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#UNC's Caleb Wilson, Jarin Stevenson, Derek Dixon, Luka Bogavac and Zayden High
Mar 18, 2026
#UNC's Caleb Wilson, Jarin Stevenson, Derek Dixon, Luka Bogavac and Zayden High
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0:00
um
0:02
um past month or so, you know, it's
0:05
really hard. What's helped you the most
0:07
in terms of just support system?
0:10
>> My brother Evo right here.
0:12
>> Evo's been injured. You know, if we work
0:14
out together and uh honestly just
0:16
reading and stuff like that, helping
0:18
myself out, you know, it's it's all a
0:20
process, you know, I'll be fine. It's
0:21
all creating injury. So, I just look on
0:23
the bright side.
0:24
>> What have you been reading?
0:25
>> Uh just reading stoicism, reading the
0:27
Bible, honestly. just trying to read a
0:29
lot of proverbs.
0:30
>> Any proverbs or stories that have stood
0:33
out to you?
0:34
>> Uh really really not really, but I could
0:37
just say like just thinking that I can
0:38
control what I can control and you know
0:40
I was looking at optimistic kind of kind
0:42
of have an optimistic view towards
0:43
everything.
0:44
>> Caleb, what was the moment like for you
0:46
yesterday learning that your jersey was
0:47
going to be up in the rafters at some
0:49
point in Smith Center?
0:50
>> It was great. You know, it's always been
0:51
one of my goals since I really started
0:53
uh really when I came here. You know,
0:55
when Coach May first came to Atlanta,
0:57
right before I was going to come to
0:58
Chapel Hill, I I told him that was one
0:59
of my goals to get my jersey in the
1:01
Raptor. So, seeing that happen is really
1:02
big for me and it kind of feels like a
1:04
real full circle moment.
1:05
>> I know you wanted to play in the AC
1:06
tournament in Cameron and the tournament
1:08
here, but obviously that won't happen
1:10
now. How much is it satisfying to know
1:12
at least that you'll have your jersey up
1:14
there and it only took you 24 games to
1:15
do so? I mean,
1:16
>> it feels good, you know, but you still
1:18
want to play. I mean, it's cool to,
1:20
>> I guess, be remembered, you know, always
1:22
have something to remember yourself by,
1:23
especially in the dingdong. And, uh, I
1:25
think that's fun, but, you know, I think
1:28
it's cool, you know.
1:29
>> Take me back to the day when when you
1:30
found out about the thumb and that you
1:32
couldn't play again this season.
1:34
>> I mean, I just found out I was injured.
1:36
Uh, it was just it was a tough day, but,
1:39
you know, all I can do is move on.
1:40
>> What were the emotions like that day?
1:42
>> Uh, I don't know, just really sad, but
1:45
uh, I mean, I just knew I would come
1:47
back stronger. Caleb, as you watch these
1:49
games from the side, what do you see as
1:51
just kind of your role in this team to
1:55
this next?
1:56
>> Uh, for me, I really just have fun. Uh,
1:58
I sit on the bench and kind of encourage
2:00
my teammates. Uh, just try to bring a
2:01
lot of energy and just make sure
2:02
everybody feels like they're doing well.
2:04
I just try to encourage my teammates and
2:06
make sure everybody kind of has a
2:08
positive outlook and mindset on what
2:09
we're doing.
2:10
>> What gives you the confidence that this
2:11
team will be able to go on a big run
2:12
this year?
2:13
>> I just trust my guys. You know, we've
2:14
all been together. practice and I know
2:16
the talent that everybody has.
2:19
>> Caleb, you Caleb, you and some of the
2:20
other lottery picks have hinted at
2:22
coming back. I don't know if you're
2:24
joking or not. Are you running it back?
2:26
Are you coming back?
2:26
>> Uh, no. I haven't decided yet. But, um,
2:29
I mean, I love Carolina. It's a great
2:31
place to play and be at. And, uh, it's
2:32
been the most fun year of my life. So,
2:34
it'll definitely be hard to say no and
2:37
go ahead and go to the NBA. So, it's
2:38
just something I haven't really come to
2:40
a tradition yet. Caleb, I know just
2:44
like disappointing, but what has this
2:46
experience been like for you at being
2:49
here?
