by Mark Silva
Barack Obama has got some game on the court, but he's playing it safe, the way conventional wisdom goes, in his NCAA final four picks.
The president, as he has before, today announced his Final Four prediction for the cable sports network, ESPN: Two top-seeded teams bound for the semifinals on April 3, Kansas and Kentucky, and Kansas prevailing in the tournament.
Obama likes the University of Kansas over Kansas State University in one semifinal game and the University of Kentucky over Villanova University in the other. And he likes the University of Kansas over all. All four are first- or second-seeded teams.
Obama, calling Kansas "a balanced team," praises senior guard Sherron Collins. "I always like teams who have experience in the backcourt," he said on ESPN.
The president, a high school basketball player in Hawaii who still plays weekend hoops with friends and aides in Washington, correctly picked North Carolina last year.
A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard law school, Obama stuck with the Ivy's Cornell University, a No. 12 seed, over Temple, a No. 5, in the first round of play.
"I like Cornell, which gave Kansas a run for its money," he said, referring to a narrow Cornell loss earlier in the season. "I think they have a terrific team."
But he is going with the University of Wisconsin over Cornell in the second round, picks No. 14 Murray State over No. 4 Vanderbilt, and No. 13 Sienna over No. 4 Purdue. Indiana's going red again anyway.
See the first fan's entire bracket at ESPN.
Wire services contributed.
Comments
Cue the right wing haters in:
5..4...3...2...1 Ding Ding Ding!!!
.
Posted by: HHH | March 17, 2010 1:51 PM
Oh HHH/John E/or any of the myriad other names you have, what a little life you have!
Anyway, so once again, ESPN treats the nation to this bozo's NCAA picks. Does anyone care? No? Thought so.
Posted by: John D | March 17, 2010 3:45 PM
That's right triple terd, right on cue.
WHO CARES! GLAD HE HAS TIME TO SIT THERE AND FILL IN BRACKETS!
I DON'T & I AM NOT RUNNING THE COUNTRY!
PRESIDENTIAL BRACKET MY BUTT!
(how's that HHH?)
Posted by: wingnut master | March 17, 2010 4:37 PM
For those who wonder how he has time to fill out these brackets, on Friday he does the Woman's brackets. I wonder who is helping him on that one or did he really watch a lot of woman's NCAA hoops this year? Prediction - he picks UConn
Posted by: Terry | March 17, 2010 7:25 PM
Let's see Terri...boy George Bush had time for 495 days of vacation during his illegitimate administration. You recall Bush playing 'cowboy' on his ranch just days after the 9/11 attacks.
I myself could care less about the NCAA or who Obama picks to win.
Posted by: Doug R. | March 18, 2010 8:41 AM
Doogie,
Fact - presidents are never on vacation. President Bush won two legimate elections in spite of all the tricks the dems tried to pull.
Posted by: Terry | March 18, 2010 6:50 PM
Down goes BO - Kansas is gone!!!
Posted by: Terry | March 20, 2010 8:30 PM
I guess BO's pool is down the drain now.
Posted by: Terry | March 21, 2010 10:32 AM