President honors Duke basketball champs

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama said it before Duke University Coach Mike Krzyzewski even had the chance.

"Payback is sweet, isn't it, coach?" Obama asked his guest.

The Rose Garden ceremony Thursday honoring the 2010 NCAA men's basketball champions was Krzyzewski's fourth trip to the White House.

It was his first chance to personally remind the current leader of the free world that Duke shouldn't be counted out of anyone's bracket - even the president's.

Everyone remembered Obama's top choice a year ago. Everyone was gracious about it.

Under a cloudless Carolina blue sky, Obama invoked the Tar Heels almost as soon as he strode out of the Oval Office. He reminded the audience that he had picked Duke's archrival a year ago to win it all, and they did. And he recalled that Coach K, known for supporting Republicans, had been a bit snarky about the whole thing, telling reporters the president ought to focus on the economy rather than on his bracket.

"He basically told me to stick it. Or stick to my day job, is what he said," the president recalled.

"It wasn't anything personal. I was just trying to win some money."

The president paused.

"I was right."

That was last year. On Thursday, Obama talked about Duke's last-second play against Butler. He praised Krzyzewski's charitable contributions to Durham and greeted the seniors by name.

"My homeboy from the Chicago area," he said of Jon Scheyer.

("That was a pretty cool thing," Scheyer said later.)

Krzyzewski, in return, praised Obama as charismatic and warm, a guy who can talk hoops. The coach also talked about the state's basketball prowess - four championships in a decade between Duke and UNC.

Of course, Obama noted, the reigning champs are Coach K and his Blue Devils.

"This year, he went out with all these guys, and he won so he could come to the White House and crow about it," the president said.

Coach K, standing behind Obama, didn't crow, really.

But he did nod his head.