When I look at teams capable of doing well in the NCAA tournament, I look for several ingredients. Defense is a key come tournament time as every possession has importance. Teams that play good defense usually give themselves the chance to survive and advance. If you have a bad shooting game, the defense can often save you.

Two teams that stand out to me because of defense are Georgetown and Stanford. The Hoyas do a great job of challenging shots and hold opponents to under 37-percent from the field. That is numero uno among teams in the big dance. Georgetown gives up under 58 points per game.

Stanford also ranks among the elite in this field in scoring defense, giving up just over 60 ppg. I like the job that Trent Johnson has done with the Cardinal.

Another thing I like about these two teams is the size up front. Roy Hibbert can change a game by forcing opponents to change their shot. Hibbert can be a threat on offense, and when he isn't as big a factor, the Hoyas can step up and hit the trifecta. Remember this team hit 17 of them against Villanova in the Big East tournament.

Stanford has size with Brook and Robin Lopez up front. The Cardinal really stepped it up when Brook Lopez regained his eligibility after early-season academic issues. Then throw in guys like Mitch Johnson and Anthony Goods and his Stanford team can flat out play.

Both squads have been helped by facing great competition. Georgetown in the Big East has faced so many different defenses. Stanford has been in the conference that I rank number one based on my VBDI (Vitale Bald Dome Index), the Pac-10.

I think you will here from both of the teams in the Big Dance thanks to defense and big men on campus, Mr. Hibbert and the Lopez twins.

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.