Obama to Tar Heels: Thanks for ‘Vindicating Me Before the Entire Nation’

ABC News’ Lindsey Ellerson reports: President Obama welcomed the NCAA national championship North Carolina men’s basketball team to the White House on Monday. "Congratulations on bringing Carolina its fifth national championship and more importantly, thanks for salvaging my bracket and vindicating me before the entire nation," said Obama who very publicly chose UNC in his bracket to win the NCAA tournament. "That first round was rough on me." Obama, an avid basketball player and fan, then recalled playing with the Tar Heels during the 2008 campaign, saying together they created a "good vibe." "I did have a chance to play ball with this crew just over a year ago when I visited Chapel Hill and I’m not sure whose luck rubbed off on who, I think there was just a good vibe going on there because they’re now national champions and I’m now president," said Obama. Obama offered special congratulations to the seven senior Tar Heels who graduated on Sunday, and gave a call out to star players Tyler Hansbrough for choosing to forgo the NBA draft for a college degree, as well as Ty Lawson, injured at the beginning of the tournament, who, "played a little gimpy, and still just tearing it up." During the visit, the president also poked fun at presidential aide and former Duke basketball player Reggie Love. "I have to tell you everybody on my staff is really excited about the team coming except my assistant Reggie Love," said Obama. Love, who had to get stitches this weekend when playing basketball with his boss, was inflicted with further pain at the end of the photo-op when the UNC chancellor asked Love to hold up a plaque presented to the president showing Obama with the winning Tar Heel team in Chapel Hill, N.C. Obama joked, "At some point he {Love} wants to scrimmage with you guys so we’ll arrange for that." North Carolina coach Roy Williams also gave the president his own UNC jersey with a #1 on it. In addition to lauding the team for their big win, the president commended the Tar Heels for having the highest graduation rate of anybody in the Final Four and for their dedication to giving back to the community. "It’s all a reflection on the great character of the program but also the great character of the coach.  Just one of my favorite people and one of the most gracious individuals you’d ever care to meet," said Obama. "What makes Coach Williams one of the great coaches isn’t just his extraordinary record, but his dedication to his players.  He’s just as serious about making these guys into men, into leaders, as he is into making them champions."