The team is Lisa-less this week, but the rest the crew picks up the slack as we discuss Illini sports, Spring Training, and more. Also, March Madness is this week so we get the inside scope from ESPN Insider and Illini graduate John Gasaway as we talk about brackets and Illini basketball. 

University of Illinois trustees have approved a contract with football coach Lovie Smith that will pay him at least $21 million over six years. At their meeting Thursday, trustees also signed off on a $100,000 performance bonus for President Tim Killeen. Under his contract, the bonus was the maximum Killeen could have received for reaching performance goals.

Smith says he expects the team he’s inherited to compete for a Big Ten Championship. The former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaners coach said he planned to complete his career at Illinois, after signing a six-year, $21 million contract.  "I don't know what better commitment I can show to everyone that we're going to be here for the long haul," he said.

The University of Illinois says former NFL coach Lovie Smith will be named the next football coach at the University of Illinois.  Athletic Director Josh Whitman will annouce the former Chicago Bears coach as the Illini's 25th head coach at a Monday afternoon news conference.

New University of Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman Saturday fired head football coach Bill Cubit. Cubit served as interim head coach for one season. The decision came on Whitman's first official day on the job.