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December 2, 2014

Everything Old Is New Again

Filed under: Basketball — Chas @ 8:27 am

Team loses two key senior players to graduation. One of the team’s best defensive players out with an injury. A redshirt junior wing player moving up from reserve to starter suspended before the season starts.  A complete decimation by a top-20 team in a pre-season classic. And now, Indiana?

Oh, man, it is 2009 all over again. Only instead of Jermaine Dixon, Gil Brown and a Texas program that was peaking really early;  we had Cam Wright, Durand Johnson and San Diego State. It’s not exactly the same, but here comes Indiana under Tom Crean once more.

It’s not a neutral site at Madison Square Garden this time. It’s Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana.

The second year Pitt gets to take part in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

And that title may or may not apply, but the reality is the ACC hasn’t finished ahead in this event since the 2008 season when it went 6-5.

The Big Ten won the event in 2009, 2010 and 2011, and the two conferences tied in each of the past two years.

This year the event expands to 14 games starting tonight with two games: Nebraska at Florida State and Rutgers at Clemson.

Pitt (4-2) plays at Indiana (5-1) Tuesday at Assembly Hall in Bloomington. It is one of six games that night with six more the following night. The finale of the event is a marquee matchup of two top-five teams — No. 4 Duke (7-0) at No. 2 Wisconsin (7-0).

After Monday night, the odds are against the ACC. Clemson blew a big lead to lose to Rutgers. Rutgers!?!!?!!??? While Florida State’s desperate attempt to come back on Nebraska fell short. Boston College was left out of the challenge this year.

Indiana has suffered as bad — if not worse — loss than Pitt did to Hawai’i. The Hoosiers lost at home to Eastern Washington University from the Big Sky Conference. This is not the Indiana team of a couple years ago. But they do play to Pitt’s defensive weakness.

The Hoosiers likely will attack the Panthers with four guards at times and are a team that likes to shoot 3-pointers.

The Panthers (4-2) will play the Hoosiers (5-1) tonight at Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Ind., as part of the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, and coach Jamie Dixon believes in order to win they will have to repeat their most recent defensive performance.

“They are young at a lot of spots, they have two young guards who are pretty good,” Dixon said of the Hoosiers. “But they are very guard-oriented, they will attack off the dribble and then they shoot a lot of 3-pointers.

“This is similar to some of the things we’ve seen this year and we have to do a better job of taking away the 3s and stopping the drives to the basket.”

The two young guards are freshmen James Blackmon Jr. and Robert Johnson and both are among Indiana’s best players.

Blackmon Jr. is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 20.8 points per game. He is 20 of 35 from 3-point range, a sizzling 57 percent. Johnson averages 12.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and converts 41 percent (9 of 22) from the 3-point line.

It’s simplistic to say that Pitt will have to give the kind of defensive effort they put forth against K-State, but it isn’t untrue.

Pitt fared better at stopping penetration and protecting the rim against Kansas State, and the Panthers will try to build on that.

Mike Young, named to the Maui Invitational all-tournament team, said the Panthers remember the low feeling after the blowout loss against the Aztecs Tuesday but also will take a lot of confidence from their win Wednesday against the Wildcats.

“We ended it on a great note,” Young said. “It was good experience for our young guys. Overall, we are a pretty young team. So, this tournament was a great experience and winning big on the last day, I believe we will [build on it].

“We have seen it once, now, we know we can play defense, we went out and showed it in [that] game, and now I think we are going to take off.”

One can hope, but it is easier to say you know what to do than it is to keep doing every game.

Of course Indiana has its own problems. Specifically defense and rebounding.

Neither coach is expecting the kind of games we saw between Pitt and Marquette. Even if both are familiar with each other’s styles and what each would like to do.

“We have a different team right now than what we’re used to having as a staff when we go against the Pittsburgh staff,” Crean said. “We don’t yet have that physical team we had at Marquette when we had incredible battles with them. It’s going to be different, to say the very least, for our young guards on this team with the way they’ll be pressured, especially in the half court.”

Here’s a really nice statistical breakdown on the game, that doesn’t try to make a real prediction. In part because the sample sizes are too small. But also the inconsistency that has been shown by both teams. Interesting sidenote is that Coach Jamie Dixon isn’t just blowing smoke about this Pitt team being young compared to most teams.

