It’s official: Calipari resigns as UK coach

John Calipari stepped down as Kentucky’s men’s basketball coach after 15 years on Tuesday, saying that the “program probably needs to hear another voice” amid reports that he’s closing in on a deal with Arkansas to take over that Southeastern Conference program.

The 65-year-old Hall of Famer leaves a Wildcats program he guided to the 2012 NCAA championship among four Final Four appearances. He went 410-123 in 15 seasons. The last few seasons have been disappointing by Kentucky standards, with a 1-3 mark in its last three NCAA Tournament trips.

Calipari didn’t specifically mention the Arkansas opening he has been linked to since multiple reports surfaced Sunday night about negotiations with the school. He simply said, “There have been opportunities that have been presented to us, so we’re discussing them as a family.”

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark was named the winner of the Wooden Award, taking home the honor as the most outstanding player in women’s college basketball for the second straight season . ... Indiana State sophomore C Robbie Avila, who averaged 17.4 points and 4.1 assists and earned first-team All-Missouri Valley honors this season, entered the transfer portal. ... For the first time, the NCAA women’s championship outdrew the men. UConn’s victory over Purdue in Monday night’s men’s final on TBS and TNT averaged 14.82 million, while 18.87 millionwatched South Carolina beat Iowa in Sunday afternoon’s women’s final on ABC and ESPN.

NHL: Devils leading scorer Jack Hughes will undergo shoulder surgery Wednesday and miss the rest of the season.