Barack Obama picks UNC to beat Duke in NCAA men's tournament

WASHINGTON -- Former President Barack Obama is picking North Carolina to win the NCAA men's basketball tournament over Duke.

Last year, Obama had Kansas winning it all in his bracket. The Jayhawks lost to eventual champion Villanova in the Elite Eight.

Obama also has Arizona and Kansas in his Final Four.

Obama also picked UConn to win the NCAA women's title over Notre Dame, with South Carolina and Washington also advancing to the Final Four.

Filling out NCAA tourney selections became an annual tradition for Obama, who is a college basketball fan and invited ESPN to the White House to televise his picks.

This year, Obama released his two brackets on his foundation's website.

ESPN has said President Donald Trump has declined to make picks this year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.