Weber to stay at Illinois

Illinois coach Bruce Weber will remain with the Illini the school announced in a written statement Thursday afternoon.

Weber, who has coached Illinois the past eight seasons, said in the statement he received calls from other schools. Sources said one of those schools was Oklahoma.

Some Illinois fans have called for Weber to be fired after a 21-14 finish. The Illini were ranked in the top 25 in preseason but finished unranked, receiving a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Weber, 54, has compiled a 193-86 record at Illinois but the Illini hasn’t reached the Sweet Sixteen since his first two seasons when he inherited players from former coach Bill Self, who left for Kansas.

Illinois has made the NCAA Tournament in six of Weber’s eight seasons but only two of the last four. Weber owns a career 296-140 record, including five seasons at Southern Illinois.