2:50
>> Has it lived up to everything that you
2:52
hoped it would be?
2:52
>> Yeah, it's been fun. You know, that was
2:54
kind of one of the things I also did
2:55
when I when I figured out I want to play
2:56
again is to just uh look back at all the
2:59
memories I've had like uh playing in
3:01
that Kansas game, my first big game and
3:03
uh playing in the Duke game and just all
3:05
the big games we played. We beat three
3:06
blue bloods this year and I've been in a
3:08
win. I've been, you know, a part of all
3:10
those games. So just really looking back
3:11
and enjoying the things that I have done
3:13
and the things that people will
3:15
remember.
3:16
>> Hey, you've always been a student of the
3:17
game, especially talking to you this
3:19
year. What from your vantage point, from
3:21
the sideline, have you noticed about
3:22
these guys? I know there's been some
3:23
challenges the last couple games. What
3:25
do you think from your vantage point are
3:26
some things that can improve on terms of
3:28
being able to make a run in the
3:30
postseason here?
3:31
>> Um, just just enthusiasm. Honestly, I
3:35
feel like, you know, the harder we play,
3:37
the more it will kind of impact us in a
3:40
winning way. I feel like, you know,
3:41
basketball is a X and O's game, but
3:43
we're we're a great team. I feel like
3:45
the enthusiasm and the willingness to
3:47
play hard is definitely going to take us
3:48
to work.
3:48
>> And obviously, you're very enthusiastic
3:50
person and a lot of your energy early in
3:52
the season ignited a lot of the other
3:53
guys around you. Do you feel like you
3:54
can still make an impact in that way
3:56
even though you're on the sidelines?
3:57
Yeah, I feel like it's always a way to
3:58
make an impact and just tell tell people
4:00
what you see when they come off the
4:01
court and also just trying to encourage
4:03
people and talk about trash on the
4:04
bench. You know, there's only so much
4:05
you can do when you're not out there,
4:06
but I just try to make an impact
4:07
whenever I can.
4:09
>> How much does it kill you to not be able
4:10
to just play?
4:12
>> Uh, I mean, it's really it's really
4:13
hard. It's really hard to sit in game
4:15
and watch, but like I said, it's all
4:17
part of paying those guys will. So, I
4:18
just I kind of just trying to find the
4:20
positive, you know.
4:23
>> Have you ever missed a game before this
4:24
year? Uh, I broke my hand before in my
4:28
high school years, so I missed a couple
4:30
times, but I usually recover really
4:31
fast. Even with this hand, I I recover
4:33
really fast, like three weeks, but just
4:35
wasn't in my car to play good.
4:37
>> Is there a I mean, if you talk about a
4:39
scenario, say the team makes the final
4:42
four, would that be enough of a recovery
4:44
time or it's just not It's just out of
4:46
the question.
4:46
>> I don't know. I don't know. I really
4:48
don't know how long my thumb will take
4:49
the hill. I mean, it's not it's not like
4:52
a thing I really know. It's cuz I had to
4:54
get surgery. So, it's different. I don't
4:56
know.
4:57
>> How close were you to coming back to the
4:58
second?
4:59
>> I was really close. I was really close.
5:01
I probably probably would have played in
5:02
it if it didn't happen to me. But it's
5:05
cool though.
5:06
>> What is your role now? Trying to support
5:09
these guys in these big games, make sure
5:12
that they're ready to play their best
5:14
start tomorrow.
5:15
>> I just bring a lot of energy. Just talk
5:16
to them before the game and during the
5:17
game and try to encourage them and talk
5:19
some trash to the other team. Just kind
5:21
of have fun. You mentioned your faith
5:23
guiding you through this time is really
5:24
challenging. What else are you leaning
5:25
on to be positive in your own way when
5:28
it's hard to feel like nothing's going
5:30
your way?
5:31
>> Uh really my teammates. Uh I mean
5:33
they're always with me. That's why I
5:34
hang around all the time and even like
5:37
Ivman like we when I broke my hand the
5:39
first time like he was always there with
5:40
me. We always conditioned together. So
5:42
just having somebody to do things with
5:43
kind of makes it way easier
5:45
>> to be a part of this experience still.
5:47
Um, unfortunately can't be on the court,
5:49
but as you've gone through selection
5:51
Sunday, you lost your name on the draft.
