Men’s basketball: Trey Burke scored 19 points and No. 2 Michigan (19-1, 6-1 Big Ten) never trailed after the opening minutes of a 74-60 win over Illinois (15-6, 2-5) in Champaign, Ill., that could push the Wolverines to No. 1 in the nation for the first time since the 1992-93 season. Duke’s lopsided loss to Miami earlier in the week opened the door for a new No. 1 when the AP poll comes out today – and Michigan put itself in position to take the top spot.

NBA: Russell Westbrook scored 23 points, Kevin Durant had 22 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Raptors 104-92 in Toronto on Sunday. Serge Ibaka had 19 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Martin scored 16 as the Thunder enjoyed a winning start to a stretch that sees them play 11 of 13 on the road.

STILLWATER, Okla. – It was a thrilling finish worth reliving, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs were doing just that in the locker room. Kevin Pangos described the start of the play in animated fashion. Kelly Olynyk jumped in next and Elias Harris sat back in his chair and shouted, “I was so glad when that shot when in.”

STILLWATER, Okla. – It was a thrilling finish worth reliving, and the Gonzaga Bulldogs were doing just that in the locker room.

STILLWATER, Okla. – Gonzaga sophomore guard Gary Bell Jr. had just finished describing the challenge of defending Baylor standout Pierre Jackson when he was reminded of his next assignment. “You get a real break against (Oklahoma State freshman) Marcus Smart, don’t you,” a reporter kidded.

Gonzaga sophomore guard Gary Bell Jr. had just finished describing the challenge of defending Baylor standout Pierre Jackson when he was reminded of his next assignment. “You get a real break against (Oklahoma State freshman) Marcus Smart, don’t you,” a reporter kidded. “I don’t think so,” said a smiling Bell, shaking his head. “He’s definitely a good guard, probably stronger and definitely bigger than Pierre. I have my work cut out for me.” Bell won’t be alone in that regard when the 13th-ranked Bulldogs (12-1) tangle with No.22 Oklahoma State (10-1) today at 3 PST at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The game of basketball looks pretty simple when a team is efficient on offense, steady on defense and owns the glass. Gonzaga combined those elements into 40 tidy minutes and blasted Oklahoma 72-47 in the Old Spice Classic semifinals on Friday night in front of 2,205 at HP Field House.

The game of basketball looks pretty simple when a team is efficient on offense, steady on defense and owns the glass.

MIAMI – LeBron James could hardly stand, certainly couldn’t run. Good thing all he needed to do was shoot. Better get well fast, James. You’re one win away from the biggest party of your life.

OKLAHOMA CITY – This was Eastern Conference toughness. This was Pat Riley hammer-and-anvil basketball. This was LeBron James finally asserting his brutish and ridiculously unstoppable toughness. Stealing the momentum of the NBA Finals with three consecutive games coming up in Miami, the Heat defeated the Thunder 100-96 on Thursday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena to tie the best-of-7 series at 1-1.

Finished watching the three-part series “Hatfields & McCoys” the other night – a monumental television event in that the History Channel found time to put some history on its channel and not just “Cajun Pawn Stars.” Some irony in that. If the two families were still feuding today, they’d be doing it on some dreadful cable reality series. Would have saved on bullets and blood, if not brain cells.