Sooners attempt to continue mastery of Aggies

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01/27/2007 - College Station, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sitting in a logjam atop the Big 12 standings, the sixth-ranked Texas A&M Aggies return home to the friendly confines of Reed Arena, as they play host to the Oklahoma Sooners in conference action this afternoon.

The Aggies had an extended nine-game win streak halted on Wednesday, as they dropped a two-point decision at Texas Tech (70-68). The loss was the first in-conference for A&M, which is tied with three other teams for first place in the Big 12 at 4-1.

Sitting right in the middle of the league standings is Oklahoma, which fell to 3-3 in Big 12 play with Monday's 66-61 loss at rival Oklahoma State. The Sooners have now dropped four of their last seven games and will need to get hot down the stretch to get consideration for the postseason.

Oklahoma has owned this series, winning 25 of the previous 26 meetings, including a 10-1 mark in College Station.

The Sooners certainly had their opportunities in Stillwater earlier in the week, but could not get over the hump against the Cowboys. Senior forward Nate Carter continued his torrid pace since the beginning of Big 12 play, erupting for a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds in the loss. Michael Neal was the only other Sooner to join Carter in double figures, posting 13 points in the five-point setback. Carter is fourth on the team in scoring at 9.1 ppg, but has more than doubled that average in league affairs (18.3 ppg). Longar Longar currently leads the team in both scoring (11.3 ppg) and rebounding (7.1 rpg). Neal is a close second at 10.7 ppg, while both Tony Crocker (9.9 ppg) and Carter are closing in on double digits. The team as a whole is netting 69.6 ppg and has done a much better job defensively, limiting the opposition to a mere 57.4 ppg, while holding them under 40 percent shooting (.380).

The Aggies know a thing or two about defensive intensity as well. The team is yielding a meager 54.2 ppg, holding foes to just .352 shooting, including .272 from behind the arc. Offensively, the team has gotten the job done as well, shooting .512 from the floor, resulting in a healthy 76.2 ppg. Acie Law leads four players with double-digit averages, netting 16.5 ppg, while doubling as the team's primary distributor (91). Joseph Jones (13.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and Antanas Kavaliauskas (11.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg) complement with their inside games, while Josh Carter (11.7 ppg) is the team's top long range threat (.490 from three-point range, 47-of-96). It was a nip-and-tuck game all the way in Lubbock this week, but in the end, Texas A&M's nine-game win streak came to a close. Law did what he could to earn the victory, erupting for 26 points, on 9-of-15 shots from the floor. Dominique Kirk posted 12 points and Jones chipped in with 11, but Carter was held scoreless in the game in 30 minutes of action. Despite shooting .532 from the floor, A&M was outscored 22-13 at the free-throw line and committed 15 costly turnovers in the narrow defeat.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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