ACC answers Clemson with lawsuit of its own

A day after Clemson sued the Atlantic Coast Conference, the ACC filed a lawsuit against the school in a North Carolina court, saying the school is breaking its agreements with the league by challenging its exit fees and contract that binds members through their media rights.

The ACC’s claim was filed Wednesday in Mecklenburg County, the same court where it preemptively sued Florida State in December, the day before FSU became the first school to try to sue its way out of the conference.

Clemson’s lawsuit — filed in South Carolina — claims the ACC’s $140 million exit fee is “unconscionably high” and “unenforceable.” The school also says the grant of rights only applies if Clemson is part of the conference and that if a school exits the league, it retains control of the media rights to its home sporting events.

Marquette coach Shaka Smart said Wednesday that guard Tyler Kolek has been practicing in 5-on-5 drills this week as the 2023 Big East Player of the Year gets ready to return from an oblique injury. Kolek has missed the Golden Eagles’ last six games, but Smart has expressed confidence the AP All-America secondteam selection would be back for the tournament. ... Kansas center Hunter Dickinson said he’s good to go for the Jayhawks in their NCAA Tournament opener after a dislocated shoulder that sidelined him last week. The bad news is the Jayhawks will be without leading scorer Kevin McCullar Jr.

NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo missed his second straight game when the Bucks visited the NBA-leading Celtics. The two-time league MVP has been dealing with a hamstring issue.

NFL: Lions DB Cameron Sutton was wanted on a Florida domestic violence warrant. Authorities said on social media that the warrant is for domestic battery by strangulation, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison.