Des Moines, Iowa ? President Barack Obama, who last correctly picked the national champion (North Carolina) in his first year in office, says Kansas University will win the 2016 NCAA Tournament.

Obama, who also made KU his pick in 2010 and 2011, of course, is in his last year in office.

KU coach Bill Self said he was not aware of the pick until Wednesday morning.

“I wasn’t that giddy about it at all,” Self said. “He’s done that before, and then he will blame me for ruining his pool if things don’t work out.

“I think it’s fine. This is a unique year for us going into the tournament because I feel like we’re whole for the first time in a while, so I’m excited about it. I’m fine with anybody picking us or not picking us. I know none of that matters at all, but I know our guys are champing at the bit to go play,” Self added.

KU guard Devonté Graham said: “That is cool. He’s a basketball guy. He knows what he’s talking about. Hopefully we can make that happen for him.”

Asked if he had a message he wanted delivered to Obama, Graham said: “Tell him, ‘I appreciate you as president. KU definitely appreciates it. We’re going to try to get it done for you.'”

Guard Wayne Selden Jr., said: “It’s an honor, and he said my name (during a piece with ESPN’s Andy Katz). It’s really an honor that the president of the United States is paying attention to stuff like this. This morning I got a bunch of texts from my family that the president said our name (his and senior forward Perry Ellis). We met him once. He was a great guy, and we want to meet him again. We’re excited he picked us, but we can’t really get ahead of ourselves. We have a game tomorrow, and that’s our focus right now.”

Graham’s swish: KU’s Graham concluded the Jayhawks’ shootaround at Wells Fargo Arena by hitting a halfcourt shot. … Jamari Traylor’s halfcourt attempt actually hit, and broke, a camera behind the backboard. … Freshman Cheick Diallo thrilled 5,000 or so fans by flushing a between-the-legs slam dunk.

Streaking: KU enters the NCAA Tournament on a 14-game win streak, which started with a home win over Kentucky on Jan. 30.

Self concedes winning sure beats the alternative.

“Getting through that game, I think, gave us some confidence, and then we were able to get on a mini-run with a couple of games. And then all of a sudden the smiles got bigger. The practices got shorter. The jokes got better,” Self said. “Regardless of what it was, I just felt like our guys totally loosened up. The other thing, probably, roles were defined better.

“So they probably weren’t uptight thinking about, ‘What is my role?’ I think that everybody had a complete understanding of kind of how they could best help our team and what role they would have. Guys bought in. Of course, it doesn’t guarantee success moving forward, but these guys are about as bought in as any group I’ve ever had.”

Home away from home: KU’s players were asked if today’s 3 p.m. first-round game against Austin Peay will feel like a home game.

“Most definitely. It’s three hours away from Lawrence,” guard Frank Mason III said. “We know we have a lot of fans here to support us, and we can’t wait.”

“I think so,” forward Landen Lucas said. “Our fans travel very well, and this is a close destination. I’m looking forward to seeing them out in full effect.

The building: Mason and Lucas were asked if anybody from Iowa State’s team had told them about 17,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena.

“I haven’t talked to them about it. I think Wayne may have talked to Georges (Niang) about it. And as far as I know, he said it wasn’t great or something like that, but other than that I haven’t heard anything,” Mason said.

“I haven’t heard much. I’ve got a friend on Iowa State. I should probably ask him about it tonight, but, I mean, we will adapt to wherever we play, and I think we’ll be just fine,” Lucas said.

No word on NBA: Various Jayhawks were asked about their future plans, meaning the NBA Draft, during Wednesday’s media session. Diallo, Carlton Bragg Jr. and Svi Mykhailiuk all said they were not thinking about next year right now, only focusing on KU.

Mykhailiuk on his second NCAA Tournament: “It’s going to be a great tournament and a lot of fun. We are the No. 1 seed. That’s very good. It’s March Madness, anything can happen.”

Diallo improves: A New York TV crew checked in with Diallo, who played at Our Savior New American in Centereach, New York.

“I came here at 223 (pounds). I’m now 228, 229,” the 6-foot-9 Diallo said. “We play physical sometimes, me and Lando (Landen Lucas at practice). I like it because it’s helped me develop. We’ve got six big men. We have a rotation. Like coach said, ‘Be patient.’ I’m patient. Every time we win, I don’t have a problem. We keep winning every time, I’m good. I’m a team player.”

Bragg on Austin Peay: “They are good. They got here for a reason. They are trying to do the same job we’re trying to do. We have to stay focused.”

This, that: KU and Austin Peay are meeting for the first time in men’s basketball. … KU is 19-0 all-time against current membership of the Ohio Valley Conference: 9-0 vs. Murray State; 2-0 vs. Belmont, Morehead State and UT-Martin; and 1-0 vs. Eastern Kentucky, SIU-Edwardsville, Southeast Missouri State and Tennessee State. Kansas last faced an Ohio Valley team when it defeated Belmont, 89-60, on Dec. 15, 2012, in Allen Fieldhouse. … KU is 97-43 all-time in the NCAAs.