Obama's 2019 March Madness Picks: A Presidential Recap
Hey there, hoops enthusiasts! You might be wondering, "What's the deal with Obama and March Madness?" Well, let us tell you, the former POTUS has been quite the bracketologist. Every year since leaving office, he's been sharing his picks for the NCAA Tournament, and 2019 was no exception. So, grab some popcorn and let's dive into Obama's 2019 March Madness picks, shall we? Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and obama 2019 march madness.
Obama's 2019 March Madness Picks: The Big Reveal
In true Obama fashion, the 44th President took to Twitter to unveil his 2019 March Madness bracket. On March 21, he tweeted:
> "I'll be rooting for the underdogs this March Madness, but I'm not picking them to win it all. Here’s my bracket:"
And with that, the internet was abuzz with college basketball fans eager to see how Obama's picks stacked up against their own.
Obama's National Champions: The Favorites
Now, let's talk about Obama's national champions. In 2019, he had two favorites: the Duke Blue Devils and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Both teams were heavy hitters that year, with Duke ranked #1 and UNC not far behind at #5.
Duke, led by the legendary Coach K, had a powerhouse team featuring Zion Williamson, RJ Barrett, and Cameron Reddish. Williamson, in particular, was a force to be reckoned with, averaging an insane 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds per game.
UNC, on the other hand, was a more veteran squad, with seniors like Luke Maye and Cameron Johnson leading the way. They had a strong regular season, earning a 2-seed in the tournament.
Obama had Duke winning it all, with UNC making it to the Final Four. But as we all know, March Madness is anything but predictable.
Obama's Cinderella Stories: The Underdogs
Obama might have picked the favorites to go far, but he also had a soft spot for the underdogs. In his 2019 bracket, he had a couple of Cinderella stories in the making.
Murray State Racers: Led by future NBA star Ja Morant, the Racers were a 12-seed that Obama had making it all the way to the Elite Eight. Unfortunately, they fell short in the first round to the 5-seed Marquette Golden Eagles.
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs: This 16-seed was Obama's dark horse pick to upset a 1-seed. And while they didn't quite make it to the Elite Eight like Obama predicted, they did pull off a massive upset in the first round, defeating the 1-seed Virginia Cavaliers. It was a monumental moment for the Runnin' Bulldogs and a testament to the unpredictability of March Madness.
Obama's 2019 March Madness Picks: The Final Four
So, who made it to Obama's Final Four in 2019? Well, in addition to his national champions Duke and UNC, he had the Michigan State Spartans and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Michigan State was a 2-seed with a talented roster led by Cassius Winston. They had a strong regular season and were a legitimate Final Four contender.
Texas Tech, a 3-seed, was a bit of a surprise pick from Obama. But they had a stingy defense that led the nation in points allowed per game. Their " Fortress" in Lubbock was one of the toughest places to play in the country, and Obama clearly thought they had what it took to make a deep run.
Obama's 2019 March Madness Picks: The Winner
In the end, Obama had Duke winning it all, with the Blue Devils defeating Michigan State in the championship game. But as we all know, March Madness doesn't always go according to plan. In a shocking turn of events, Virginia won it all, becoming the first 1-seed to lose in the first round and come back to win the national championship.
Obama's March Madness Picks: A Presidential Tradition
Every year, Obama's March Madness picks are a hot topic among college basketball fans. Whether he's picking the favorites or rooting for the underdogs, his brackets are always a fun conversation starter. And while he might not have picked the 2019 champion, his love for the game and respect for the players is clear.
So there you have it, folks! A presidential recap of Obama's 2019 March Madness picks. Until next year, keep your brackets ready, and who knows? Maybe you'll agree with the former POTUS, or maybe you'll have your own Cinderella story to tell. Either way, that's what makes March Madness so great.