5:53
Just what was that like see it from a
5:55
different light?
5:55
>> It was really cool, honestly. Uh, of
5:57
course, I can't play March Madness, but
5:59
I know I've kind of helped us get some
6:00
position in with our seating and stuff
6:02
like that. So, I kind of still feel like
6:03
I'm doing it to the team and a part of
6:05
it is just I can't play. So, I just got
6:07
to find another way to affect the team
6:08
in a positive way.
6:11
>> Yeah, I definitely have experience here.
6:12
So, I know, you know, what to expect. So
6:15
just getting our team prepared and um
6:18
again having energy from the jump is
6:20
going to be really important.
6:21
>> Your your dad pulled a big upset when he
6:23
was with Richmond.
6:24
>> I forgot to ask you about that the other
6:25
day. Has he given you any advice about
6:27
what that was like in in the tournament?
6:29
How to maybe capture that yourself?
6:31
>> He he hasn't talked about it too much.
6:33
He does, you know, flex about it
6:34
sometimes, but but yeah. Um I heard he
6:38
played really well and um he has a big
6:41
upset. And your sister's got a pretty
6:43
special tournament this weekend too,
6:45
right? How you how you giving her any
6:47
advice out there?
6:48
>> Yeah, I think she's in Philly. Um, yeah,
6:50
she's doing great. Um, they just like
6:52
the national event. Um, so yeah, they're
6:54
going to be at nationals and yeah, she's
6:56
doing great.
6:56
>> Awesome. Good luck to her. Good luck to
6:57
you, man. Thank you.
6:59
>> Coach was talking about the way the
7:01
practices were a little bit shippy uh
7:04
this week. Can you tell me about that
7:05
and how that manifested itself?
7:08
Um, I feel like just us wanting to get
7:10
better, us want to do well. Um, again,
7:12
we have stuff to prove. Um, didn't get
7:14
the results we wanted from the regular
7:16
season and, uh, the conference
7:17
tournament. So, again, just pushing
7:19
ourselves to get better. We want to do
7:20
well in this tournament. So, um, having
7:23
energy from the jump and just being
7:24
ready is going to be important.
7:25
>> Me guys yelling at guys or what? I mean,
7:29
they're pushing Chevy. What was it?
7:31
>> Um, yeah, I guess he had a little bit
7:33
uh, just chippiness, you know, just
7:35
energy. um you know being physical and
7:37
stuff like that. I feel like that's
7:38
going to prepare us for these next few
7:40
games and um I feel like it was a good
7:43
um a good few practices to help prepare
7:45
us for the game.
7:46
>> Have you seen anything like like that in
7:47
practice all season?
7:48
>> Um yeah, a little bit, but I feel like
7:50
we really turned it up through the last
7:51
few practices to prepare.
7:53
>> Jiren, with the inconsistencies you guys
7:54
have had down the stretch here, is there
7:56
kind of like a we have something to
7:58
prove mentality amongst the group right
8:00
now?
8:00
>> Yeah. Um I feel like that's that's been
8:03
a big part of it. Um, again, not the a
8:06
result we wanted from the regular season
8:07
and conference tournament. So, just just
8:09
going into it with a with a a good
8:12
mindset. Um, being physical, having
8:14
energy from the jump, and just being
8:15
prepared.
8:16
>> Your best player goes down. What does it
8:19
take to kind of get this team back on
8:21
track and get the trajectory to where
8:22
you guys wanted to go?
8:24
>> Um, yeah, Caleb's a huge part of this
8:27
team, but he's also helped prepare us.
8:29
He's talking to team and like different
8:32
tips and tricks. He's talked to me like
8:34
I feel like our games are similar in
8:35
certain ways. So, he's helped me in many
8:37
different ways and um he's been a great,
8:40
you know, cheerleader just helping us,
8:42
you know, bring energy and stuff like
8:44
that. Um but yeah, as a team, we just
8:46
got to come together, bring energy from
8:47
the jump again, um and just be prepared.
8:50
>> What What do you think is the reason
8:52
that so often you guys get off to slow
8:54
starts in games as you as happened with
8:56
clutching?
8:57
>> I'm sorry. What what do you think is the
8:59
reason you guys so often have these slow
9:02
starts as happened with Clemson and what
9:04
can you do to fix that?
