Tight ends have long been a source of

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Creighton jumped on Washington State early and the Cougars could never recover.But the Bluejays confidence is still showing, especially after their 103-77 victory over Washington State on Friday in the opening round of the Paradise Jam tournament.Huff scored 19 points, Marcus Foster added 16 points and Justin Patton 10 for Creighton (3-0), which took command early in leading by as many as 34 points against the overmatched Cougars (2-1).Our confidence is sky high, but what weve done in these first three games, weve got to put that behind us now, Huff said. Were just going to have to focus on our game plan, and see if we can get another win (Sunday).Conor Clifford scored 29 points, Ike Iroegbu and Charles Callison had 11 each, and Josh Hawkinson added 10 for Washington State (2-1).Creighton led from the outset, going up by double figures less than seven minutes into the first half en route to a 60-34 halftime lead.I liked the way our starters set the tone, Bluejays coach Greg McDermott said. Our pace was good early, which is always good to see, and then the guys coming off the bench gave us a lift. Theres a lot of positives from tonight.Creighton took its biggest lead midway through the second half, going up 80-46 on Tyler Clements layup with 13:30 remaining.The Bluejays would then break the 100-point mark for the first time this season with 1:50 left on Ronnie Harrell Jr.s jumper.They were just relentless in their pursuit, Washington State coach Ernie Kent said. Theyre good. That is a very good basketball team. Their ability to run, their ability to shoot, their ability of their bigs to get up and down, thats a good team.BIG PICTUREWashington State: Turnovers were a problem for the Cougars. After giving up 16 total in their first two games, they had 16 Friday, leading to 23 points for Creighton.Creighton: Its a good start for the Bluejays, who are trying to win their fourth regular-season tournament title under McDermott. They also won tournaments in 2011, 2012 and 2015.STAT SHEETWashington State: Not a bad night, shooting 46.9 percent from the field (30 of 64). But the Cougars made just 3 of 9 3-pointers, and were outrebounded 39-33.Creighton: Easily had its best shooting game this season -- 56.3 percent from the field (40 of 71), and hit a season-best 15 of 27 3-pointers.RUN AND GUNThanks to the turnovers, Creighton was able to get its fast break going against Washington State, outscoring the Cougars 19-6.STAT OF THE NIGHTIt comes from Creighton point guard Maurice Watson Jr. While Watson was held to seven points (10 points below his season average), he added a season-best 13 assists. To put that in perspective, Watson had more assists than Washington State had as a team (12).POLL IMPLICATIONSCreightons first triple-digit game of the season, coming right after knocking off No. 9 Wisconsin by 12 points three days ago, cant do anything but help the Bluejays move up the Top 25.UP NEXTWashington State: Plays Montana at 7 p.m. Saturday in a consolation round game.Creighton: Gets Saturday off, then faces N.C. State in a semifinal game at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Pascal Siakam Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Marc Gasol Raptors Jersey . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. http://www.nbaraptorsonline.com/Authentic-OG-Anunoby-Jersey/ . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. Vince Carter Jersey . After dropping their final six games of December, the Wild opened the new calendar year with four consecutive wins. Following a loss to Colorado on Saturday, Minnesota rebounded the following night to blank Nashville 4-0, but then had the tables turned on them Tuesday. Norman Powell Raptors Jersey . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Lovie Smith is under no illusions about the degree to which his team will rely on senior quarterback Wes Lunt, but the first-year Illinois coach emphasized Sunday how much he wants the Illini to be able to run the ball.Lunt, Smith said Sunday at the teams preseason media day, is a good decision-maker with a strong arm.But like his NFL teams, Smith believes the Illini must run the ball, and more than they did last season. Illinois ran the ball on 43 percent of its snaps in 2015.We have an excellent tailback in KeShawn Vaughn. Kendrick Foster has looked good in our preseason drills. You start with that, Smith said.What lies behind those two, though, is a major question.As a freshman last season, Vaughn averaged 4.6 yards a carry on 157 carries and scored six touchdowns. Foster, a junior and the most experienced backup on the roster, has a career 15 carries for 78 yards. Behind him is a redshirt freshman, Reggie Corbin.Vaughn, at 5-10 and 210 pounds, says hes ready to handle the bulk of the carries and believes the backs behind him can do the rest.Somebody will have to come in and tote the load when I get tired, he said.Smith said the emphasis on the running game does not mean he believes he needs to go out of his way to take pressure off of or protect Lunt, who has a history of injuries that have sidelined him in college.I dont. This is what we feel like we needd to do to play winning ball with our offense, Smith said.ddddddddddddOther things to know about Illinois football after media day:TIGHT ENDS AND FULLBACKS: Tight ends have long been a source of Illinois fan frustration.Ive been told that, Smith joked Sunday.Over the past decade Illinois has a long list of strong tight ends who have sometimes disappeared in the offense. Some, like the New Orleans Saints Michael Hoomanawanui, were good enough to go on to the NFL.Smith said he wants tight ends to be a big part of Illinois passing game, and fullbacks, too. Illinois hasnt used a true fullback in several seasons, forcing Smith to convert a pair of former linebackers, Nathan Echard and Austin Roberts.HOME MOMENTUM: Starting with the Sept. 3 opener against Murray State, Illinois will play its first three games and four of its five at home.Coming off a 5-7 season and the firings of two football coaches in the past year -- not to mention and facing a Big Ten schedule in which they will usually be underdogs -- the Illini need to use that friendly early schedule, Smith said.If we could get some momentum early on, we want to have a home-field advantage, simple as that, he said. In order to get the rebirth of our football program, we need a home-field advantage. ' ' '