Eisbaeren Bremerhaven

Jordan Brangers (Eisbaeren Bremerhaven) I Feel Like I’m One Of The Greatest JUCO Players To Never Play NCAA D1

Jordan Brangers is a 188cm guard that was born in Radcliff, Kentucky and attended North Hardin High School. He is playing his professional rookie season in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He began his basketball career with South Plains JC (JUCO) and in his second year played 30 games averaging 16.0ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.3apg, FGP: 44.2%, 3PT: 39.9%, FT: 74.4%. He left school after only two years and could be the first player ever to come out of JUCO and reach the easyCredit BBL. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball before he made the journey to Germany.

Jordan thanks for talking to germanhoops.com. Where are you at the moment and how has your summer been?

I’m currently in Daytona, Florida working out and getting ready for the upcoming season. My summer has been very good. A lot of workouts and playing a lot of basketball.

You recently played in the Miami Pro League and scored 43 points. You were dropping shots from all over. Was this as much as you have ever been in the zone and was the hole like the ocean on this day?

Wouldn’t say it’s the biggest zone I’ve been in. The biggest was pretty big, but I’ve gotta credit my teammates for getting my good looks and making the right passes to me in my spots.

Congrats on signing your first professional contract with German team Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Would it be fair to say you are one of the greatest JUCO players that never played in The NCAA but could have with Colorado State or Texas Tech?

Yeah, I would definitely say I feel like I’m one of the greatest JUCO players to never play NCAA D1 and I say that as humble as possible. I’ve put in a lot of work up to this point to be as good as I am and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

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AJ English Is Back Watching The Fraport Skyliners Offensive Versatility Destroy The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven 95-69

From the shooting stats last weekend in Gotha that Philip Scrubb produced one could have thought on paper that it could have been a Steph Curry or Klay Thompson or even Larry Bird transported back to the court that had somehow been secretly been flown to the former Eastern Germany city and had worn a special Scrubb mask, but in reality it was really Scrubb. For many in North America he has been classified as the best Canadian college player of all-time and is on the verge of becoming the best Canadian to ever play in the EasyCredit BBL. Ok it was only one game, but the Canadian has been a sniper/scorer his whole life and making points on an regular basis and making it look easy like those superstars from the NBA has been a regular occurrence this season as he is flirting with winning the scoring title in Germany´s highest league.

Basketball BL, FRAPORT SKYLINERS - EISBAEREN BREMERHAVEN

Philip Scrubb carries Frankfurt’s offense this season and currently averages 18,7 points per game. 

Not only is this season fun again for players like Quantez Robertson, Mike Morrison and Scrubb who won a Fiba Europe Cup title in 2016 and reached the BBL semi-finals two seasons ago as last season was one to forget as the club missed the playoffs and all in all it was a very boring season except for seeing some AJ English shooting clinics and getting jealous whenever ex players like Jordan Theodore or Aaron Doornekamp were celebrating new titles. Not only is winning enjoyable, but since the 34 point Scrubb onslaught something else is exciting to watch each day with the Fraport Skyliners. Over the years, it was always fun to witness for how many points and assists a Dashaun Wood would go for the Fraport Skyliners in the 2010-2011 season as he won the MVP and also to see how many assists Jared “Mr pass” Jordan would hit you with with teams the Telekom Baskets Bonn and the Walter Tigers Tuebingen. Now in Frankfurt, there is the Philip Scrubb watch and just how many points he will score on the next night as he is on course to possibly follow Dashaun Wood as the next league MVP. After the Gotha romp, the Fraport Skyliners and Scrubb returned home and had to face the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven who haven´t invented defense this season as they have given up 82 points on average which is 12th in the league, but they had brought some momentum after a much needed win against Tuebingen, but they had no chance against the Fraport Skyliner´s offensive versatility getting destroyed 95-69. For most scoring 19 points would mean having a good night at the office, but for Philip Scrubb who was scoreless in the third quarter, it was a solid, but not spectacular night. After the win the Canadian had to escape a horde of photo hungry girls and one could see he would rather have been attacked by a shooting machine, but as always he shrugged off his success and was modest even if the Scrubb watch produced a smile. “We didn´t need my points, because other guys were playing well and hitting shots. For me it´s not a big deal how much I score. After that Gotha game people may expect me to do that every game and have a Scrubb watch, but that won´t always happen. I will take shots if I get them”, stressed Phiip Scrubb.

