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Charlotte organizers eye bigger play for college sports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke University freshman Zion Williamson dominated the ACC men’s basketball tournament in Charlotte last week, bulldozing his way through one of the toughest fields in the event’s 66-year-history — a field that, on Sunday, produced a whopping three No. 1 seeds in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Off the court, organizers put on a full-court press of their own, hoping to make the Atlantic Coast Conference a more frequent visitor after going 11 years between this year’s tournament and the last one, in 2008.

[Duke star Zion Williamson injures knee after Nike shoe blows out]

Just before Williamson led Duke to the tournament title Saturday with a victory over Florida State, Charlotte Hornets President Fred Whitfield discussed with CBJ his ambitions to make Spectrum Center a bigger player in college basketball. The NBA Hornets manage and book the city-owned Spectrum Center. Over the past month, the arena has enjoyed one of the best runs in its 14-year history, hosting the NBA All-Star Game, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men’s and women’s tournaments and the ACC.

Click here to read the full story and check out scenes from the tournament