ST. LOUIS — As Queens University prepares for its historic debut in the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the unlikeliest star has stolen the spotlight: a stuffed German Shepherd named Buddy. On Thursday afternoon, head coach Grant Leonard took the podium at a pregame press conference here in St. Louis, but he wasn't alone. Perched to the right of the microphone was Buddy, a hollowed-out replica dog complete with a studded collar and a necklace emblazoned with a "B." The 15-seed Royals, making their first appearance in the tournament after earning eligibility this season, face No. 2 Purdue on Friday at the Enterprise Center.
Buddy has become more than just a quirky team prop during Queens' improbable run. According to Leonard, the dog embodies the gritty, underdog spirit the coaching staff wants to instill in its players. "We want [the players] to embody the street dog mentality of fighting for everything you can get," Leonard said, explaining how Buddy serves as the team's unofficial mascot.
The private school from Charlotte, North Carolina, competes in the American Sun Conference. Queens finished third in the regular season standings but punched its ticket to March Madness with a dramatic overtime victory over Central Arkansas in the conference championship game. That win capped a 21-13 regular season and propelled the Royals into the national spotlight for the first time.
Technically, the Buddy making the trip to St. Louis is Buddy II. Leonard recounted that the original Buddy I met an unfortunate end during a postgame celebration in January after a victory over Florida Gulf Coast. The plush pup was "injured" in the exuberant festivities, necessitating a replacement sourced straight from Amazon.
Wherever the team goes, Buddy follows. Redshirt freshman guard Matthew Walter, a reserve player who often mans the bench, has taken on the role of Buddy's unofficial caretaker. His duties include navigating airport security with the stuffed animal in tow, ensuring the mascot is always ready for action.
The concept of Buddy originated last summer during team discussions aimed at firing up the players. Leonard said the coaching staff was pushing for more intensity, and when the athletes responded that they were "dogs," it sparked a pivotal conversation. Assistant coach Adam Short, nicknamed Bulldog, followed up by asking whether they were the pampered pet variety or the scrappy street fighters who earn every scrap.
That exchange led to Buddy's creation as a symbol of hustle and heart. After each game, the trophy is awarded to the player who exemplifies the intangibles — those unquantifiable efforts like taking charges, diving for loose balls, or setting hard screens. It's a tradition that has unified the squad and given them a tangible reminder of their ethos.
"Buddy, he has definitely been our identity," said Queens sophomore guard Yoav Berman. "We are going to go out and play hard every game." Berman's words capture the enthusiasm that has swept through the program, turning a simple gag into a rallying cry.
Senior guard Nasir Mann echoed that sentiment, highlighting how Queens' style of play aligns with Buddy's tenacious persona. "Our ability is [to] shoot and space the floor," Mann said. "Everybody on our team can shoot the ball at a pretty good clip. I think that's a very dangerous thing. You can get hot at any given moment, especially in March Madness. That's when the miracles truly happen."
Mann's optimism is rooted in the Royals' versatility. With shooting depth across the roster, Queens can stretch defenses and create opportunities for upsets. The team hopes to channel that energy against Purdue, the Big Ten tournament champions with a 27-8 record. The Boilermakers still feature key holdovers from their 2024 squad that fell just short in the national championship game.
Purdue enters as heavy favorites, boasting size, experience, and a potent offense. But Queens' coaches believe their underdog mentality could level the playing field. Leonard has emphasized preparation and poise, drawing on Buddy as a metaphor for resilience. The Royals practiced Thursday in St. Louis, with Buddy positioned courtside, watching over drills designed to counter Purdue's interior dominance.
The matchup marks a classic David vs. Goliath scenario in the tournament's first round. Queens, in its inaugural Division I season after transitioning from Division II, represents the excitement of expansion. The American Sun Conference, a mid-major league, rarely sends teams this far, making the Royals' journey all the more remarkable.
Leonard, who has led Queens through this transition, credits the players' buy-in for their success. The coach's innovative approach, including the Buddy tradition, has fostered a tight-knit group. "There's a reason Leonard called Buddy the team's 'spirit animal,'" as one report noted, underscoring how the mascot has permeated every aspect of team culture.
Beyond the court, Buddy has captured the imagination of fans and media alike. Social media buzz has grown around the Royals' mascot, with clips of Buddy's travels going viral. For a program from a smaller school, this exposure is invaluable, potentially boosting recruitment and alumni support back in Charlotte.
As Friday's tipoff approaches — scheduled for 2 p.m. ET at the Enterprise Center — Buddy will have a prime seat near the team's water cooler. Whether Queens pulls off the miracle Mann described or not, the stuffed dog's presence symbolizes a program on the rise. Leonard and his staff hope it inspires a performance for the ages, etching Queens into tournament lore.
The broader implications of Queens' run extend to the evolving landscape of college basketball. With conference realignments and eligibility changes, more mid-major programs like the Royals are vying for national attention. Success stories such as this could encourage investment in smaller schools, proving that heart and hustle can compete with blue-blood pedigrees.
Looking ahead, a win over Purdue would propel Queens into the round of 32, facing the winner of the Utah State-Texas A&M game. But even in defeat, the experience — and Buddy's legacy — will endure. As Berman put it, the team is committed to playing hard every game, a mindset that has carried them this far and could define their future.