Queens University is making its first-ever appearance in the Men’s NCAA Tournament this year, earning a spot in the field of 68.
On Sunday, March 8, Queens defeated Central Arkansas 98-93 in overtime to win the Atlantic Sun tournament. The story of Queens, though, starts in Charlotte, N.C.
Queens University Finds Itself In 2026 NCAA Tournament
Queens’ Chris Ashby is one of the team’s top players as he scored 34 points in the Atlantic Sun championship game. This was the first time that Queens was even eligible to reach the Men’s NCAA Tournament, too. Jordan Watford also added 19 points as the Royals earned a trip to the big postseason NCAA men’s basketball party.
But there are some other interesting notes about this team as well.
Senior guard Nasir Mann is the brother of Tre Mann. Nasir scored 14 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists against Central Arkansas. Avantae Parker is another player that NCAA basketball fans might want to watch play here, too. Against Central Arkansas, Parker grabbed 10 rebounds while scoring just 8 points.
Besides all that, though, Queens has an interesting sidekick, too. Queens has gone viral for a fake dog named Buddy who sits at their press conferences. The stuffed animal has become an unofficial mascot for the team, and he’s given to a player after each game. Buddy has become one of the more interesting stories about Queens, and he’s meant to represent their underdog status.
After serving as assistant head coach for six seasons, Grant Leonard was promoted to head coach at Queens University back in 2022. In the 2024-25 college basketball season, Leonard led Queens to their first 20-win season in Division 1 program history. Entering NCAA Tournament play this season, the Royals are 21-13 overall.
While getting into the tournament is great news for Queens, they’re going to have their work cut out for them. In a first-round West Regional matchup, Queens must face the daunting task of playing the No. 18-ranked Purdue Boilermakers on Friday.
Purdue is coming off a Big Ten Conference tournament title game win over the No. 3-ranked Michigan Wolverines 80-72 on Sunday, March 15.
Queens is a No. 15 seed in the tournament; Purdue is a No. 2 seed.
What, though, does Queens University stand for overall? According to the school’s mission, vision, and values, “Queens University of Charlotte is committed to an immersive learning experience that cultivates critical thinkers, innovative problem-solvers, and global citizens who lead with purpose.”
While those are noble attributes for the school, Queens students from all across campus are going to be glued to their TV sets when the Royals take the court. It’s tournament time, Royals fans.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
