Shaka Smart: Conflicting Reports Surface on Future of VCU Head Coach

After the two-year run that VCU has been on, head coach Shaka Smart is in a position to parlay his success to a higher profile college basketball job. But it remains to be seen whether or not he is going to make the jump or remain with the Rams. 

Update: Wednesday, March 21 at 1:35 p.m. ET

I love you, I love you not. According to Twitter over the last day or so, that's the game Shaka Smart has been playing in his head with VCU and Illinois.

Here's the latest on Twitter, from Jeff Rabjohns of Peegs.com:

"

East Coast sources tell Peegs.com Shaka Smart has said no to Illinois.#B1G

— Jeff Rabjohns (@JeffRabjohns) March 21, 2012"

I guess it's "I love you not" to Illinois after all.

Update: Tuesday, March 20 at 7:55 p.m. ET

Hang on, VCU fans. You might not be out of the woods yet. Jeff Goodman of CBS Sports is reporting that Smart is still contemplating an offer from Illinois.

"

Shake Smart has NOT yet turned down Illinois, sources told CBSSports.com. Smart still contemplating Illini offer.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanCBS) March 20, 2012"

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the lure of taking over a big-time college basketball program is not going to lead him away from his current job. 

"

Sources confirm that unless something drastic changes in the next 24 hours, Shaka Smart will stay at VCU.....

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 20, 2012"

This report must come like a breath of fresh air for Rams supporters as a report by Herb Gould of the Chicago Sun-Times came out earlier in the day that Illinois was pursuing Smart. Wrote Gould: 

"

Convinced he needs to land Shaka Smart, Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas is making a no-holds-barred run at the Virginia Commonwealth coach, a source close to the talks said Monday.

Smart has shown solid interest, and money won’t be a stumbling block, said the source, who has spoken with two people involved in the talks.

"

Smart is in a good position at VCU. He has all but one of his top players returning to next year's team.

So not only does Smart have a strong team returning, but he is also only 35 years old. If Smart does want to leave for a bigger program, he has the luxury of having the time to wait for exactly the right situation.  

Also, Smart is not hurting for money. After last year's run to the Final Four, he signed an eight-year deal worth, according to Gould, about $1.21 million a year.