Ram fans can breath a sigh of relief tonight, as head coach Shaka Smart declined an offer to take over the top spot at the University of Illinois.

After the Rams fell to Indiana in the third round of this year’s NCAA tournament, Illinois fans and administrators made it clear that Shaka was their No.1 target. Having worked with new Illinois AD Mike Thomas during his time at Akron, almost everyone outside of VCU fans thought Shaka would jump at the opportunity to coach the Big 10 squad and double his pay, a reported $2.5+ million offer.

After much speculation and rumors from every direction as to what Smart was thinking, the third-year VCU coach made it official today, and stating in a VCU Athletics release, “There are great things to accomplish at VCU and I’m looking forward to building on the successes of our program and university.”

VCU also said Smart is not pursuing any other offers, and that he has agreed in principle to some changes in his current contract. Contract details are being finalized.

Coach Smart is 84-27 in his three seasons at VCU and recently followed up a Final 4 appearance by winning the CAA’s conference tournament with the 9th-youngest team in the country, punching a ticket to his 2nd-straight NCAA tournament appearance where the Rams upset 5th-seeded Wichita State in the second round of play.

VCU went a long way this year playing their havoc brand of defense and hitting just enough shots when they needed them to fall. Last night however, a Rams cold streak did them in, in a 63-61 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers in the NCAA tournament’s third round.

The Rams lead most of the game, including a 3-point advantage with under a minute to play. Then, Hoosier guard Victor Oladipo connected on an old fashioned three-point play to tie it at 61.

After a Troy Daniels missed three-point attempt on the following possession, Indiana’s Will Sheehey found himself wide open on a 2nd-chance shot that fell with just 12 seconds to play.

With a chance to tie or win it, Darius Theus found a wide open Rob Brandenberg for a potential game-winning three-point attempt that came up just short, bouncing off the rim and ending the Rams season in heartbreaking fashion.

VCU had lead by as many as nine in the second half, but an almost six minute slump and poor free throw shooting (46%) allowed the Hoosiers the opportunity for the win, advancing to their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2002.

Bradford Burgess lead the Rams with 15 points and seven rebounds on the night. The senior from Midlothian ends his career as the all-time NCAA leader in consecutive starts, passing Patrick Ewing during this year’s CAA tournament for sole possession of first place.

Burgess’ 1,684 points ranks fourth all-time at VCU, 734 rebounds is the seventh-best in VCU history, his 146 steals ties him at eighth most by a Ram and his 39.6% three-point percentage is good for eighth as well.

Burgess will be missed as one of the greats to ever wear the uniform at VCU, and will always be remembered for his ability to hit big shots when VCU needed him the most, including the game-winner in last year’s 1-point overtime win against Florida State in last year’s Sweet 16.

The senior is the only graduating player from this year’s overachieving group that had originally been picked to finish third in the CAA after losing four producing seniors from last year’s Final 4 squad. The team’s 29 wins ranks as the most ever by a VCU squad.

The Rams return a ton of talent from the ninth-youngest team in the country this year, and add three talented freshman including Jordan Burgess, who is the younger brother of Bradford as well as an ESPN top-100 recruit.

The big storyline this offseason will no doubt be the plans of Coach Shaka Smart, who has been a hot name since last year’s run and is reportedly the top target of an Illinois team who has recently fired their head coach.

Schools will no doubt throw big numbers at Smart in hopes of luring the star from his home in Richmond, but VCU will no doubt counter with some numbers of their own…#30, Troy Daniels…#10, Darius Theus…#34, David Hinton…#11, Rob Brandenberg…#33, DJ Haley…#15, Juvonte Reddic…#21, Treveon Graham…#23, Jared Guest…#24, Heath Houston…#25, Reco McCarter…#5, Teddy Okereafor…and #2, Briante “Bri-Fense” Weber.

Great season…and Go Rams. We can’t wait for next year.

In a rematch of last year’s ESPN Bracketbusters matchup, VCU (28-6) will take one the Shockers of Wichita State (27-5) in this year’s round of 64 in the classic 12 versus 5 upset matchup this Thursday in Portland, Oregon at 7:15PM EST. The game will air on CBS.

The last time these two teams met, the Rams picked up a huge 68-67 road win that was key in VCU’s at-large bid to the 2011 NCAA tournament.

On the other side of that loss, the Shockers were just on the wrong side of the NCAA tournament bubble, but rallied to win the 2011 NIT Championship, taking down former VCU coach Anthony Grant’s Alabama team in the NIT final.

VCU coaches and returning players will be very familiar with this year’s Shockers squad, as the Missouri Valley power returns the vast majority of last year’s team, starting four seniors and one junior on this year’s team.

The winner of the “2nd round” matchup will take on the winner of Indiana and New Mexico State for a chance to advance to the Sweet 16 in Atlanta.