Queens University makes its first NCAA March Madness appearance as a Division 1 team, featuring high-scoring offense and “street dogs”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As Queens University embarks on its first Division 1 NCAA Tournament appearance, the Royals feature a few characteristics of a fun March Madness story, and possible Cinderella.
In its first year of eligibility, the former D2 power defeated Central Arkansas to win the ASUN’s bid into the bracket.
The Royals feature six players who average in double-figures scoring, and as a team average 84.9 points per game, good for twenty-first in the nation.
Queens also has three players (Maban Jabriel, Avantae Parker and Carson Schwieger) who average 40% or better from beyond the three-point arc.
And if you’re looking for some of the lighter fare, Queens has that too.
Head Coach Grant Leonard has become renowned for his holiday-themed sweaters and now can add St. Patrick’s Day to the mix.
At halftime of the conference championship game, with his team behind, he even drew inspiration from a Christmas-styled, Ted Lasso sweater that said, “Believe.”
“They believe,” Leonard said. “And a lot of people outside of this room might not have believed this is possible, but here we are.”
Making for more fun, Queens has an unofficial mascot, Buddy The Street Dog.
It’s not a real canine, but a fake German Shepard, awarded to the player who most exudes toughness in each game.
Buddy even made an appearance the team’s news conference on Monday morning.
“I wanted our guys to identify with being hungry and fighting for everything,” Leonard said. “I found Buddy on the internet. Now he travels with us.”
Turns out he might need to be referred to as Buddy II.
“He’s actually the second one. We had a celebration and Buddy lost a couple of legs,” Leonard said. “The player that plays the hardest (wins him).
Queens will find out its seeding, opponent and region of the bracket on Selection Sunday.
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.