According to Chicago Sun-Times, the Illinois Fighting Illini are targeting Va. Commonwealth Rams head coach Shaka Smart to replace outgoing head coach Bruce Weber.

Herb Gould reports the Illini are willing to do whatever is necessary to secure the 34-year-old's services:

"They’re going to make damn sure they don’t let him get away,’’ the source said.

Smart has coached for the Rams since 2009, leading the team to the NCAA Final Four in the 2010-2011 college basketball season. In the 2011-2012 season, Smart's team won the Colonial Athletic Association Conference Championship and led VCU to another NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.

The Illini have reached the NCAA Tournament only twice in the last five years, finishing with under 20 wins in two of those two years.

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