Brandon Gaudin is in his first season as Butler's radio voice after spending two years in the same role at Evansville.

He is an Evansville native, Butler graduate and long-time follower of both programs. His parents took him to Evansville games -- section 11 of Roberts Stadium -- and he fell in love with the sport by watching coach Jim Crews' Purple Aces of the 1980s and '90s.

"I acted like I was them when I was shooting at the hoop on my garage," Gaudin said. "Certainly, Evansville will have a definite warm spot in my heart and that will never change."

He also has long followed the Bulldogs. A cousin, walk-on Brent Rockwood , was on the Butler team in 1997 that reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 35 years. Gaudin attended the first-round game in Detroit, where Cincinnati beat Butler 86-69.

The sportscaster said he wanted to leave home for college and enroll at a small school, choosing Butler over DePauw. He was the most outstanding student of Butler's communication studies department in 2006.

"I thought, 'Boy, one day, wouldn't it be pretty special to call the games for the team that I love?' For that to happen at age 26, I feel very lucky, very fortunate," Gaudin said. "There's something special about Butler. There's more value to it than just the basketball. Everything that it embodies and embraces, I'm a fan of."

He looked forward to renewing acquaintances with Evansville coach Marty Simmons and the players. Gaudin said two years might not sound like a long time but that his experience as Evansville's radio voice "will have a lasting impact on my life."