UAlbany senior Blake Metcalf talks about the upcoming NCAA tournament matchup against Duke.

The Great Danes (24-10) play the Blue Devils (27-5) on Friday, in Philadelphia, at 12:15 p.m.

J.S. Carras - The Record

ALBANY - Mike Black and Blake Metcalf enjoyed the bus ride back from Webster Bank Arena on Saturday evening.

The University at Albany had just won its 20th game, becoming just the third team in the program's Division I history to do so.

Black and Metcalf can remember when they lost 20 games -- 25 to be exact, during their freshmen season (2009-10).

“It means a lot," said Black, a senior guard. It’s a good feeling to be one of the best teams in Albany history.”

The team also knows that the previous two teams to win 20 games, went on to play in the NCAA tournament.

“We hope we can continue the path," said Black.

During that freshman season, coach Will Brown decided to go with some of the young guys, including Black and Metcalf to try

“I think we struggled mightily that year," Brown said. "But I think it helped those guys develop, it helped them get better and they went from the poor season they had as freshmen to winning 16, 19 and then 20+. They’ve made great strides and they’ve developed and they helped this team and our program get back to where we want to get back to, which is winning 20+ games. I think Mike and Blake deserve a lot of credit for what they’ve endured and how hard they’ve worked.”

The team's win total has increased the past four seasons, doing so again this season after losing its top two scorers, Gerardo Suero and Logan Aronhalt, from last year.

“We’ve kept getting better," Black said. "We’ve kept putting work in and it’s good to see that all the hard work pay off.”

As their collegiate careers wind down, Black and Metcalf hope they can achieve one goal that has eluded them -- win an America East tournament title. To this point they've been a part of 62 victories and they hope a few more are on the horizon. 

“It’s been four great years," said Metcalf.

University at Albany senior Blake Metcalf talks about the team during a press availability on Monday afternoon.

ALBANY - Blake Metcalf woke up, put on SportsCenter and saw a familiar face...his.

Last Friday, Metcalf flipped on his television and as SportsCenter went to a commercial, he saw himself in the game against Vermont, where he took a basketball to the...well you can watch the video (which is below) and see.

"It was funny," said UAlbany's senior captain, before practice on Monday.  

Metcalf wasn't laughing at the time he was hit by the pass, from Vermont's Brian Voelkel. But as it was shown on TV, in SportsCenter's Not Top 10 segment, his phone was ringing off the hook, with texts and tweets.

"Once it's started running, I got tweet after tweet and text after text," he said.

The phone actually froze twice and Metcalf had to restart it.

"I didn't even know I had this many friends who watched ESPN," he joked.

While the play wasn't a highlight dunk or a great play, Metcalf has certainly taken his new-found fame in stride.

"It's not like there is something I could have done about it," he said. "It's just something that happened. I got a good laugh about it. It's going to be a funny story to tell, later on down the road."

Metcalf took a lot of good-natured kidding from his teammates, some of whom didn't see the airing on ESPN, but freshman Peter Hooley posted a tweet with the video for all to see."  

"Pete Hooley made sure he filmed it to make sure everyone got to see it," Metcalf said. "It was all right."

He's also happy that it wasn't as bad as New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez's butt-fumble, which happened on the night of Thanksgiving, and is still SportsCenter's Not Top 10 No. 1.

"I'm glad it's not going to be re-shown again." Metcalf sald. "It wasn't worse than Sanchez's butt-fumble. No one will ever see it again."

Well, that's not exactly true, as below is the video that ran on SportsCenter (sorry Blake).  

ALBANY - It's getting harder and hard to not believe in this University at Albany men's basketball team.

The Great Danes won their fourth straight game and are now 7-2 on the season, following a 77-73 victory over St. Francis Brooklyn.

Senior point guard Mike Black scored a matched game-high honors with 21 points, while Jacob Iati added 20 for UAlbany, which next plays at Colgate, on Saturday.

The Great Danes are getting solid contributions, on a nightly basis, from a lot of different players and that's what's making them so tough to beat.

On this night, Blake Metcalf grabbed 13 rebounds, while Peter Hooley scored nine points and dished out four assists off the bench and Jayson Guerrier had six points and four rebounds in only 12 minutes. D.J. Evans also chipped in with eight points and two assists in 10 minutes.

Below, Black talks about the game.

Jeff Couch/The Record

ALBANY — Tanner Gibson remembers watching games at Value City Arena, while he was growing up.

The Zanesville, Ohio native vividly recalls watching Michael Redd and Ohio State play in the late 1990’s.

