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Pete Souza for ESPN.comThe president and his team pored over all the matchups, making plenty of changes throughout the bracket.

"[MSU coach Tom] Izzo always has great teams," he said.

Obama had Louisville over Michigan State to reach Detroit.

In the West, Obama advanced Connecticut and Purdue to the Sweet 16, with the Huskies winning. He struggled with Marquette and Missouri in the bottom part of the bracket. He knew Dominic James was out for the Golden Eagles and, after hedging, went with Mizzou to advance to the Sweet 16. Obama went local with Maryland over Cal, but had Memphis beating Maryland and Missouri.

"I think Memphis has got a very athletic team," Obama said. "I think they've got a good shot."

Obama said UConn is a "fine institution" but picked Memphis in the West Regional final, "so that's my Final Four right there."

During at least the start of Final Four weekend, the president will be with first lady Michelle Obama and his key staff members at the NATO summit in France during a March 31-April 5 trip to England, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

"We're going to be watching it, but it will probably be 2 in the morning where we are," Obama said. "I'm not going to be able to watch any game the whole way through, but we're going to be checking the scores."

What if he's on Air Force One during the games?

"Air Force One does have DirecTV," Obama answered.

With his final selections, the president had Louisville beating old rival Memphis in one semifinal and North Carolina outlasting Pitt in the other. The overall winner?

The most powerful person in the world is like many of you: He predicts the Tar Heels will be cutting down the nets in Detroit.

"I'm going with experience, and I think that Lawson is going to be healthy. I think having an experienced point guard who can control the game and make free throws at the end, that's going to be the difference," Obama said.

The commander in chief then turned to an ESPN camera, offering this pep talk for coach Roy Williams' crew:

"Now, for the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you all last year -- you let me down. This year, don't embarrass me in front of the nation, all right? I'm counting on you. I still got those sneakers you guys gave me."

Regardless of the pep talk to UNC, I didn't budge, sticking with my original pick of Pittsburgh to win it all.

Pete Souza for ESPN.comObama and Katz disagreed on two of the Final Four picks, along with the national champ. Obama went with UNC. Katz picked Pitt.

"If Pitt wins, you'll get some commemorative White House M&M's," Obama said. "What do I get?"

Maybe some ESPN swag, Mr. President?

"An ESPN T-shirt?" Obama laughed. "A water bottle?"

And then he was off, with his bracket in hand, folded and ready to reference on Thursday as the first-round results come trickling in.

As we exited, one senior staffer said this might have been the one "fun thing" the president did all day.

The serious work -- and there's plenty of it -- was taken care of before and after our brief meeting.

But during those 20 minutes in the Map Room, one thing became readily apparent: As will be the case in so many houses throughout this vast nation, the upcoming NCAA tournament -- this communal event we call March Madness -- will certainly have its place in the nation's First Home of Hoops.

And if you don't believe me, let's have someone from the Secret Service check the trash bin next to the president's desk in the Oval Office.

Chances are there will be a torn and crumpled-up bracket in there by this time next week.

And hey, who can't relate to that?

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.

Follow Andy Katz on Twitter: @ESPNAndyKatz

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