The unfancied minnows have stunned fifth-seeded Mississippi State and fourth-ranked University of Louisville to reach the third round of the NCAA tournament.

On Friday they take on top regional seeds the University of Oklahoma in Albany, New York, for a place in the Elite Eight.

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson admits he is a big fan of Butler's style.

"The thing I love the most about them is they have huge hearts and they play for each other," he said.

Fittingly, Butler is the school where the 1987 hoops movie 'Hoosiers' was filmed.

MARCH MADNESS Teams: 65 Defending champ: Maryland Top overall seeds: Kentucky, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma When: 20 March-7 April Where: Regional finals - New York, Texas, Minnesota and California. Final - Louisiana What is March Madness?

It centred on a high school that beats a string of bigger schools to capture the state basketball title in 1954.

Butler guard Brandon Miller said: "I think we play a little like the team from 'Hoosiers.' They were the type of team that played together, and they're a small school."

Butler were disappointed not to be invited last year, but they do not have a big March Madness tradition.

Their only other trip to the NCAA tournament's round of 16 came back in 1962 - when the event started with only 25 teams.

Now the Bulldogs want to prove they can keep winning - for all the little schools that never had a chance.

Butler has an enrolment of about 4,000, less than a fifth of Louisville's.

Sampson is aware of the threat they pose Oklahoma on Friday.

"They beat Mississippi State and that was no fluke," he said. "Butler didn't play great and they still beat them - they're good."