Gibson and the rest of the University at Albany men’s basketball team head into meet the No. 4 Buckeyes, this afternoon, at 2 p.m. The game can be seen on the BIG TEN network online and will be rebroadcast on Monday evening on television.

“It’s definitely exciting to go back and see the family,” said the sophomore guard. “Ohio State is always a great atmosphere.”

Unfortunately Gibson, who has been dealing with a foot injury, won’t be suited up for the Great Danes (1-0). He expects some friends and family to make the 50-minute drive and Gibson intends on passing out some Purple & Gold to mix in amongst all the Scarlet & Gray in the 18-809 seat arena.

Ohio State will be making its season debut, after Friday’s game against Marquette, on the USS Yorktown, was canceled.

This is part of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. UAlbany continues on to play Washington, on Tuesday and next weekend plays two games at Mohegan Sun, in Connecticut.

“Any time you’re program is affiliated with the Basketball Hall of Fame, it’s special,” said Great Danes coach Will Brown.

Growing up in Indiana and having lots of family from Michigan, senior Blake Metcalf was never a big fan of Ohio State. Metcalf is looking forward to this game because he will have friends and family in attendance, from his hometown, Camby, Ind. 

“It’ll be real nice to get back to the Midwest and a lot of my friends and family can come to the game, so it does mean a lot to me,” he said.

Metcalf played AAU basketball growing up, with dominant Buckeyes big man Deshaun Thomas.  Thomas is one of the main reasons Ohio State is ranked so highly. The junior was one of six players named to the Associated Press preseason All-American team. Fellow junior Aaron Craft received votes for All-American consideration. 

This is the first meeting between these two schools, but the Buckeyes are 4-1 all-time against teams from the America East, losing once to Vermont.

Ohio State coach Thad Matta has never lost in 12 season-openers, in his head coaching career.    

UAlbany hasn’t been 2-0 to start the season since the 2006-07 season, when they last went to the NCAA tournament. This is the highest ranked opponent the Great Danes have faced since the 2006 NCAA tournament, when they met No. 2 Connecticut.

University at Albany senior Blake Metcalf talks about the upcoming 2012-13 season, which began officially on Friday, with the first practice of the year.

J.S. Carras - The Record

ALBANY - It wasn't the first time somebody had asked the question and Mike Black knows it won't be the last.

How will the University at Albany men's basketball team cope with the loss of its two top scorers from a season ago?

The question is even tougher since, both Gerardo Suero and Logan Aronhalt were slated to be part of the Great Danes this year. Suero left to play professionally and Aronhalt is now at the University of Maryland, for a graduate year of study.

“We wish them the best…They’re not here anymore," Black said. "We have a new team, new players and we’ll be fine.”

Suero and Aronhalt combined for 35.3 points per game last year. This year's team will likely be more concentrated on defense.

“We’ll find a way to make up that," Black said. "We’re going to be more defensive minded this year.”

Suero averaged 6.9 free throws made per game, something that coach Will Brown believes the team will miss greatly.

“That’s the only thing that I think we might miss from last year’s team is Suero’s ability to get to the free throw team,” Brown said.

Losing their two top scorers means everyone will have to step up, starting with Black.

“I think Mike’s as good as any player in the league," Brown said. "Mike will be our leading scorer, he’ll be our go-to guy. That’s already been addressed with this team, but his game doesn’t need to change.”

Black averaged 13.4 points per game last season, in addition to being the point guard and running the offense.

“I know I can score with the best," he said. 

UAlbany has three new players this season, all junior college transfers, in Dave Wiegmann, D.J. Evans and Gary Johnson.

Evans is a pest on defense and really quick, Johnson is a slasher, who can score and Wiegmann is a solid rebounder, hard worker and good shooter.

“We expect the new guys to contribute a lot this year," said Black.

The Great Danes know they were close last year, coming up short on a last-second shot by Stony Brook, in the semifinals. That is all the motivation they need to work hard in preparation for this year.

“It definitely did give me that extra motivation going into my senior year, knowing that this is my last chance and everything can change in 0.2 seconds," said senior Blake Metcalf.

J.S. Carras/The Record

ALBANY - Okay, so the New York Knicks phenom Jeremy Lin wasn't actually at the SEFCU Arena today for UAlbany practice, but he was mentioned.

With the Great Danes playing shorthanded a few players, the questions was posed to junior captain Blake Metcalf, if Jacob Iati is his team's Jeremy Lin.

“Jeremy Lin and Jacob Iati — that’s a good comparison," Metcalf responded. "He’s a guy that got looked passed by a lot of people.”