The Panthers have been without guard Cameron Wright all season due to a foot injury and also lost Durand Johnson to a season-long suspension. Wright is due back soon, but without that duo, Jamie Dixon is playing a young rotation (312th nationally in experience, per KenPom) that will be entering its first true road environment.

One of those inexperienced players, Ryan Luther, has emerged as a much stronger defensive presence in the frontcourt.

He exceeded his coach’s most optimistic expectations, so much so that Dixon, who doesn’t usually go out of his way to praise freshmen, made it clear that no player improved as much over the trip as Luther did.

“Ryan has become one of our post defenders, if not our best,” Dixon said. “And that has been an amazing transformation considering where he came from in the summer.”

Dixon said after the Hawaii game that he put Luther in mostly because he couldn’t keep watching other players miss assignments and get beat. He figured Luther couldn’t be worse.

Luther laughed when he heard his coach refer to him as a great post defender because he said that while he has greatly improved his defense, he has a long way to go.

“Definitely not,” Luther said with a laugh when he was asked if he thought it would be his defense, not his ability to shoot, that got him off the bench and into the rotation. “I think Coach is being generous there. We have some good defenders on this team and I just need to keep working at it.

“But I think [post defense] is the area I have improved the most since I got here. I really had to learn how to play against bigger, more physical bodies and I had to learn how to stand strong in the post. But I feel like playing against [Michael Young], [Joseph Uchebo] and Derrick [Randall] at practice really helped me a lot.”

I don’t know about anyone else, but when Luther didn’t get any playing time in the first couple of patsy games because of a foot injury. Well, I assumed it was the kind of  “foot injury” that a coach uses as the excuse to put a player on a medical redshirt. And that may have been the way it went down if anyone else besides Mike Young could play better defense.

And the fact that he is playing better defense has been a surprise to everyone.

“No team has gone through as much change in a month and a half, two months, than we have as far as what we thought we were going to have and what we did have,” Dixon said. “We have guys in roles that (were) never thought a possibility.

“I mean, we’re going to redshirt Ryan and (fellow freshman) Cameron Johnson,” Dixon said. “Obviously a couple things happen and now you can’t, so you have to readjust.”

Johnson and Luther lead Pitt with five 3-ponters apiece. Luther was a revelation — averaging 7.0 points and 17.7 minutes in three games at the Maui Invitational — but his increased playing time is a result of his defense.

“When Ryan got here in the summer, he was horrible defensively,” Dixon said. “We told him ‘If you defend, you’ll be on the floor.’ Ryan has become one of our best post defenders, if not our best. It’s been an amazing transformation considering where he came from in the summer.”

How his body handles the rigor of the full season is still up in the air.

As for Cam Wright, he is getting closer, but not that close yet. I wouldn’t be surprised if Coach Dixon keeps him under wraps a bit longer than expected. I don’t think he wants Wright to come back too soon the way Travon Woodall did in 2011-12.





and our “soft” part of the schedule which is coming up, is not so soft.

They may lose 3-4 of these home games and duquense just might get us this year

Comment by Keith 12.02.14 @ 10:38 pm

Very hard to get excited about this team. Lackluster and limited athletic ability…and we haven’t run in to ACC athletes yet. Years of crappy recruiting equate to a small and slow team with no depth.

I said at the beginning of the year that JD continues to be a terrible recruiter, but seems good with X’s and O’s. If he turns this around after Cam comes back it will be his best coaching job ever.

Comment by Htp123 12.02.14 @ 10:57 pm

C’mon home boys, time to get back to Jamie’s
comfort level,

Kennesaw State, Saginaw Valley, and Mumpford.

I know, I know, he’s a nice guy, I get it.

Comment by Dan 12.02.14 @ 11:03 pm

How bad must KState actually be?

JR slow and poor outside AND inside shot.

Randall has zero basketball IQ and misses put backs. Takes no pressure(defender) off Young.

Defense is pathetic EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE. Cam’s return will help, but never enough.

Going to be a long season, but I don’t see any chance to make the tournament.

Hoping for one or 2 nice recruits as the big victory this season.

Hope is a bad strategy.

