This editorial appeared in The News and Record:

In a bid to grow its men's basketball fortunes, UNCG is playing bigger-name teams on a bigger stage, the Greensboro Coliseum.

As expected, the outmanned, 3-14 Spartans have taken their lumps against such ACC foes as Clemson, Wake Forest and Maryland.

But that's to be expected. The idea is to build UNCG's basketball program by playing the best.

How's it going so far?

In some respects, nothing but net. As the News & Record's Gerald Witt has reported, season-ticket sales have increased from 90 last season to 800. More than 5,000 fans showed for the N.C. State and Clemson games, respectively.

In other respects, UNCG has barely drawn iron.

Revenues have fallen short of projections. Home games against Southern Conference foes have remained a tough sell.

And even some games against ACC foes failed to attract big crowds (3,297 for Maryland and 4,716 for nearby Wake Forest.

Odds are the team will improve over time and the games will become more exciting.

For a taste of what UNCG's hoping for, consider what one conference foe, College of Charleston, did to then-ninth-ranked Carolina on Jan. 4. Before a packed house in Charleston, the Cougars stunned the Tar Heels in overtime on TV.

That's the Hoops Grail UNCG seeks.

Still not convinced?

Consider this: Charleston beat Carolina by three, the same margin by which it beat UNCG.

In college hoops, you never know.