Clemson suing ACC as school seeks exit

Clemson sued the Atlantic Coast Conference in a South Carolina court on Tuesday, joining Florida State in challenging the league’s right to charge schools hundreds of millions of dollars to leave.

The complaint filed in Pickens County says the ACC’S “exorbitant $140 million” exit penalty and the grant of rights used to bind schools to a conference through their media rights should be struck down.

“Each of these erroneous assertions separately hinders Clemson’s ability to meaningfully explore its options regarding conference membership, to negotiate alternative revenue-sharing proposals among ACC members and to obtain full value for its future media rights,” the school said in the lawsuit.

Clemson said it has not given notice that it is exiting the ACC and remains a member of the conference.

“The ACC remains confident that its agreements with all its members will be affirmed by the courts,” ACC Commissioner and Virginia President Jim Ryan, chairman of the conference board, said in a statement. “Clemson, along with all ACC members, voluntarily signed and re-signed the 2013 and 2016 Grant of Rights, which is binding through 2036. In addition, Clemson agreed to the process and procedures for withdrawal.”

In December, Florida State’s board of trustees sued the ACC in Florida, making similar claims. The ACC pre-emptively filed a lawsuit against Florida State in North Carolina, where the conference offices are located, saying the school’s actions were a breach of contract.

The first hearing in the North Carolina case is scheduled for Friday.

Edey, Knecht, Davis headline All-america teams

For the second straight year, Purdue’s Zach Edey is the unanimous headliner for The Associated Press men’s college basketball All-america team.

The 7-foot-4, 300-pound senior topped all 62 ballots from AP Top 25 poll voters in results released Tuesday. The reigning AP national player of the year claimed all 58 votes last year.

Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht, 6-6 transfer from Northern Colorado, and North Carolina’s RJ Davis joined Edey (310 points) in a clear top trio. Knecht (298) was a firstteam pick on 56 ballots, Davis (296) on 55 and both appeared among the top 10 players on every ballot.

Houston’s Jamal Shead and Tristen Newton of reigning NCAA champion Connecticut rounded out the first team.

Colorado State’s Isaiah Stevens was an honorable mention.

Nebraska’s NCAA bid earns Hoiberg contract extension

LINCOLN, NEB.>> Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg has received a two-year contract extension through the 2028-29 season and a raise to $4.25 million annually beginning April 1, interim athletic director Dennis Leblanc announced Wednesday.

Hoiberg led the Cornhuskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014. They are a No. 8 seed and play Texas A&M in Memphis, Tennessee, on Friday.