephane Lasme. He has been a double-double guy as a rebounder and shot blocker. Xavier advanced to the a-10 semis thursday and I feel the musketeers will get in at large if it doesn't win the tourney.

• It was a tough season for Jim Calhoun as his young huskies struggled. Calhoun can be very proud to see several of his second lieutenants in the Big Dance. Dave Leitao of Virginia. Howie Dickenman of Central Connecticut and Glen Miller of Penn will be in the field of 65.

• Down at Kentucky it really frustrates me and disappoints me that there is talk about the status of Tubby Smith. I never heard of something so ludicrous as he has averaged over 26 wins a season over the span of a decade. Give me a break. It is a sad situation because Tubby Dmith deserves to be treated better.

• I have been impressed with the play of Georgetown. Keep an eye on them in the tournament as they will be mentally as tough as can be. The Hoyas got a taste of it last year by taking Florida to the wire. Florida dominated everyone else. The Hoyas jumped out to a 26-2 lead in beating Villanova in the Big East Quarterfinals. Jeff Green the Big East Player of the Year and Roy Hibbert are a dynamic duo.

• When looking at Tournament brackets look for certain elements for teams to be successful. Guard play is so important. You need offensive efficiency from the backcourt. Three point shooters can give you momentum like Lee Humphrey did last year. You need a star to finish off plays in crunch time. Defensive ability is important as the games get more consetvatives. Halfcourt play on both ends in key.

• One conference that could make some noise like the Missouri Valley did last season is the Mountain West. BYU, UNLV and Air Force could provide tough matchups in their early rounds. Speaking of the Falcons coach Jeff Bzdelik could be a hot commodity. Colorado may be interested in him as a candidate to replace Ricardo Patton. Bzdelik is a talented mind who will be sought after.

• Old Dominion coach Blaine Taylor will be mentioned in the rumor mill too. The former assistant to Mike Montgonery at Stanford did a great job with the Monarchs. I believe some schools will take a serious run at him.

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in December 1979. Send him a question for possible use on ESPNEWS.