UNCG (0-0) at 9/8 Duke (0-0)

Cameron Indoor Stadium • Durham, N.C.
Nov. 13, 2009 • Game 1
TV: FSN South // Radio: WPET 950-AM (Scott Pryzwansky & Stan Lewter)
Internet: UNCGSpartans.com (audio only), Yahoo! Sports

FOR OPENERS

UNCG opens its 43rd season of men's basketball this evening. The Spartans are 15-27 all-time in season openers, including a 5-13 mark since becoming a Division I program in 1991-92. Those 13 losses include games against Indiana, Minnesota, Wake Forest (twice) and Nebraska (twice). In fact, one of those meetings with Wake Forest came in UNCG's first-ever game as a Division I program when the Demon Deacons were ranked No. 22 in the country - UNCG's first game against a ranked team. The Spartans lost the season opener at Charlotte last season, 77-59. The year before, UNCG beat Georgia Tech in the season-opener, 83-74.

This is the 16th time in 19 Division I seasons that UNCG is opening the season away from home, including last year's season-opening win at Georgia Tech. In fact, the Spartans have not opened the season at home since Mike Dement returned to UNCG. The Spartans' last season-opener played at home was in 2004-05 against NAIA-member Montreat. 

Mike Dement's teams are 12-10 all-time in season-openers.

INJURY UPDATE

Freshman Taylor Hoffer is out for the season and will redshirt following preseason surgery on his leg. Elhanan Bone is out for tonight's game with a sore foot. He could be back for the home opener next Friday against Clemson.

A STRONG NUCLEUS

While coming off a disappointing season, the Spartans return a solid nucleus from last season's squad. Nearly 74 percent of last year's scoring returns, including three of the top four scorers from last year in Mikko Koivisto, Ben Stywall and Kendall Toney. Seven of the nine players returning from last year's roster have started 10 or more contests in their career. In addition, the Spartans regain the services of Darrius Sellers, who was lost for the season before it was even underway. Sellers suffered a leg injury that required surgery in preseason conditioning workouts after playing in 21 games as a freshman.

FRESH FACES

The Spartans also have a host of new faces that will likely see significant time this season. Brandon Evans sat out last season after transferring from East Carolina, where he was a key reserve for most of two seasons. Mike Dement has also added four freshmen, three of whom are expected to see the floor on an extended basis this season. Brian Cole will probably see even more playing time this season now that fellow freshman Taylor Hoffer is lost for the season due to leg surgery. Guards Korey Van Dussen and Kyle Randall come to UNCG highly-touted and will be a key part of the backcourt rotation. Van Dussen finished third in the Mr. Michigan voting last season at Zeeland East HS, where he led the team to their first regional title in 60 years. Randall was the AP's Class A Player of the Year in Pennsylvania.

SPARTANS AGAINST THE TOP 25

UNCG opens the 2009-10 season with ranked opponents in two of the first three contests. All-time, UNCG is 0-22 against teams ranked in the Associated Press poll. Seven of those 22 games have been against Duke - equating for all seven meetings between the two teams prior to tonight.

The game-by-game list is below.

Date Opponent (site) Rk. Result

March 9, 2008 Davidson (N-1) 25 L 52-82

Nov. 16, 2006 Duke (A) 11 L 48-75

Jan. 2, 2006 NC State (A) 13 L 52-83

Dec. 31, 2005 Duke (H-GC) 1 L 69-102

Dec. 4, 2004 Iowa (A) 23 L 58-83

Nov. 27, 2004 Duke (A) 9 L 44-98

Dec. 23, 2003 Maryland (A) 24 L 85-88

Dec. 21, 2003 Missouri (A) 10 L 98-106

Dec. 3, 2002 Alabama (A) 3 L 61-89

Nov. 22, 2002 Kansas (A) 2 L 66-105

Mar. 15, 2001 Stanford (N-2) 2 L 60-89

Dec. 15, 1999 Wake Forest (A) 25 L 62-71

Dec. 30, 1998 Duke (A) 2 L 58-104

Dec. 3, 1997 Duke (A) 1 L 37-93

Jan. 15, 1997 Duke (H-GC) 13 L 49-87

Nov. 30, 1996 Syracuse (N-3) 12 L 56-73

Nov. 27, 1996 Stanford (N-3) 21 L 52-88

Mar. 15, 1996 Cincinnati (N-4) 7 L 61-66

Jan. 31, 1996 Virginia Tech (A) 13 L 48-74

Nov. 29, 1995 Duke (A) 12 L 57-71

Nov. 26, 1994 Wake Forest (A) 24 L 55-75

Nov. 23, 1991 Wake Forest (A) 22 L 59-87

N-1: Southern Conference Tournament, North Charleston, S.C.

N-2: NCAA Tournament, San Diego, Calif.

N-3: Great Alaska Shootout, Anchorage, Ak.

N-4: NCAA Tournament, Orlando, Fla.

THE RACE TO 1,000

UNCG has three players chasing the 1,000-point mark this season. Entering tonight, Mikko Koivisto needs 70 points for 1,000 in his career, while Ben Stywall is only 199 points shy of the milestone. Kendall Toney has an outside shot, as well, entering play tonight with 641 points - 359 shy of the milestone. To date, 16 players have accumulated 1,000 points in a career as a Spartan.

SoCON STANDING

The Spartans were picked tied for fifth in the Southern Conference's North Division during the coaches' preseason balloting. Western Carolina, which returns all five starters from last season, was picked to finish first in the North Division, while College of Charleston was picked to win the league's South Division. 

