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Bruce Weber’s out at Illinois

Bruce Weber

Illinois head coach Bruce Weber reacts in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa at the first round of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

AP

That didn’t take long.

Not even 24 hours after Illinois got knocked out of the Big Ten Tournament, Bruce Weber got fired as their head coach. He will not coach the team should they make the NIT.

The question now becomes who replaces Weber? The guy that everyone has on a list right now is Shaka Smart, the VCU head coach that took his team to the NCAA Tournament this season despite losing four starter off of last year’s Final Four team. It would be a great get for the Illini, but the question is whether or not Shaka wants the job. He’s happy at VCU. He’s got a big contract, he’s got a newborn baby and he’s got a good team. He doesn’t need to leave.

As for Weber, don’t be surprised to see him end up at Southern Illinois. Chris Lowery was fired was week and its the school he had a ton of success at before getting the Illinois job. He’s a good coach, he just needs to find a better fit.