Iati scored 20 points on Senior Night, this past Saturday against Rider.

Iati, who is listed as a junior, but is a senior academically, has helped provide some leadership for a team that doesn't have any seniors on the roster. 

“Iati has done a good job stepping in and helping with me leading on the court,” Metcalf said.

So, maybe Iati didn't go from nearly being cut, to the superstar and talk of the country, but what he's provided recently has been astonishing. 

“I guess that’s a good comparison," Metcalf said.

University at Albany junior forward Blake Metcalf talks about the upcoming game against Cornell.

ALBANY - When University at Albany coach Will Brown selected two sophomores -- Blake Metcalf (left, 21) and Logan Aronhalt -- as captains prior to the 2010-11 season, it came with some intrigue.

Now, the two juniors have a season of leading under their belts and feel more comfortable leading the way for the Great Danes.

"As a junior, you feel so much more comfortable saying something to the younger guys and saying something to guys who are the same age as me," said Metcalf, at the team media day, on Wednesday. "That one year made a big difference in my leadership."

Metcalf says he feels more comfortable leading and knows his role is to make sure the team has its focus up, is competing hard and continues to practice and play with high energy.

"This year, I feel a lot more comfortable calling a guy out from missing a play or doing something wrong," he said. "Also, it adds more pressure on me to not make any mistakes."

Metcalf credits assistant coach Brent Wilson with helping him grow as a leader.

"Coach Wilson has really been a great help to me," Metcalf said. "He's really trying to show me steps to take to become a better leader."

Metcalf knows that it's during the preseason and during practice, where leaders are most critical.

"Practice is where the leadership steps in and where I really feel that I need to be vocal," he said.

The Great Danes are in a great position to have a solid season, but they need players to lead them, especially when there are no seniors on the roster.

"You have to be able to put your foot down," Metcalf said. "Especially, now, as a junior."

University at Albany sophomore captains Logan Aronhalt and Blake Metcalf talk about the upcoming 2011 America East tournament.

ALBANY — Blake Metcalf and the rest of the University at Albany men’s basketball team is anxious to get on the floor tonight.

That’s partly because the Great Danes have won four of their last five games and partly because the team has had a week off to finish their final exams.

“You just want to get out on the court and play against somebody else,” Metcalf said. “With all the hours we put in the library, studying and the hours against each other this week, because it’s been a long five days of practice against each other, so we’re ready to go out and play against somebody else.”

UAlbany’s sophomore captain and the rest of his teammates trade in the books for the basketball tonight, when they take on Mount St. Mary’s at 7 p.m., at SEFCU Arena.

The Great Danes (5-6) take on the Mountaineers (3-7), after one of their longest stretches of the season without a game.

“It’s a tough week,” said UAlbany coach Will Brown, referring to finals week.

The Great Danes took Sunday and Monday off, after their one-point victory over Central Connecticut last Saturday, but practiced hard the rest of the week.

“We’ve had some tough practices,” said sophomore guard Logan Aronhalt. “But guys are confident and we’re playing well.”

With a win this evening, UAlbany could come within one victory of last year’s entire season total.

The Great Danes would also reach the .500 mark for the first time since they were 3-3, after six games last season.

“We were never really at that point last season, maybe after six games,” Aronhalt said. “Now, we’re almost halfway through (the season). I think if we could get to .500, it would be a huge confidence boost for us.”

Despite Coach Brown’s feelings against playing zone defense, UAlbany will continue to play that style of basketball.

“It’s what we need to do to be successful,” he said. “I don’t like it, but it’s not going to do me any good to be stubborn. I’ve got to put us in the best position to possibly win.”

The Great Danes have been playing much better defensively, thanks to the zone.

“We put a lot of time into it,” Aronhalt said. “We watch a lot of film on it. We just keep getting better every day.”

The team struggled against Iona because of their transition defense, but they have been in every game since the Nov. 23 game against the Gaels.

“We’re committed to it,” Brown said. “We’re going to stick with it as long as it allows to be successful. We have to look at our personnel and be true about out strengths and weaknesses. We have to play this way defensively for this team to be successful consistently.”

Mount St. Mary’s is a strong defensive team.

“They’re good defensively,” Brown said. “That keeps them in a lot of games.”

The Mountaineers are coached by former Siena assistant Robert Burke (1997-2000), who is in his first season in Emmitsburg, Md.

Burke coached under current Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt, with the Saints.

Junior guard Lamar Trice (12.3 ppg) and senior forward Shawn Atupem (11.7 ppg) are the Mountaineers’ leading scorers.

