President Barack Obama picked North Carolina to defeat Louisville, with Jamaica's Samardo Samuels, for the NCAA championship, a relatively safe selection for a trailblazing president.

Obama spent part of Tuesday making his tournament picks for ESPN, which posted his completed bracket online Wednesday and showed the First Fan filling it out with Andy Katz on the noon edition of Sportscentre.

The president had top-seeded Pittsburgh join the number one 1-seeded Tar Heels and Cardinals in the Final Four, but chose second-seeded Memphis to beat Connecticut in the West Regional.

"I think Memphis has got a very athletic team," Obama told Katz, an ESPN college basketball analyst. "I think they've got a good shot."

'Don't embarrass me'

Perhaps showing some indecision, Obama initially had the Panthers playing Louisville for the national title in the file posted online. Pitt was scratched out of the title game in favour of North Carolina, which in turn replaced Louisville in the 'champion' box.

"Here's what I like about Carolina: experience and balance," Obama said. "Now, for all the Tar Heels who are watching, I picked you last year - you let me down," Obama said. "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."