Story highlights Ted Cruz praised President Barack Obama's basketball abilities

Cruz has faced criticism for calling a basketball hoop a "ring"

(CNN) Ted Cruz doesn't have many nice things to say about President Barack Obama, but he apparently appreciates the President's ability to shoot hoops. 

"I think he's got more skills on the basketball court than I do," Cruz told CNN's Dana Bash in an interview Monday. 

Cruz has been the butt of jokes since he called a basketball rim a "ring " last week while campaigning in Indiana, known as being Hoosier country.  Obama poked fun at him during the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night, asking, "What else is he going to talk about, baseball sticks?  Football hats?" 

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Noting he played two-and-a-half years of basketball in high school, Cruz said his coach would have him running sprints for hours for his slip of the tongue.  But he also admitted that he's lacking in some areas of the game. 

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