Comment by TVax 12.02.14 @ 11:05 pm

I was so excited for bball to start cuz our ball team sucks

I can’t wait for baseball cuz our ball team sucks,ugh

At least the university is run by a competent man,or I’d be worried

Comment by keith 12.02.14 @ 11:38 pm

ShorePitt:

what are you smoking?

Comment by Tony77019 12.02.14 @ 11:52 pm

We just don’t have a lot of basketball players… We seem to have a bunch of… Well, I’m not exactly sure what they are.

They can’t shoot for shit. They can’t drive for shit. They can’t defend for shit. But they sure as shit can’t swing that ball around the perimeter for 30 seconds…

Indiana had a bunch of good basketball players… Shooting, dribbling, driving, dunking basketball players.

We cant do any of those things.

I also agree with whomever said James Robinson is holding this team back… He’s not a good basketball player. He’s a good foul shooter. That’s it.

Comment by Pitt2Cali 12.02.14 @ 11:58 pm

*can swing the ball around the perimeter…

Cabernet is kicking in ????

Comment by Pitt2Cali 12.03.14 @ 12:00 am

A man walks into Tom Crean’s 4 car garage, looks around and asks him “I understand why you have a BMW, Mercedes Benz, and Lexus in your garage but I don’t understand why you have Jamie Dixon in there with them? Crean answers “because I own them all!”

Comment by pittman4ever 12.03.14 @ 12:12 am

I turned on the game and after four or five minutes of heartless defense and incompetent offense, I turned it off. Newkirk and Young seem to be the only players that compete all the time.

Did Sheldon Jeter do something wrong? Have said from last year and especially after his arrest (?) last year that Randall is a waste of a schollie. Thought for sure JD woud cut ties with him. Never seems to be “in” the game. A loaner, if you will.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 12.03.14 @ 3:42 am

Said it repeatedly that Dixon is Gene Keady that coached Purdue for years with a solid rep but never won anything of note. Those of you think Dixon is an elite coach are off base. He is OK. Pitt isn’t a bad team, but they are not very good either. What ever momentum the program had is now gone. Pitt is ordinary now and that with a horrible NCAA tournament record and marginal recruiting is what passes for PItt BB these days. Dixon has the lifetime achievement contract and quite frankly no one is knocking down his door anytime soon for his services.

Comment by chethejet 12.03.14 @ 7:16 am

This is an extremely young team with players out. All teams, no matter the sport, have down cycles. My God, you can’t expect to have great teams every year.

Comment by notrocketscience 12.03.14 @ 8:35 am

Nice recap of ACC bowl slotting.

link to newsobserver.com

Looks like there will be a home for all ACC bowl eligible teams in the ACC’s tie-ins. Assuming the folks in Detroit do not want Pitt two years in a row, Pitt is probably looking at Military vs. AAC or Independence vs. SEC. Miami will stay home for Bitcoin St. Pete (unless they can get a matchup with Florida in Independence). Bottom line is that barring Missouri upset of Alabama, we are playing Big 10, SEC or AAC team in Detroit, Annapolis, St. Pete or Shreveport.

Comment by FG 12.03.14 @ 8:52 am

Waste of time watching Pitt trying to play basketball this year. I watched the Penguins last night.

Comment by PetePitt73 12.03.14 @ 9:06 am

I thought football would lead to the firing of Pederson. Who knew it would be Saint Jamie and a .500 basketball team who may just push him out the door.

Pitt football .500 and average
Pitt basketball will be .500 and average

Pretty much sums up Pitt Athletics..average.

Let’s see if a .500 basketball team fills up The Pete much like a .500 football team fills up Heinz

I know I know..Chryst and Dixon are nice guys with young teams. Over and over year after year….

Comment by opitt 12.03.14 @ 9:25 am

WI always seems to have big strong players including centers. Maybe HCPC can help here.

Comment by Frank MD 12.03.14 @ 10:28 am

@TONY… you wouldn’t welcome him back? He left for a great job as most sane people would do. He also had great success at UCLA. I’d love to see Dixon canned and Howland return.

Comment by ShorePitt 12.03.14 @ 11:04 am

JR would be an All America point guard at Grove City.
His worth to this team is he is a good foul shooter…only!

