President Obama's bracket had the winning team after North Carolina rolled over Michigan State. The President finished in the top 20 percent of ESPN's pool.
DAY 1 -- UPDATED 2 p.m.:
President Obama is off to a tough start. He's lost on two of the three early games.
And if not for a rally by Memphis, Obama would have been 0-for-3. He lost on Texas A&M's win over BYU and LSU's win over Butler.
UPDATED 6:38 p.m.:
The President rebounded strongly with wins by UConn, Maryland, Washington and his title pick North Carolina. They were all favorites, but that's part of the game.
DAY 2:
If the President picked Illinois just out of loyalty, it cost him. But he did not have the Illini getting past Gonzaga today anyway, so it wasn't a huge loss.
The President went 11-5 in Day 1. Not bad, but not great.
His Final Four still is alive.
Day 3:
The President had a really tough time in the Midwest, losing five first-round games, including Elite Eight entry Wake Forest.
The Prez also lost Elite 8 pick Florida State.
He stands 22-13 heading into today's action.
Day 4:
The President did well Saturday, picking all eight winners. His Final Four remains alive.
Day 5:
President Obama conitinued his strong showing today. He correctly predicted Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, Michigan State and Missouri. He had two losses because of first-round losses.
After a horrendous first round to the tourney, when he was in the bottom 5 percent of ESPN.com's pool, he's rebounded to be in the upper half.
He was right on 14 of 16 teams to reach the regional semis.
His Final Four remains alive.
Btw, there are 4 brackes on ESPN that have just two losses.
SWEET 16
The President stumbled again, going 2-2 today. And he lost one of his Final Four entries when Memphis fell to Missouri.
He also lost when Villanova beat Duke.
But he picked PItt and UConn correctly.
His championship game of North Carolina beating Louisville remains alive.
ELITE EIGHT
Saturday was not a good NCAA hoops day for the President. Two of his Final Four picks - Pitt and Syracuse - got beat as Obama fell to the 39th percentile in ESPN.com's pool.
His title game of UNC vs. Louisville is alive and well - for the moment.
ELITE 8: DAY 2
The President lost another Final Four team in Louisville, which he also picked to advance to the championship game against North Carolina.
The Tar Heels do look good, though, as the President's choice for nathional champion.
FINAL FOUR
You have to like the President's choice for national champion. He's up in the 66th percentile on ESPN.com's pool and has the 7-point favorite to win it all.
Slam Dunk of the Day?
"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,"
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils' first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/19/duke-coach-obama-worry-economy-ncaa-picks/
Shishefsky should worry about his own troops and let our personable President be the athlete for a moment, geez!
The thing that struck me when I flipped to full court press was, "how the hell did my copy get here?". You print just like me. Uncanny. Unfortunately, I'm still perfect with my picks, and I choose Vill over Nova.
Duke will be lucky to beat Villanova.
How about that, Mikey!
Roman responds: Hilarious about the penmanship. Scary to think what an analyst would say.
Illinois did me in last night. Even though I knew better! I am such a homer.
Was an excellent quote, but Coach K could use his own advice. I think he needs to worry about his team vs the Presidents brackets. Obama will show the world that he can multi-task. People kill me with all of this concern when there was virtually none for the last 8 years.
Figures Illinois would be my only loser last night. Damn that heavy heart! Anyway, there goes my chance at a million dollar bracket. Weber reminds me a lot of Lou Henson. To be a REAL winning coach you need to DEMAND AND COMMAND. Neither one has/had it.
This McCamey character wouldn't play for a DC(demand/command) coach. He plays too often like he's walking on the beach with his lady. Kid needs a slap in the back of his head. With his size he should be posting more, but that's on the coach. Why didn't Davis get ball often, early and late? Why is Tisdale not getting to the block instead of starting from 12 ft. out? Why hasn't Brock improved much? I love his all around game, but his jumper has shown little, if any, improvement. Why is it that when another team beats you off the dribble, say, 18 out of the first 20 drives to the basket, you stubbornly refuse to play zone because that is not your in your resume? This is one Jordan that hesitates to shoot!
Props to W.K. for shooting the ball well. They are much quicker off the dribble than anticipated. Illinois is a young sophomore laden team, and I didn't consider this much of an upset, but when you get beat in almost every phase of, and during, the game, that hurts.
O.K. Roman, if that's your QUICK printing, and your slower penmanship is different (in a neater way, of course), an analyst might be in order here.
I lost 3 games last night on my bracket pool, but you only lost 1, Anthony? Hmmm, gotta wonder about that. I'm in a pool of over 100 people and not 1 person had a perfect sheet, only 2 people with 1 loss like you. Just too bad there wasn't a Full Court Press bracket like last year to really show the who's who of blogger hoops.
As for Illinois, like I said in another blog, I wasn't expecting much from them in this tournament. Having Chester Frazier would have made a big difference, but Western KY deserved the win. That team sure looks a lot better than a #12 seed, that's for sure. That Mendez-Valdez and Slaughter kid are solid players along with Pettigrew. Next year will be promising for the Illini with a stellar recruiting class full of guards.
I picked W.KY, and I am a huge career Illini supporter..just had a bad Feeling. I actually have W.KY going another round.
I had the same thought about Coach K. needing to worry about himself. Funny banter though..Coach K vs. The Prez
I think K is biting off more than he should chew.
Keith your cracking me up on the no criticisms the last 8 years. Have you been in a News Vacum? Do you seriously only read FCP for all your info? Nothing wrong with that..just wondering.
Wisconsin just won..I picked that!!
Go Culzie's Bracket....
if I remember correctly, I won last year.
Oh...but how quickly we forget!!
I found it hilarious and spot on what Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said regarding President Obama picks. I am not sure why the President of the United States wants to show us his NCAA picks or appear on the Jay Leno show. I would rather him spend time focusing on this countries problems so he doesn't get caught with his pants down again like he did with this AIG mess. That's why I voted for him!
Why are so many people saying that Obama has more to worry about?
It doesn't take weeks or even days to fill out the brackets, He was in California for 2 speaches and decided to go onto the Leno show. SO WHAT. Besides he answered a lot of questions about the economy and what is going on. I would rather hear it from him then some reporter that is telling you what they heard from different peoples thoughts.
I wonder if Coach K would have a problem him the Pres would have picked Duke? I for one do not like Duke at all, but if they were to win, do you think the Coach K would decline the teams invite to the Rose Garden because of his feelings that Obama should be concintrating on the economy?
Maybe Coach K should concintrate more on his present team instead of making recruiting trips, speaking engagments, interviews or doing his own radio shows where he rakes in alot of money.
Let Obama do what he is doing
Edgar, why are u so surprised at a first day 15 of sixteen. There were no surprises and I picked my 8-9, 7-10s correctly. Now Friday, that was a whole new ballgame!
Go Pitt!!!
It's not that I don't believe you, Anthony, it's more that we all don't have anything to show what we picked, no FCP pool or anything like that. Not that it all matters in the end, but just sayin... As for Obama, one of his qualities is that he shows that he can relate to the common person, so if he wants to show his NCAA picks for fun, then what's the big deal? People just want to complain or find fault in anything good or bad. Grade the man AFTER he's done serving his term, not 3 months into it.
Sorry Edgar....There will forever be one and only one FCP MarchMadness Bracket winner.
CULZIE
I dont think Roman wanted to run the risk of letting me win back2back.
I am doing a bracket on ESPN. I love how they give you the information on the team before you pick. We should have done their Braggin Rights brackets. Maybe we can do one for the NBA playoffs? btw - um getting slaughtered. My bracket is like 2000th!! LOL! ACC let me down!! Especially Mariland!!