Associated Press
The NCAA Tournament notebook …
Oakland coach Greg Kampe didn’t mind at all Thursday when he was told that President Barack Obama picked against his team in his bracket. The No. 13 seed Golden Grizzlies open the NCAA tournament against No. 4 seed Texas on Friday. “I didn’t vote for him either, so I guess we’re even,” Kampe joked.
MORE OBAMA
President Barack Obama has already lost one of his final 16 teams in his NCAA tournament picks.
Obama had Louisville reaching the regional semifinals when he filled out a bracket for ESPN for the third straight year. The fourth-seeded Cardinals were upset by 13th-seeded Morehead State on the tournament’s first full day Thursday.
Obama correctly predicted the other upset in the region, tabbing 12th-seeded Richmond to topple fifth-seeded Vanderbilt.
In fact, Obama was perfect for the rest of the early games other than that Louisville stumble. He picked the favored seeds to advance in the remaining six matchups, and they did.
Obama selected Kansas to win it all.
AND YOU ARE?
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton is the first to admit he’s not exactly family friendly at this time of year.
Hamilton’s brother-in-law lives in Chicago, but there won’t be any warm-and-fuzzy reunions this week. At least, not any that include Hamilton. This is a business trip for the 10th-seeded Seminoles, after all, and after four decades in the business, Hamilton’s family knows how he operates.
The Seminoles (21-10) play seventh-seeded Texas A&M (24-8) in the second round of the NCAA tournament today.
DOWN TO TWO
Pac-10 player of the year Derrick Williams’ college decision came down to Arizona and Memphis, the same two schools that will meet in his NCAA tournament debut.
MOREHEAD MONSTER Morehead State’s Kenneth Faried had his 28th double double of the season, tops in the nation, when he scored 12 points to go with his 17 rebounds in Thursday’s 62-61 win over Louisville.
Faried upped his career total to 85, moving him into second place on the NCAA’s all time list ahead of Virginia’s Ralph Sampson.
“All coaches use the cliche that rebounders, every shot is a pass to you,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. “He’s the only one I’ve seen since Dennis Rodman truly make that statement true.