NEW YORK — The presidential bracket is looking pretty good after the first round.

President Barack Obama correctly predicted 13 of 16 winners yesterday, the second day of the NCAA tournament. That came after he went 12 for 16 on Thursday.

Obama's only blemishes yesterday were 13th-seeded Siena, which lost to fourth-seeded Purdue 72-64; ninth-seeded Florida State, which fell to No. 8 seed Gonzaga 67-60; and No. 9 seed Louisville, which was defeated by eighth-seeded California 77-62.

The Big East has been a big bummer for The First Fan. Four of his seven losses have been by teams from the conference that received a tournament-high eight bids.

Obama took a few chances in his bracket, which he filled out for ESPN for the second straight year. Siena was the second No. 13 seed he picked; he correctly chose Murray State to upset fourth-seeded Vanderbilt on Thursday.

Obama also had 12th-seeded Cornell topping No. 5 seed Temple — and the Big Red came through with a 78-65 victory yesterday.

And how's this for some presidential prognostication? He also has his Final Four still intact with Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky and Villanova. Obama predicted North Carolina's national title last year.