ST. LOUIS — When Queens University coach Grant Leonard approached the podium Thursday afternoon, he was accompanied.
To be more precise, he had Buddy by his side.
Positioned beside the microphone was an empty duplicate of a German Shepherd dog, adorned with a spiked collar and a “B” necklace around its neck. During Queens’ journey to the NCAA men’s tournament in their initial year of qualification, Buddy has functioned as the team’s informal emblem. As the 15-seed Royals are set to confront 2-seed Purdue on Friday in St. Louis, Leonard explained why he referred to Buddy as the team’s “spirit animal.”
“We wish for [the players] to personify the scrappy, determined attitude of striving for every possible gain,” Leonard stated.
In essence, Buddy serves as a trophy. Following each match, he is presented to the Queens player who performs actions not reflected in the statistical summary but are crucial for the squad’s achievement, such as drawing offensive fouls or hustling for unpossessed balls. For the current season, the private institution situated in Charlotte, North Carolina, placed third in the American Sun Conference during regular play but secured a berth in the NCAA tournament after an extended play victory over Central Arkansas in the conference title match.
To be even more precise, the dog that will be on the floor of Enterprise Arena is Buddy II. According to Leonard, Buddy I was “injured” during a postgame celebration in January after Queens defeated Florida Gulf Coast.
Acquired through Amazon, Buddy accompanies the team everywhere. First-year guard (redshirt) Matthew Walter, a substitute player, serves as his informal guardian, responsible for tasks like accompanying Buddy during airport transits.
The squad has adopted what Buddy symbolizes.
Queens sophomore guard Yoav Berman remarked, “Buddy has unquestionably defined our essence. We intend to compete fiercely in each match.”
Leonard mentioned that the previous summer, the coaching personnel aimed to ignite that vigor among the players, who then asserted their “dog-like” tenacity. This led to a subsequent inquiry from Queens assistant coach Adam Short, known as Bulldog: Were they the spoiled kind of dog, or the type that could prove their worth through tenacious effort?
The Royals (21-13) are aiming to significantly challenge Purdue (27-8), the victors of the Big Ten tournament and a team that retains essential athletes from the 2024 squad, which was defeated in the national title contest.
Nasir Mann, Queens’ senior guard, stated that the squad’s adaptability and extensive shooting talent throughout the roster could boost the Royals’ prospects for an upset victory.
Mann commented, “Our strength lies in shooting and spreading the court. Everyone on our team can make shots with commendable accuracy. I believe that’s a highly potent factor. One can find their rhythm spontaneously, particularly during March Madness. That’s when wonders genuinely unfold.”
Regardless of the outcome of Friday’s match at the Enterprise Center, Buddy shall be present. He will occupy a spot adjacent to the squad’s hydration station, with aspirations of participating in a momentous festivity in St. Louis.