As Jamie learned how to be a head coach at Pitt, he adopted a style from Howland that was suited for the old BE. He also adopted terrible habits like slowing for the last shot right before the half, even though Pitt is down 10+ points.

He has shown little ability to adjust, either his recruiting or his stubborn style, to fit his new conference or the mediocre players who remained here. I would like to think that once we lose to Duquesne, things will change…but they won’t.

I am still stunned by the silence over Durand’s year long penalty. Pitt is notoriously poor at keeping secrets so this baffles me what he did to deserve a year. I suspect SP is in the middle of this.

Comment by Dan 72 12.03.14 @ 11:07 am

actually, I heard Zeise on The Fan over the weekend say that it is Jamie’s policy to take care of his players, even when suspended … when asked about DJ frolicking in the ocean.

Now whether that was his entirely his decision or not, it may point to JD being to much of a players’ coach. Just sayin’!

Comment by wbb 12.03.14 @ 11:17 am

While Pitt has a lack of overall height and quickness, none of those factors are reasons why they cannot defend the môst common pick and roll or screen and roll.

That’s all about coaching/practice and heart.

Indiana screed 40+ points just off of those plays!

Comment by Dan 72 12.03.14 @ 11:39 am

Will Jamie ever realize that playing uptempo and selling that to recruits would be a good thing? Just like 2012 when we lost 7 straight at one point, nothing will change, despite the roster set up nicely for a more uptempo game. Hopefully the guys will find a way to get it done in the grind it out half court possessions. For the record, I still think 8 or 9 wins in the ACC. Not crazy, just patient.

Comment by ShorePitt 12.03.14 @ 11:40 am

I think he is an identity crisis. He doesn’t feel comfortable coaching uptempo but doesn’t have the players to play his way.

Comment by wbb 12.03.14 @ 11:46 am

Not having a true center makes the ceiling for this team very low. Indiana drove the middle with impunity. I thought Haughton was this great shot blocker yet he has not been seen. What is the story?

This team will have some good games and a lot of bad ones. Wright will help, but the lack of a center will be impossible to overcome.

Comment by gc 12.03.14 @ 11:58 am

And they’re still doing that pass around the perimeter, until the shot clock gets down to around 10 seconds, and try to force something, most times, force something that is not there.

I don’t get that.

Are they trying to set something up?? What exactly are they trying to set up.

It looks like, to a layman like me, they waste 25 seconds, and then some sort of chaos ensues.

Comment by Dan 12.03.14 @ 12:00 pm

The losses are now just bad losses. Indiana isn’t very good and they just toyed with Pitt. Every year now Pitt will have a couple bad games, But SD State and Indiana just picked Pitt apart and that just should’t happen to a quality program.

Comment by chethejet 12.03.14 @ 12:19 pm

BB teams are most vulnerable when they run down the court and first set up. We need to at least try a couple of immediate attacks rather than always waiting and passing the ball around.

Comment by Frank MD 12.03.14 @ 12:43 pm

It’s making me a little sick reading these comments. Pessimism abound! It’s going to be a rough year but the sky isn’t falling yet so chill out.

I’m pretty flabbergasted that Coach is getting so much flack. He’s had above-average defensive teams for a decade. When the players suddenly look like turnstiles in the paint I think that’s a pretty clear indication that the deficiency is with them and not the coaching.

Comment by tacocat 12.03.14 @ 12:44 pm

@tacocat, that may be. I don’t feel I’m being pessimistic, just realistic.

We don’t look good. Not good at all.

We’ve had 3 years in a row now, not finishing in
the top 25, and all things point to making it
4 years in row this year.

I agree it’s the players, but you have to ask, who’s in charge of getting the players here.

And frankly, I don’t see Durand Johnson or
Cam Wright making that big of a difference.

Maybe Wright coming back will make some huge incredible difference, I just don’t see it.

If this team makes the final Top 25 it will be one of the greatest college coahing jobs I’ve ever seen.

And, I will say so and admit I was wrong.

Hey, I’m cheering for Pitt, I don’t want to see them lose any games.

Comment by Dan 12.03.14 @ 1:08 pm

off topic Breaking News — James Conner voted as ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offesnive Player of the Year, edging out J Winston.

(Next year, he will be ACC Defensive POY)

Comment by wbb 12.03.14 @ 1:11 pm

They took our best player out of the game early (the refs helped) and Robinson was flat out awful.

