Oct 31, 2025 - Sports

High-profile college basketball teams return to Charlotte

Ashley Mahoney

Left: Two Duke basketball players in white and blue uniforms, one with dreadlocks and tattoos, talking intensely. Right: Packed arena viewing a live basketball game on a polished court. — Photo: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images; Ashley Mahoney/Axios

Nationally ranked college basketball teams will descend on Charlotte over the next week with the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational and the returning Ally Tipoff.

Why it matters: It sets up a massive week for college basketball fans in Charlotte, bringing No. 6 Duke vs. Texas on the men's side and No. 9 N.C. State vs. No. 18 USC on the women's side to Spectrum Center..

Between the lines: This kicks off a busy season for the Charlotte Sports Foundation (CSF), the organizer of these events. They'll host five events over the next nine weeks, CEO Will Pitts tells Axios. Those events generate millions for the city.

Zoom out: Jordan Brand and CSF signed a three-year deal in 2021 for the Jumpman Invitational, which featured men's and women's programs from four schools with Jordan Brand deals (Florida, Michigan, North Carolina and Oklahoma). The deal was not renewed.

Now CSF's focus is on building on the success of the Ally Tipoff and establishing the Dick Vitale Invitational as a Legacy event.

By the numbers: CSF expects this year's events to surpass $100 million in economic impact, Pitts says. Last year's generated $90.6 million.

What's next: The Duke men's team, which appeared in the Final Four last season, opens its regular season against the Texas Longhorns on Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the Dick Vitale Invitational. Tickets start at $48.95. The game tips off at 8:45pm on ESPN.

N.C. State women take on the USC Trojans at 3pm on Nov. 9. Tickets start at $33.

Check out our conversation with a former Duke standout

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High-profile college basketball teams return to Charlotte

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