NCAA newcomer Queens plans to bring 'street dog' mentality against No. 2 seed Purdue

When Queens University men’s basketball coach Grant Leonard boards the team’s plane for St. Louis for its first-round NCAA Tournament game against No. 2 seed Purdue, he’ll be accompanied by his staff, players and Buddy the Street Dog. Buddy is a 2-foot tall ceramic figurine of a golden shepherd, which Leonard calls the team’s “spirit animal.” It was an idea that originated last summer when Leonard overheard his players talking about being “dogs” on the court as they prepared to make a run a...

By STEVE REED