Bradley University’s Kaboom is earning high marks as the 2019 NCAA men’s basketball tournament begins.
Charles Curtis of USA Today Sports ranked the gargoyle mascot number one among the 68 represented. Curtis crafted his fourth-annual mascot ranking based on factors such as likability, creativity and uniqueness.
Kaboom was first introduced in 2014. The university’s architecture inspired the animated likeness. Gargoyle creatures are perched atop Bradley Hall and the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, among others. Bradley play-by-play announcer Dave Snell’s description for slam dunks galvanized Kaboom’s name.
The Bradley Braves men’s basketball team will play Michigan State Thursday in Des Moines.
