Illinois fired Bruce Weber Friday, one day after the Illini lost to Iowa in the first round of the Big Ten tournament, the coach told ESPN.com.

Weber will not coach in the NIT -- if the Illini (17-15 overall, 6-12 Big Ten) were to be selected -- or in any other postseason tournament.

Weber said recently that the buyout on his contract is $3.9 million.

VCU's Shaka Smart is expected to be a candidate for the job. Smart, who took the Rams to last year's Final Four, and Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas once worked together at Akron.

Weber becomes an immediate candidate to return to Southern Illinois, where he coached before replacing Bill Self at Illinois when Self left for the Kansas job.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/ncb/story/_/id/7664755/illinois-fighting-illini-bruce-weber-loses-job