Obama not making many friends in college basketball

March 19, 12:29 PMUSC Trojans ExaminerNeal Leitereg

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AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The release of President Obama's bracket, and his subsequent comments relating to the NCAA Tournament, have been met with both fanfare and negative criticism.

In a segment on ESPN, the President drew the ire of some in the Pac-10 conference when he had this to say:

“VCU, I think, has been playing strong, and I hate to say this, because my brother-in-law is in the Pac-10 right now, but the Pac-10 has been looking pretty weak this year,” Obama said. “I like that as an upset.”

That's fine Mr. President, everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Just don't complain to USC, Arizona, ASU, Cal, and UCLA when your bracket is busted. (Washington was the only Pac-10 school Obama picked out of the six to advance out of the first round.)

Obama's brother-in-law is Craig Robinson, the Oregon State Beavers men's basketball coach. While Robinson's Oregon State team failed to make the tournament after a lackluster year, it is safe to say that the Beavers’ performance on the court does not speak for the entire Pac-10 conference.

The President also ruffled a few feathers in the coaching ranks, including those of Duke Blue Devils head coach, Mike Krzyzewski, according to an AP report relayed by Deadspin.  After learning that Obama had picked Pitt to knock off Duke in the East Regional game, Krzyzewski fired back:

"Somebody said that we're not in President Obama's Final Four, and as much as I respect what he's doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets."

For one thing Coach K, it is refreshing that Obama can do more than one thing at a time.

With the rest of the nation filling out NCAA brackets, it's nice to see our President take part in what has become one of the best rituals that March has to offer if you are a college basketball fan.

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