In the conference coaches' voting, the Catamounts earned 10 first-place votes and finished the balloting with 64 points. Appalachian State earned the remaining two first-place votes in the North Division and finished with 55 points. Samford (44) was chosen third while last season's tournament champion, Chattanooga (39), was slotted fourth. Elon and UNCG tied for fifth place with 22 points apiece. 

Behind eight first-place votes, College of Charleston was picked to win the South Division. The Cougars finished 15-5 in league play a season ago and advanced to the tournament championship before falling to the Mocs. Wofford picked up three first-place votes and finished second in the preseason balloting with 54 points. Davidson, which has won the South Division each of the past three years, earned the final first-place vote in the South Division and came in third with 48 points. The Citadel (36) finished fourth, followed by Furman (24) and Georgia Southern (21).

THEY'RE BACK

After a one-year absence, UNCG has brought back the gold uniforms this season. The Spartans had them in 2007-08, but only wore them twice. Last year, they moved back to just two sets of uniforms - Blue and White. This year, however, the third set of jerseys have returned.

TWEET, TWEET

If you are a fan of Twitter, UNCG information can be found at several Twitter pages. For all general athletics information, the UNCG athletics Twitter is @uncgsports. More specifically, Mike Dement has started his own Twitter page @coachmikedement.

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

The Spartans played two closed scrimmages this year, rather than an exhibition against a non-Division I program. UNCG played its annual intrasquad game last Saturday with the Gold defeating the White, 65-55. Brandon Evans scored a game-high 16 points to pace four Gold squad members in double figures.  

After a Kendall Toney layup with 6:36 to play put the White team up 45-43, the Gold team finished the contest on a 22-10 run to take the win. Ben Stywall got the run started with a layup to tie it, and Koren Van Dussen put the Gold on top to stay with a midrange jumper.

Stywall (15), Van Dussen (14) and Pete Brown (12) also scored in double digits for the Gold squad. Toney led the White team with 14 points, while Brian Cole had 12 and Mikko Koivisto added 11.

GETTING READY FOR A NEW HOME

UNCG will be playing in a new home venue this season. The Spartans are moving their home games to the historic Greensboro Coliseum. In this, the 50th year of the building's existence, the program is slated to play all 15 home contests in the building, which will be scaled back to 7,617 for most games but can accomodate up to 23,000 fans. A customized locker room has been created for the UNCG men's basketball team.

FACING AN OLD FRIEND

UNCG coach Mike Dement gets to coach against an old friend and mentor tonight. Dement got his start in college coaching at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski as a graduate assistant in 1982-83. Prior to that, Dement had been coaching high school basketball at Vance Academy and Kerr Lake School, compiling a 109-26 mark in five seasons.

After his one season at Duke, Dement became an assistant at Cornell for two seasons, went back to his alma mater East Carolina for one year, and then became the head coach at Cornell in 1986.

GRAB BAG

Mikko Kovisto: Active leader in the Southern Conference in three-point field goals with 211... was a perfect 16-for-16 from the foul line in the final two minutes of games last season and 25-of-26 from the stripe inside of the 5-minute mark... has at least one three-pointer in 56 of 59 games over the last two seasons... went to the free throw line 73 times last season - nearly twice as much as he had in his first two seasons - and yet did not get to the line in his final five games... played for the Finnish National Team for the second consecutive summer... needs 70 points for 1,000 in his career... begins the season as UNCG's top career free throw shooter at an 86.3% clip (139-161); third best among SoCon's active players... has 211 three-pointers in his career, third most in school history.

Ben Stywall: The senior man in the Southern Conference. His 2,741 career minutes are the most among SoCon active players... sixth on the school's career rebounding list; needs 11 to move into fifth, passing James Maye... he has 12 career double-doubles, including eight last season... active leader in the Southern Conference in free throws made (229) and attempted (369)... also the league's active leader in rebounds and second in rebounds per game (7.01)... his 93 career steals is tied for second on the SoCon's active leaders list.

Pete Brown: Had not scored in double figures in his first 89 career contests - and then did so in the last two games last season, scoring 10 points against Elon and 12 points against College of Charleston in the conference tournament.

Former Spartans overseas: Several Spartans are playing overseas again this season. In fact, over the weekend, two of the three Spartans to have their number retired, met in a Lega Due game in Italy. Kyle Hines had 24 points as Prima Veroli beat A.B. Latina, 95-87. Courtney Eldridge had 22 for A.B. Latina... others overseas include Bart Tooms (Netherlands - Upstairs Weert), Ronnie Taylor (France - Le Portel), Ricky Hickman (Finland - Namika Lahti), Josh Gross (Japan - Aishin), Davor Galic (Croatia - Darda), and Ronnie Burrell (Poland - Assec. Prokom).

Friday the 13th: UNCG hasn't played a game on Friday the 13th since February 13, 1987 - an 85-55 Dixie Conference win over Christopher-Newport.

Spooner steps away: Walk-on Sean Spooner decided to leave the team earlier this week.

Looking for 500: UNCG enters the season needing 10 wins for 500 in the program's history. The Spartans begin the season with a 490-601 all-time record as a program. UNCG was 218-267 as a Division III program, 29-52 in three seasons at the Division II level and currently sits at 243-282 after 18 seasons at the Division I level. UNCG has had 16 winning seasons in 42 years with Mike Dement leading the program to four of those.