9:06
>> I think yeah, again, we got to set the
9:09
tone early. I feel like we haven't or we
9:11
didn't do that the last game we played
9:13
um having energy. Um I feel like we're
9:16
just not playing with enough we haven't
9:18
played with enough energy. The last few
9:19
practices have been a lot better, but um
9:21
with our last game, we didn't play with
9:23
enough energy from the jump. And so,
9:25
yeah, again, just setting the tone early
9:27
is going to be important.
9:28
>> Jared, I got to hear what you were
9:30
already talking about the chippy
9:31
practice the other day. Did that happen
9:33
organically or was there some kind of
9:34
messaging that kind of got you guys
9:36
jinned up to have that kind of practice?
9:39
>> Um, I think it was just organic. Um,
9:41
again, we didn't have the result we
9:42
wanted for the conference tournament.
9:44
So, that just kind of naturally pushed
9:45
us to, you know, our competitive state
9:48
and just compete with each other.
9:50
>> Was it bored out of the way you guys
9:52
played against Duke and Clemson? cuz I
9:54
remember I talked to you last Thursday
9:56
and asked you about some energy and
9:57
stuff and you said I don't know. Was it
9:59
kind of born out of not knowing you guys
10:01
recognizing you all had to come together
10:03
and and have an answer for it?
10:06
>> Yeah. Um I think yeah recognizing it's
10:08
is one and done now. So it's there's no
10:10
like oh we could do it later. We got to
10:12
do it now. We got to be prepared. We got
10:15
to turn it up now. Be physical and you
10:17
know just turn it up.
10:18
>> Has anybody been more vocal? Henry was
10:21
really vocal Thursday night. Yeah,
10:23
>> that's the most vocal I think I've seen
10:24
him during the game. A lot of f-words
10:26
that Hubert won't say. Has he been more
10:28
vocal since then? And anybody else
10:30
stepped up or has this been a collective
10:32
thing vocally?
10:33
>> He has been a collective thing. Henry's
10:35
been good for us. Um, he's gathered us
10:36
together, helped, you know, push us,
10:38
motivate us, and, you know, make sure
10:40
we're we're on the right track. Seth's
10:41
also been a great leader. Um, done a lot
10:44
of similar things as Henry got us
10:45
together, making sure we're ready,
10:47
making sure we're prepared, making sure
10:48
we're on the right track and being
10:49
physical and stuff like that. Um, and
10:52
just getting us together to beat
10:53
>> What's a VCU quick VCU scouting report?
10:56
>> VCU? Um, and get to the free throw line
10:59
a lot. We know that they're a scrappy
11:01
team. Um, um, they play physical
11:05
defense, a lot of steel threats, so got
11:08
to be prepared for that. Take care of
11:09
the ball and, you know, play our brand
11:11
of basketball. Appreciate it.
11:13
>> As a travel kid, do you have a specific
11:15
UNC March memory that sticks out that
11:17
you remember when you were young?
11:21
good or bad. Good or bad.
11:22
>> I remember um yeah 2016 and 2017 u
11:28
Marcus Page shot and um yeah 2017 run
11:32
where they won it all and yeah I don't
11:34
know UNCC is very prestigious school and
11:36
yeah great memories but yeah
11:39
>> has coach Paige given you guys any
11:41
advice or tips or pointers when it comes
11:43
to playing in this building where the
11:44
run started in 2017.
11:47
um
11:47
>> outside the normal. I know he's always
11:49
for sure.
11:50
>> Yeah, he he's been Yeah. Um cheering us
11:54
on in practice, making sure we're
11:55
physical, make sure we're on the right
11:56
track, make sure we're prepared. Um he's
11:59
given us a good scout for it and he's
12:01
been great for us.
12:02
>> As someone who's played in March and
12:04
experience what it's like to go through
12:07
the one and done, win a game and be done
12:09
losing before. How do you communicate
12:11
that effectiveness to everybody else in
12:13
the hockey? Um, yeah, I tried so, you
12:16
know, um, yeah, you try to get it
12:18
through their heads that like this this
12:19
week could be our last game if we don't
12:21
lock in and play our brand of basketball
12:23
and prepare it. So, um, yeah, I'm trying
12:26
to just communicate that and I'm trying
12:28
to get us together and make sure we're
12:30
prepared for our next game.
