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Posted on Wed, Mar 14, 2012 : 11:15 a.m.

Barack Obama sees Michigan basketball team advancing to NCAA Sweet 16

By Nick Baumgardner

The Michigan basketball team has a little presidential backing this month, but not too much.

President Barack Obama revealed his official NCAA Tournament selections Wednesday, and has the fourth-seeded Wolverines making their way past No. 13 Ohio and No. 5 Temple during the first weekend of Midwest Regional play in Nashville, Tenn.

That's as far as Michigan goes, though. Obama predicts the Wolverines will fall to top-seeded North Carolina in the Sweet 16.

While filling out the bracket on ESPN, Obama noted that a possible Michigan-North Carolina game would be a rematch of the 1993 NCAA Tournament final, made famous by Chris Webber's phantom timeout.

"I'm old enough to remember that," Obama joked.

As for the rest of the presidential bracket: Obama chose Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio State and North Carolina to advance to the Final Four with North Carolina toppling Kentucky in the title game.

Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.

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Comments

David Kempner

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 4:42 p.m.

I love you Barack, but your memory isn't long enough. Seem to recall that in 1989, Michigan played and beat North Carolina on their way to the National Championship. Go Blue! p.s. to Steve (re: gas prices), read what Robert Reich says about them.

Captain Dave

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 : 4:36 a.m.

Did he have his teleprompter to help him make his picks ? LOL

Steve

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 1:19 a.m.

Super. Now he's clairvoyant. What does he see for the future of gas prices?

Dan

Thu, Mar 15, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.

The president does not, can not, and should not, control gas prices.