Those are the two leaders on the team. One reason we need Wright very badly, he needs to take over the leadership and make this his team.

But the lack of a center limits the upside dramatically.

The most depressing thing yesterday was the defensive intensity was not there, hopefully jetlag.

Comment by gc 12.03.14 @ 1:12 pm

Wow, Congrats to Conner, that is huge.

Comment by gc 12.03.14 @ 1:13 pm

I could just be making this up but for some reason I recall talk from Dixon after the summer trip about this being a really good defensive team. ?????????

Comment by JJ 12.03.14 @ 1:13 pm

Maybe we get a better bowl because Conner is ACC player and he never lets up.

Comment by Frank MD 12.03.14 @ 1:17 pm

@tacocat…Don’t get to upset reading these posts…It’s open season for the Dixon haters…and we knew it would be with Wright and losing Johnson for the season.

The truth is that this will be a very very good team eventually. However, it probably won’t be in time this year to make the tourney. But it’s going to fun watching the team grow.
As Chas wrote; he’s playing the 312th ramked team as far as game experience…it’s all up for this team..and if this was a junior/senior heavy team playing this way then the criticism would be justified.

When is the last time we had a sophomore being our best player…(Blair)
And Cam Wright is supposed to lead the team; think about where he was after his sophomore year…we have a number of freshman who already playing better than he did at that time..and they are playing hard every game so far.

Comment by milobloom 12.03.14 @ 1:22 pm

James Conner, ACC Player of the Year!!!

Also, just for fun, Yahoo Sports has
Pitt vs. Cincinnati in the Military Bowl
in Annapolis, Dec. 27th.

Comment by Dan 12.03.14 @ 1:25 pm

Congrats to James Conner..well deserved.

One of the ESPN predictors did put us with PSU in Detroit..if that could happen… I don’t see how a bowl that is driving distance to those two schools doesn’t make it happen.

Comment by milobloom 12.03.14 @ 1:44 pm

Keep the faith ! We have Baby Huey coming in next year. At 350 lbs he can certainly clog up the middle

Comment by Chick 12.03.14 @ 1:50 pm

next year…..right……

Comment by goalie44 12.03.14 @ 2:25 pm

I think when Cam Wright gets back the on-ball defense will significantly improve.

And I don’t think it’s coincidence that the 2 games where Chris Jones went off scoring (Hawaii and Indiana) our defense stunk – I think that’s indicative of the matchup. And matchups have always killed Pitt in the NCAA tourney, this year it’s teams that play 4 guards.

Just for fun, Sagarin has Pitt 9th in the ACC with the 3rd hardest schedule played (69th overall, with the 84th hardest schedule)

Comment by KeyboardKev 12.03.14 @ 2:29 pm

I think when Wright returns, Jones should start at the 3 instead of Artis, who hasn’t shown much so far

Comment by wbb 12.03.14 @ 3:37 pm

This team is young, wait till next year!!

Sounds like another team I know!!!!

Comment by Dan 12.03.14 @ 4:09 pm

The ACC is a dismal 2-4 so far against the B1G with all the home teams winning. We really need Duke to win tonight….

We get bad match ups with VT @ Ped St., MSU @ ND and Virginia has to play @ Maryland. Of course Duke has to play @ Wisconsin.

There’s 6 more games tonight and 4 of them are at B1G home courts again….that’s 8 out of 12 at home. Home court is huge in college BB. Who set up these games anyway…..the AD’s for B1G teams?

Comment by Jackagain 12.03.14 @ 4:47 pm

I was wondering that too, how do they get 8 of 12 home games?

Comment by gc 12.03.14 @ 4:55 pm

I think he is an identity crisis. He doesn’t feel comfortable coaching uptempo but doesn’t have the players to play his way.
Comment by wbb 12.03.14 @ 11:46 am

Agree wbb. Pitt had it’s better games and bigger wins last year in ‘uptempo’ games.

