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GREENSBORO — They're known as the Spartans, but for this season perhaps they should be called the Pioneers.

That's the atmosphere surrounding UNCG's bold move of playing its entire home basketball schedule at the Greensboro Coliseum. It's the first season of a four-year venture, and hand-in-hand with that is a much tougher non-conference schedule.

"It's certainly a new approach, a new commitment," coach Mike Dement said. "We're diving into a very aggressive thing here. ...

"The thing is that it's a beginning. I'm proud to be part of it because when I was here in 1991 it was the entry into Division I. And now I feel pretty privileged to be entering into this era of the Coliseum."

Dement is in the fifth year of his second stint at UNCG. In his first, beginning in 1991-92, the Spartans began play as a full-fledged Division I member. In four years he guided them from seven wins to 10, 15 and then 23 before he left for SMU.

Now his task is to build the program to a level where it contends for Southern Conference titles and plays competitively against the ACC teams that will dot its schedule. There are six ACC games this season, four on the new home court.

Long-term, showing prospects the Coliseum instead of 1,800-seat Fleming Gym should help recruit higher-quality players. The tougher schedule will bring more TV exposure — four games against ACC teams this season are televised.

School officials hope the marquee games will engage Greensboro (11,267 turned out for last season's game against Davidson at the Coliseum) and entice fans who may follow other teams into adopting the Spartans as well. Building a fan base beyond students is essential to the plan.

That's the big picture. But what kind of product will the Spartans put on the new floor?

They should be better than last season's 5-25 squad, but may not show it with a big jump in victories. The Spartans open with games at Duke and Virginia Tech, then face Clemson in their Coliseum debut.

"We're not going to be ready to play the three ACC games early," Dement said. "Our charge as a staff is to not let games that might get away from us affect us from progressing and maintaining a level of confidence and growth."

The goal is to prepare for Southern Conference games, the most important part of UNCG's season.

"It's always going to be a great experience to play some of the best players in the nation, some of the best teams in the nation," said guard Mikko Koivisto. "During those games we're going to see everything there is to see. We're going to see athleticism, quick guards, big guards, big guys. That should get us ready for our conference play."

Koivisto is one of five seniors striving to rid themselves of the bad taste of last season. As juniors, they moved from a supporting role in the Kyle Hines era to primary players, with disappointing results.

"We all just need to change our approach a little bit and get the winning attitude," Koivisto said. "When we go on the floor, play as hard as we can and expect to win, don't just go there and play not to lose."

Although seniors Koivisto, Ben Stywall, Pete Brown and Kendall Toney provide the nucleus, several newcomers figure prominently, especially at guard. Brandon Evans, an East Carolina transfer, and freshmen Korey Van Dussen and Kyle Randall will improve the backcourt.

Van Dussen is a throwback kind of player, fundamentally sound and tough, not afraid to dive head-first after a loose ball. Randall can shoot and directs the team well.

All three new guards can score, which will create more open shots for Koivisto and Toney, whose percentages dropped last season when they were more tightly guarded.

Dement would like to move the 6-foot-5 Stywall from power forward to the perimeter, but a big man must emerge. One candidate is 6-7 Darrius Sellers, who isn't a scorer but rebounds, sets screens, plays post defense and other necessary intangibles.

The freshmen in this building-block can look forward to playing in the Coliseum for their entire careers.

"In a way I'm a little jealous because I would have loved that when I was a freshman," said Koivisto, who wants to make his one shot at being a pioneer count.

"We want to turn everything around from last year; the seniors to have a great season, win as many games as we can in the conference and create a new basketball buzz in Greensboro and in this school," he said.