12:32
>> You were told us in Chapel Hall, I think
12:33
it was yesterday, that you guys have had
12:35
some good chippy competitive practices.
12:37
How much do you embrace that chippy and
12:39
like to see that in a practice knowing
12:41
that some of the effort things are some
12:43
things you guys need to work on?
12:44
>> Yeah, I mean uh it's winter go home now.
12:46
We got to bring everything we have and I
12:47
feel like we've done a good job at that
12:48
this practice this week.
12:50
>> How do you feel like just the vibe of
12:51
you guys? I mean obviously it's a new
12:53
season now. Like forget what happened
12:54
now you guys are in another new season.
12:56
How do you feel like just the vibe of
12:57
everyone is moving into some like for
12:59
you? You've never been in this type of
13:01
atmosphere before.
13:02
>> Yeah, I feel like it's good. I feel like
13:04
we're all excited to be here and ready
13:06
to go.
13:07
What what about the VCU? They they seem
13:09
to throw a lot of bodies at at at the
13:12
ball, double team a lot. That kind of
13:14
forces you to make quick decisions. What
13:16
do you see about the scouting report and
13:19
how you can navigate that tomorrow?
13:21
>> Yeah. Uh I mean, yeah, they're going to
13:23
try to junk the game up a little bit. Uh
13:25
you know, pick up, you know, get in the
13:26
passing lanes, all that type of stuff.
13:28
Uh, I think just executing properly, um,
13:31
being being simple, making the right
13:32
plays, making quick decisions, we'll get
13:35
open looks.
13:37
>> The a good pace is what they love, but
13:40
you you guys are good with that sort of
13:43
pace, I assume.
13:44
>> Yeah.
13:45
>> For sure. Yeah. I mean, we we want to
13:46
play fast. If they want to play fast,
13:48
we'll play fast, too.
13:52
Is it a unique preparation for y'all
13:54
preparing for a team obviously in a
13:55
smaller conference that you probably
13:57
weren't watching a whole lot during the
13:59
year in just a couple games? I don't
14:00
know. Is it does everything happen kind
14:02
of fast with preparing for a team that
14:03
y'all haven't seen? Probably don't have
14:05
a whole lot.
14:06
>> No, I mean it's it's the same as
14:07
preparing for any other team. Um
14:09
honestly with this team we we've had a
14:10
couple more days than usual. Usually
14:12
playing Sunday, Tuesday, Tuesday,
14:14
Saturday, but we've had a little bit
14:15
more time off to prepare for this game.
14:17
So I feel like it's just it's just been
14:18
the same as any other game. I think it's
14:20
really big for us.
14:20
>> Do you have some familiarity with Lazar
14:22
Djokovic?
14:23
>> He said that he kind of knew you guys
14:24
coming up in in Europe. Did you know of
14:27
his game uh before this match up?
14:29
>> No. Okay. Okay.
14:32
>> Look, the guys were talking about the
14:35
chicken practice the other day on Monday
14:36
and Hubert brought it up and Jiren said
14:39
it just kind of happened organically
14:40
that maybe you guys sort of needed to
14:42
kind of recreate the edge you had when
14:44
you guys had that four game win streak
14:46
before playing. Did it happen
14:48
organically? Was that something that you
14:50
guys needed to have sort of an edgy
14:52
chippy practice like that?
14:53
>> Yeah, I think we needed just to to get
14:54
ready for a fight because now it's
14:56
tournament time, don't have any more um
14:59
you don't have any space to lose one
15:01
game. So for us just uh important to
15:04
bring the energy, bring physicality cuz
15:06
without that we can't really play, we
15:07
can't really win the game. So I think if
15:10
we base our our game on physicality on
15:13
just some small things for example go on
15:17
offensive board or just box out our
15:19
basket. I think we can do big things.
15:22
>> I know that when we talked to you
15:23
several months ago you you knew about
15:25
North Carolina basketball before you
15:26
came over here. How much did you know
15:28
about the NCAA tournament before coming
15:30
over here?
