Purdue's Streak Ends as Team Hand Queens in Dramatic Finish
CHARLOTTE, N. C. (CAROLINA SPORTS LIVE) — For the first time ever, Selection Sunday for the NCAA Tournament included Queens University.
The Royals’ men’s basketball team is getting ready to play in March Madness for the first time ever. The accomplishment comes after Queens (21-13) won the Atlantic Sun conference tournament as the 3-seed last week in their first year being eligible for the Big Dance. The Myers Park-based Royals have had a quick rise since beginning their transition to Division 1 status in 2022.
March Madness tips off with First Four in Dayton, with two ACC teams Queens was a force at the Division 2 ranks but now the program is showing it can perform at the top level in the sport with this historic milestone. The Royals’ foray into the D1 tourney will be as the 15 seed in the West against 2-seeded Purdue Boilermakers (27-8). On Monday, head coach Grant Leonard said he believes his team has a shot at the perineal Big Ten power.
Queen has won seven of its last eight games, and took down the ASUN’s top team, Central Arkansas, in the conference championship. In 2023 Fairleigh Dickinson became just the second 16 seed in history to defeat a 1 seed by beating Purdue. If Queens is able to pull off the upset, it would be just the 12th 15-seed in tournament history to take down a 2 seed.
How to watch What: (15) Queens vs. (2)Purdue When: 7:35 p. m.