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The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven Continue To Swim In Mediocracy With Or Without NBA Bodies

The Last time the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven were playing in mid May in the BBL playoffs, a Dennis Schroeder was only a household name on Braunschweig´s playgrounds, Jogi Low and Germany were getting ready for the World Cup in South Africa, BBL identity figures Quantez Robertson was a rookie and Rickey Paulding was only in his third season with the EWE Baskets Oldenburg  and Barack Obama was in the midst of his first term as President. It was the summer of 2010, the basketball world in Bremerhaven was in full force and everything was rosy. For those Bremerhaven fans that didn´t have time or money to enjoy a feast at Natusch and rap about Bremerhaven basketball, then getting that quick fish trip at the local Nordsee restaurant was always an option to philosophy about how easy a Lou Campbell could set up Jeff Gibbs for an easy bucket was something that was the norm in those days. Bremerhaven and head coach Doug Spradley was a few plays and breaks away from reaching the final, but the Fraport Skyliners won game 5 and went on to lose to Bamberg in five games. After entering the BBL in 2005, the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven reached the playoffs in four of five seasons, but since 2010 have never reached the playoffs again. Every season not only Bremerhaven fans, but possibly a few more in the league are hoping and wishing that this might be the season where the club finally catches a few breaks with their player personal and run off a string of winning streaks and big wins to get back to the playoffs. However since 2010, the club has finished in ninth place once, and in 11th, 12th and 15th place twice. It didn´t really matter who was coach in the last eight years with Doug Spradley, Calvin Oldham, Muli Katzurin or now Sebastian Machowski, none could bring back the success that Sarunas Sakalaukas had. People really wondered from season to season how such talented and seemingly deep rosters couldn´t make the playoffs. A player is only as good as their character and for some reason, the club was unable to bring in exactly the right mix of players that could help the team make the promised land. Even with future BBL legend Derrick Allen on board for a season who knowingly has a top character and work ethic like no other, the club couldn´t make the best of it. Over the years the club has always brought in a lot of talent and players like Darius Adams and Kyle Fogg that would make the next step to better leagues, but the chemistry within the team just didn´t function properly. Even bringing in ex NBA players like Deandre Liggins and Tyrus Thomas were unable to bring any extra magic and infect their teammates as success remained invisible. Thomas retired after his Bremerhaven flop while Deandre Liggins returned back to the NBA and probably will never be reminded again about Bremerhaven. The club has maybe lacked the scouting expert like a Brendan Rooney who for years always brought the right players to Bamberg. A real true identity and chemistry has been missing from the playoff teams from 8 years ago. The team has lacked heart and have been clearly underachieving for years. With the dismissal of Jan Rathjen who was responsible for the success from 2005-2010, he lost his magic in the last years and now it´s Arne Woltmann turn who has the job. However nothing has changed as the team is in 17th place and under achieving again. When will it finally be fun again to go to Nordsee and talk about the exciting win from the night before?

Last season the club finished in 12th place mainly due to a lightening finish finishing 6-3. They played their best basketball of the season and were close to beating Bamberg losing 85-84 and Ludwigsburg losing 81-78.

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Kyle Fogg (Unicaja Malaga) The Do Or Die Eurocup Game Against FC Bayern Munich Is One Of The Biggest Of My Career

Kyle Fogg is a 27 year old 190cm guard playing his fifth professional season and first with Unicaja Malaga (Spain-Liga Endesa). Last season he led the German BBL in scoring with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven (Germany-BBL, starting five): 33 games: Score-1(18.5ppg), 3.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 49.3%, 3PT: 35.5%, FT: 89.7%. He started his basketball career with Arizona (NCAA) in 2008 an dplayed 138 games in his 4 year career and as a senior played 34 games averaging 13.7ppg, 3.8rpg, 2.1apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 40.1%, 3PT: 44.1%, FT: 79.5%. He started his professional career in 2012 with the  Rio Grande Valley Vipers (D-League) playing 43 games averaging 5.8ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 39.5%, 3PT: 33.6%, FT: 80.2%. In the 2013-2014 season he started with the Delaware 87ers (D-League), in Dec.’13 signed at Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) playing 29 games: Score-1(27.0ppg), 6.4rpg, Assists-4(4.6apg), 1.3spg, FGP: 53.5%, 3PT: 39.7%, FT: 84.2%. In the 2014-2015 season he played with Port of Antwerp Giants (Belgium-Scooore League): 32 games: 15.4ppg, 3.3rpg, 2.3apg, 1.1spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 81.9%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 16.4ppg, 3.2rpg, 2.8apg, FGP: 45.2%, 3PT: 43.8%, FT: 75.5%. He spoke to German Hoops before the do or die Eurocup game against FC Bayern Munich.

Kyle thanks for talking to German Hoops Do or die in Munich for the rights to advance to the Eurocup semi-Finals. How excited are you for this game? Where do you rank this game in importance in your career in Europe?

Very excited this is definitely one of the biggest games of my career in Europe.

Do you have any friendly wagers going with your ex Arizona teammate Nick Johnson?

Haha nah we don’t have any wagers on the game but bragging rights are on the line.