15:30
>> Yeah, I knew but for me also it's
15:34
the se all this kind of stuff. For me
15:36
it's something new. really know how it
15:38
goes for what you need to to participate
15:41
in March Madness. So now I knew a little
15:43
bit more. So we just want to see how
15:46
hard is it to make NCAA tournament. I
15:48
feel a lot of team that they didn't
15:50
didn't make a tournament. Uh but they're
15:53
really good. So it's also hard to make a
15:56
tournament. Also hard to keep going and
15:58
win the games.
15:59
>> So over the last week I guess you're
16:02
probably thinking more about the
16:03
tournament seating process. What have
16:05
you kind of learned about it? Has it
16:07
been kind of fun to because this is a
16:09
huge event in this country. So, it's
16:11
been kind of fun to kind of get an
16:13
understanding of how this works.
16:15
>> Yeah, just to be able to face other team
16:17
from other conference. I think it's also
16:19
good just to go out from ACC to to
16:22
compete with other teams from the best
16:24
from other conferences also really.
16:28
Are you aware of like uh like one
16:31
shining moment? You guys ever talk about
16:33
stuff like the the music of the NCAA
16:36
tournament, the pageantry of it?
16:37
>> No, I don't I don't know. Yeah. For for
16:39
>> if you Google one shining moment,
16:41
especially 2017, I'll bring up North
16:43
Carolina when they won the title. It's
16:45
something a lot of guys kind of dream of
16:46
being a part of. Yeah, I wish for sure
16:48
after that just to see how it
16:53
>> um
16:53
>> I think that like I told one of the
16:56
other reporters, I think that for us to
16:58
win, it has to be all 16 of us bringing
17:00
that sand that sign that sort of edge
17:03
and um mentality.
17:05
Um but I mean, if I got to be the one,
17:07
you feel me, to come in and talk trash,
17:09
beat Energy, or Jay Young got to be the
17:11
one to um come in and bring energy, then
17:13
so be it. That's what it is. Um, but I
17:15
think for us to go into this tournament,
17:17
we got to be a more chippy team and um,
17:19
more team on edge.
17:20
>> How much of a focus has that been the
17:21
last couple days? Is that was something
17:23
that's like unspoken that everyone kind
17:24
of knows or is that something you guys
17:26
need to remind each other about?
17:27
>> Um, well, the past couple weeks I feel
17:28
like it's been something to kind of
17:30
remind each other out. Um, Caleb was
17:32
kind of one of the guys to bring the
17:33
edge uh, bring that edge and we all just
17:35
matched him. Um, but you know, with him
17:38
being out, I think some guys got to step
17:40
up in that aspect of the game. Do you
17:42
feel like even with Caleb being out that
17:43
he can still help you guys in that
17:45
aspect even if he's not on the floor?
17:46
>> Yeah, I think so. But, um, there's only
17:49
so much like he could do on the bench.
17:51
Um, and I know as much as he wants to be
17:53
out there, he can't. So, other guys got
17:55
to step up and bring that.
17:57
>> Was part of the the the intensity in
17:59
practice that maybe the feeling that
18:01
Clemson was more physical and you didn't
18:04
have handled their physicality that
18:05
well?
18:06
>> Yeah, I think Clemson and Duke, the last
18:07
time we played Duke, they were both just
18:09
they just outmatched us. um and the uh
18:12
more physical aspects of the game like
18:13
rebounding and taking care of the ball.
18:16
Um so yeah, I think that the last couple
18:18
weeks that's kind of one of the things
18:19
we've been stressing off.
18:20
>> So how does that have to manifest itself
18:22
to more physical play?
18:24
>> Um I think I think it right now we all
18:26
know we that's like it's winter go home
18:28
now. Um so I mean we can't go out there
18:32
and not beat the more physical team.
18:36
What about the the chemistry that you
18:38
built with Henry as you've been getting
18:40
more playing time? There's been some
18:42
high low passes in there. Talk about
18:44
that chemistry there.
18:46
>> Um yeah, well at the beginning of the
18:47
season I was I was the one going up
18:49
against him. So it's finally fun to um
18:51
be on the same side of the ball as him.
18:53
Um being able to pass him the ball, him
18:55
passing me the ball. Um but you know,
18:57
it's always fun to play. Henry's such a
18:59
good player, so it's fun to play with
19:00
Henry.
19:01
>> Thanks.
19:01
>> Appreciate it. Thanks, sir. I'm tell
19:03
her.
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