CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Shaka Smart says he will stay at Virginia Commonwealth.

Illinois had offered its coaching job to Smart, according to multiple reports.

In a statement released by VCU on Wednesday, the 34-year-old Smart said: “I'm looking forward to building on the successes of our program and university.”

Smart had been mentioned as a possible candidate at South Carolina.

Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas declined comment through a spokesman. Thomas fired Weber on March 9 after a 17-15 season that ended with a 2-14 slump. Weber's teams missed three of the last five NCAA tournaments and this year didn't make the postseason at all.

Smart's Rams were the darlings of last year's tournament, going from the First Four to the Final Four after barely making it in as a No. 11 seed. They lost to Indiana in this season's third round Saturday.

Smart and Kansas State's Frank Martin will serve as guest analysts for NCAA tournament coverage this week.

Martin also has been mentioned as a possible candidate at South Carolina.

CBS and Turner Sports said Wednesday that Smart will join the Atlanta studio group for the regional semifinals and finals Thursday through Saturday on CBS and TBS. Smart's Rams were the darlings of last year's tournament, going from the First Four to the Final Four after barely making it in as a No. 11 seed. They lost to Indiana in this season's third round Saturday.

Martin will work with the New York studio for the regional finals Saturday and Sunday on CBS. His Wildcats fell to top-seeded Syracuse, also in the third round Saturday.