March 18, 2009
Posted: March 18th, 2009 07:21 PM ET

From
The President predicted that Duke's archrival, North Carolina, will win the NCAA tournament.
The President predicted that Duke's archrival, North Carolina, will win the NCAA tournament.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski isn't thrilled his team got snubbed by the leader of the free world.

"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," Krzyzewski told a reporter from the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Related: Obama's Final Four picks revealed

The president filled out his NCAA bracket for ESPN on Tuesday, and the Blue Devils weren't among his Final 4 picks. Instead, he has Coach K's squad falling to Pittsburgh in the Elite 8.

Obama's pick to win the Big Dance? Duke's archrival, the University of North Carolina.

Filed under: Popular Posts • President Obama


Susan   March 18th, 2009 6:40 pm ET

Agree fully with Coach K.

Mr Obama, your campaigning is over. Now work.

Aaron   March 18th, 2009 6:39 pm ET

Guy takes time out of his coaching schedule during the big tournament to criticize the president for taking time out of his schedule to think sports during the big crisis?

That was almost as confusing to write as it was to think about.

RFC   March 18th, 2009 6:38 pm ET

Barack Obama should try tapping into Coach K's playbook a little more. The difference between them is that Coach K is a wildly successful basketball coach and Barack Obama has been a miserable failure as a president. Coach K understands that you need to stick with what you're good. Barack Obama is trying to be all things to all people and is falling flat on his face.

arithmetic is liberal   March 18th, 2009 6:38 pm ET

Cry me a river, Krzyzewski.
If you were in the final four, you'd be blathering praises.

Self interest: a value as American as apple pie.

Hey Coach, Worry about Binghamton and not the President « Big Duke Balls   March 18th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

[...] and not the President Jump to Comments Today, Coach K decided to go into douche bag mode and comment on President Obama's Final Four [...]

Fitz in Texas   March 18th, 2009 6:34 pm ET

Well said Coack K!!!!-–Obama should focus more on the economy and paying attention to the people he's hired wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

Gop   March 18th, 2009 6:32 pm ET

Coach don’t worry about what Obama thinks of your team. What you should worry is the fact your school has more resources then others and he might raise your taxes soon.

To Obama when he speaks about fair and equality, he means the ones that have must give up what they have earned so they become poor and miserable like the fools that voted him into office!

tom Cranston   March 18th, 2009 6:31 pm ET

Maybe Coach K should spend all of his time focusing on basketball rather than trying to pad his income by doing commercials!!!

tennisguypitt   March 18th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

I would like the arch-rival of Duke AND UNC to win...

GO WAKE FOREST!

Get Well Soon GOP   March 18th, 2009 6:30 pm ET

Coach K may not like it, but the voters in NC sure do. Most students in Duke are from out of the state. Obama beats them to the punch one again.

john l.a.   March 18th, 2009 6:29 pm ET

Yes, I agree with President Obama, North Carolina was my final
2 pick, if I could confidently feel USC after winning the Pac-10
tournament here, beat 11 time national champ crosstown rival
ucla, i'd take the trojans. My native Illinois Illini don't figure this
year, Purdue looks strong as well as Michigan State.

lol   March 18th, 2009 6:25 pm ET

The words "chill out" come to mind. LOL.

TjayeInLA   March 18th, 2009 6:24 pm ET

So, is he snippy with everyone who didn't pick his team in their final four?

No Hillary = No Obama   March 18th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

WHO THE HECK CARES – Obama needs to lock himself in the Oval Office and start getting to work instead of making appearances on late night TV, mulling over who is going to win basketball games and cutting into prime time so he can give yet another speech.

Anonymous   March 18th, 2009 6:22 pm ET

I hate Duke even more Krzyzewki should keep his mouth shut

Alex W.   March 18th, 2009 6:22 pm ET

I really find it ridiculous when presidents try to have a tad bit of fun and people bash them for it. Obama is only human, give him a break! Everyone needs a bit of "me" time whether the economy is in the dumps or not

Jon in Ca   March 18th, 2009 6:20 pm ET

Careful Coach K.... Obama & his Administration will buy a billboard to mock you.

Ask Rush – who dared to disagree with the messiah.

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