Last season, Atupem scored nine points as the Mount almost knocked off Siena on the Saints’ home floor, before falling 79-76 in overtime.

The Mountaineers lost their three highest scorers from that game to graduation and have struggled with a difficult schedule.

“We have to work on our defense and really make sure to keep them in front of us because they have struggled at times shooting,” Metcalf said.

Brown thinks his team has started to turn the corner and they are a “solid” bunch.

“We’re a good team, but we still have a long ways to go,” Metcalf said. “We don’t want to be a team that peaks in December. We want to be a team that peaks in early March, at tournament time.”

ALBANY - Will Brown was exhausted once he arrived back in the Capital District on Sunday night.

The UAlbany coach had just wrapped up a Thanksgiving trip to Detroit which saw his team play three games in three days.

It ended up being a very productive weekend for the Great Danes, who were just a couple points away from winning all three games.

“They’re feeling good about themselves right now,” said Brown about his team. “They’ve worked extremely hard so far this year and done everything that I’ve asked them.”

Winning the last two games, against Niagara and Bowling Green, gave UAlbany back-to-back wins for the first time since early last season when the team beat American and then Alcorn Sate (Nov. 16, 20, 2009).

“It really boosted the morale of the team,” said sophomore captain Blake Metcalf. “Two out of three is always good in a tournament like that.”

While the entire team played well, one player who put on a great performance was sophomore Logan Aronhalt.

Aronhalt averaged 22 points per game and scored a career-high 30 points in the win over the Purple Eagles.

“I still need to be more efficient and look to take better shots,” he said. “But I think, coming from last year, I’m playing a whole lot better than I was.”

One negative is that Coach Brown feels like he may have played point guard Mike Black too much.

Black was returning from an ankle sprain and played quite a bit (Brown said too much), having to come out of the the third game because he was gassed.

Black practiced on Wednesday, but Brown said he didn't do well.

Another UAlbany player who has been banged up is redshirt freshman John Puk.

Puk has gutted through the games, but he hasn't practiced much because of an Achilles injury.

“It’s still getting there,” said Puk before Thursday's practice.

While the Great Danes are feeling good, Brown said he's told his team they shouldn't feel too confident heading into Saturday's game against Siena.

“If you feel too good about yourselves, you’ll get a reality check on Saturday night,” Brown said.

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.

Here are some other notes from UAlbany basketball media day.

Gary Holway ('59) will be honored at Friday's game. He was the all-time leading scorer in UAlbany history until some guy named Jamar came along. Holway finished his career with 1,851 points. Jamar scored 2,164.

The main thing I heard from players I spoke with about the upcoming season was - defense.

The team expects to be much better on that end of the floor.

Coach Will Brown even said the team is better on defense right now than it was in February, at the end of last season.

The players seem to fully believe that Coach Brown can lead them back to the top of the America East standings.

“I think Coach Brown really knows what he’s doing with this team and he’s got it set up to put us in the best position to win,” said sophomore forward Blake Metcalf.

The other thing I took away from media day, was how much different the women's program is being run.

In Tuesday's article, you can read a lot on coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson. I'll tell you this. She is one intense coach.

Here's a good example.

"They know that hard work is an absolute. You can't be on our team or around our program, if you're not going to work hard."

I will work harder - as I assume her team will. I'm anxious to see them play on Friday against Brown.

The University at Albany men's basketball team announced Tuesday that Logan Aronhalt and Blake Metcalf have been named captains for the 2010-11 season.

Aronhalt and Metcalf are the third and fourth sophomores to be selected during the program's Division I era. Will Brand (2000) and Levi Levine (2004) were also captains during their second year.

Aronhalt averaged 6.7 points and 1.8 rebounds as a redshirt freshman.

Metcalf started 10 of 32 games as a true freshman and averaged 2.0 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

This move seems to signal a direction in which coach Will Brown is trying to move the team.

The Great Danes only have two seniors (Tim Ambrose, Fran Urli) and three juniors (Russell Moore, Theo Hatcher, Billy Allen).

UAlbany freshman Mike Black was named America East Rookie of the Week on Monday.

Black is the third Great Danes player to win the award the season, joining Blake Metcalf and Logan Aronhalt.

Black averaged 14.5 points, 4.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds in a pair of conference games this past week.

University at Albany freshman Blake Metcalf earned America East Rookie of the Week honors for helping the Great Danes go 2-1 in the subregional of the 2K Sports Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at home this weekend.

Metcalf had two very good games, going for nine points and five rebounds Sunday against Robert Morris and finishing with six points, seven rebounds, two blocks and two assists in the victory over Alcorn State.