Scoring Totals:
76 against Texas Tech
88 against Stanford **
74 against NC State (after horrid 1st 10 minutes)
79 against Maryland
80 against Wake Forest
81 against GT
76 against Clemson
83 against Maryland
85 against ND
83 against Clemson
84 against Wake *
80 against North Carolina*
77 against Colorado*

*indicates tournament game

Games we struggled:

43 against Cincinnati (L)
54 against Syracuse (L)
45 against Virginia (L)
59 against Miami (OT)(W)
62 against VT (2OT) (W)
56 against Syracuse (L)
66 against Fla. St. (L)
67 against NC St. (L)
48 against Virginia (L)*
45 against Florida (L) *

Seems pretty obvious, when we played uptempo and scored more points we won. When we played halfcourt, we generally LOST or even struggled against bad teams like VA Tech to barely win.

What doesn’t Dixon get ?

Comment by Emel 12.03.14 @ 6:09 pm

^ Top half avg’d 80 ppg

bottom half avg’d 54.5 ppg

Can’t be any more clearer than that.

And if the other team is trying to slow it down, you have to force tempo. For they can see Pitt is easier to beat forcing them to play halfcourt.

Comment by Emel 12.03.14 @ 6:18 pm

WE really need for the PG coming next year(Wilson), to bring his buddy Chick Diallo with him.

I don’t care what they do, just get him.

Cause this team/program is clearly trending downward.

Only elite players can reverse that trend, imo.

Comment by Emel 12.03.14 @ 6:42 pm

Emel,

you’ve been beating the uptempo, press drum for a long time. After watching last night’s game I am in complete agreement. This team, like each team from the last three years, has trouble in the half court against a decent, not great, defensive team. Our guards, even Newkirk, can’t keep guys in front of them. Mismatches? Forget about it. McGhee versus Walker was a better matchup!

Last night Pitt’s half court D was terrible. Their half court O was almost as bad when IU went zone.

They played their best when the floor opened up. They actually had a credible press. They had a lot of success in primary and secondary breaks. Deep shot clocks are bad for this team. I believe you call it slog ball. In any event I agree it’s not for this team.

This team has athletes who can run the floor. Once Cam Wright returns they should have enough depth to become a pressing/breaking team.

The question is does JD have the courage and wisdom to change it up? I sure hope so. However I fear he won’t. He seems to be the type of coach who believes in his “system”. Much as I hate to admit it that’s why I respect coaches like Brey who adapt to their team’s talents and those of their opponents. Look at the type of game Huggins has WVU playing this year!

I do differ with you Emel about the elite players. The number of stars on the recruits has been going up for the last few years but that is not translating into any more success on the court. The 2008 and 2010 teams weren’t loaded with highly rated talent, but they were loaded with heart and attitude. You nearly always felt that they were going to win the game.

Comment by Barvo 12.03.14 @ 8:54 pm

The big picture on why Dixon is going to have real trouble going forward is summed up here pretty good:

link to insider.espn.go.com

Comment by Jackagain 12.03.14 @ 11:55 pm

Barvo, about those elite players….I’m going to guess you didn’t watch the Duke – Wisconsin game tonight.

Comment by Jackagain 12.04.14 @ 12:04 am

This team lacks elite talent AND experience. Pitt has done well in the past without elite talent, because they had good fourth and fifth year 22 year olds.

There are 2 four stars on the current roster, Robinson and Young. Durand Johnson was a three star, but was ranked in the top 150 (120).

Cameron Wright is the only fourth/fifth year 22 year old on the team and he hasn’t set foot on the court yet.

This is going to be a tough year. In a year or two, guys like Young, Newkirk, Johnson (2), and Luther could form the nucleus of a good team if they can mix in some young talent.

But for now, the trend line for Pitt hoops is going the wrong direction.

Comment by Boubacar Aw 12.04.14 @ 8:01 am

I hope the fans are kinder on Young for not “meeting his potential” than they were on Taylor.
Both required to play the 5 where they are overmatched. The blame rests entirely on the coaching staff for not recruiting a 3 or 4 ranked big man. Nix the JUCO, 3.5 pts and 320 pounds can sit next to Ubeco next year while Young gets destroyed by players 3 to 5 inches bigger.
The NBA does not see a 6’8″ center show his skills at the 4 so his career will probably end at Pitt as do all Pitt recruits from Dixon, except his sidekick on the bench Adams who he made into a lottery choice “B.S”

Comment by lost in the south 12.09.14 @ 12:41 am

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