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Obama phones NCAA hoops champion coaches

WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- President Obama picked up the phone to congratulate the head coaches of the NCAA men's and women's college basketball championship teams, the White House said.

The men's team from Louisville and the University of Connecticut's women's squad were both invited to stop by the White House in the future for the traditional personal meeting with the president.

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Obama told Louisville coach Rick Pitino Wednesday the Cardinals' win over Michigan was an exciting game to watch. He also congratulated Pitino on his induction this month into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and on the way injured guard Kevin Ware handled a season-ending injury that kept him out of the title game.

The president then passed on similar compliments to Geno Auriemma, who helmed the Huskies to their eighth women's title with a victory of the Louisville women's team. Obama asked Auriemma to pass on his congratulations to Breanna Stewart, who was named the outstanding player of the tournament.

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