Solomon Hill answers a question at a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Salt Lake City. Photo by Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
SALT LAKE CITY — President Barack Obama filled out his NCAA Tournament bracket on ESPN for the fifth consecutive season, and one of his early upset picks is Belmont over Arizona.
“They’re small,” Obama said of the Bruins, “but they shoot lights out.”
The general response of Arizona’s players: Whatever.
“He’s lost Arizona in the last two elections, so he probably has it out for us a little,” said senior Solomon Hill. “It really doesn’t matter to me.”
Belmont has been a trendy upset pick, so if that serves as an iota of extra motivation, so be it.
Guard Nick Johnson, asked if he cared about the president’s pick, said: “Can’t say that I do. I definitely would have liked him to pick us, but we just have to go out there and play our game and prove him wrong.”
Sixth-seeded Arizona plays No. 11 seed Belmont in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday at 4:20 p.m. Tucson time.
Obama picked Florida, Indiana, Louisville, and Ohio State to make his Final Four, with Indiana winning it all.
Last season, he tabbed North Carolina as the champ, but the Tar Heels lost in a regional final.
“I don’t think his bracket has really worked out for him,” Hill said.