ALBANY - University at Albany sophomore captain Blake Metcalf knows quite a bit about the Butler men's basketball team.

The Camby, Ind., native grew up just 15 minutes southwest of Indianapolis.

Growing up, Blake would go to the game at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse with his father, Dennis.

"I would always jump at the opportunity because they were always fun games to watch," said Blake before UAlbany's practice on Monday.

Siena takes on Butler on Tuesday night and Metcalf said he would have gone to the game if his team wasn't playing that night. The Great Danes take on Siena's MAAC rival, Iona at 7:30 p.m.

Indiana is commonly known as the birthplace of basketball and Metcalf said the college and high school game is so popular, even more so than professional.

"College and high school basketball are way bigger back home," he said.

Metcalf grew up when Butler had A.J. Graves and made their first couple of appearances in the Sweet 16, but he said it's nothing like last season when the team was just one shot away from beating Duke for the national championship - in Indianapolis.

"My family went to the Final Four and the Final Four practices and they said it was the craziest thing ever," he said.

Metcalf has played against current Butler players Andrew Smith, Chrishawn Hopkins and Garrett Butcher.