You probably keep tabs on your ex teammates, but seriously is there that extra special competitive flair between you and Nick Johnson now on the court. You guys came off the bench in the first game and both started in the second game and in both games the stats were almost similar

I follow all of my ex teammates from Arizona, but Nick and I have been close friends since we played together in college. We battled every day in practice, and I expect the same on Wednesday.

FC Bayern Munich have rebounded very well in both games, but key was the Malaga defense in game two in Spain. What adjustments did the team make in game two and what will be key in getting the win in Munich?

For us it was a do or die game. I think we played with a lot more energy and a sense of urgency. We have to bring that same intensity on Wednesday especially playing in their gym. Trying our best to keep them off the glass will be a key factor in the game.

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Larry Gordon (SC Rasta Vechta) Derrick Allen Gives Me Hope As A Basketball Player

Larry Gordon is a 29 year old 196cm forward that is back in Germany having signed with SC Rasta Vechta. He started the season with Sonic Boom KT (Korea-KBL) playing 19 games averaging  14.9ppg, 6.2rpg, 2.1apg, 1.3spg, 2FGP: 51.3%, 3FGP: 35.6%, FT: 82.1%. Last season he played with the  Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3%. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once  He played at  Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of  116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing 36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 40th interview for the website.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Welcome back to Germany. When I say 36/22 do you have any idea what I am referring to?

I have no idea!

Well let me clear up the math lesson and tell you that 36 stands for the minutes you played in a 75-67 win in Vecta 3 years ago where you led the team with 22 points. What do you remember about the breathtaking atmosphere in the Rasta Dome?

It’s small and loud, with a great fan base.

How excited are you to be playing in Vechta? How big is this challenge for you coming and trying to get Vechta back to winning ways?

I’m very excited, I’m back in Germany which is like a second home for me. This will be a very big challenge for me given the situation but nothing I haven’t experienced before.

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The Starks And Shields 40 Show Saves The Fraport Skyliners Overcome The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven 84-79

Even if Fraport Skyliners fans had relived that typical breathtaking playoff atmosphere already two weeks earlier in an untypical fascinating September title game bash against Venezuelen team Guarus De Lara in the Intercontinental Cup, which denied them a fourth club title, technically speaking was the battle against the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven the home opener. Nothing will ever equal the buildup and majestic feeling to a MLB home opener, but in basketball just knowing that the new season has started with the first home game brings special feelings, anticipation and hope for the future. The game day schedule and process has always been very special in the Fraport arena as the organization does a good job bringing everything possible to the fan in a two hour experience. As always there are things to look forward to in the 5,004 arena when filled to capacity that might have gone a bit forgotten over the long summer. Especially this season which is seen as one of change as so many players departed and a new youth era continues. Many are wondering can the Agva´s, Kiel´s and Mayr´s become the Voigtmann´s and Barthel´s of tomorrow and would 16 year NBA prospect Isaac Bonga make his home debut right in the first game against the Eisbaeren. Others were wondering can the imports make the grade this season while in the arena everyone was awaiting in great anticipation to the new pre game video that is displayed before the player introductions. Others were looking if there had been any new food items added to the concession area´s while others were looking forward to exchanging summer tales with their seat neighbors. Others were making friendly bets as to where head coach Gordon Herbert would be watching the game from. Certainly not from the catacombs where a dejected Murat Didin had to years ago where he was peering through the round like windows that look like a porthole on a ship. With so much to look forward to, the only thing missing to complete the day in harmony was a great game and hopefully a victory for the home town fans. The Fraport Skyliners controlled the game for 40 minutes despite the Eisbaern Bremerhaven always hanging around were able to close out the game even if they did suffer a scare at the end notching their first win of the season 84-79. The Starks and Shields 40 show carried the Fraport Skyliners as their key and timely scoring helped preserve the victory. Point guard Markel Starks was thrilled with finally playing the home opener and living the experience in his new living room and winning the home opener and was happy about the team getting a monkey off their back with their first win. “There was a lot of excitement with this being the home opener. We struggled the last games so it felt good to get the win. The atmosphere was really amazing, but I missed the team video as we were waiting to be introduced. I feel that we came in mentally prepared and stuck to the game plan bringing intensity from the start and playing very well for long phases of the game. I felt that we were aggressive at both ends of the court which helped us get the win”, stressed ex Goergetown guard Market Starks. The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven didn´t have their best execution game, but nobody could criticize their heart and determination of never giving up until the conclusion. “I feel that we had too many turnovers especially on my part that cost us the game. We have to learn to execute better and adjust to defensive pressure better”, added ex Akron(NCAA) guard Quincy Diggs.

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Are The Playoffs Still A Distant Dream For The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven Or Could It Become A Reality With Sebastian Machowski?

Back in 2005 the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven stormed into the BBL from the second division and the excitement in the small 108,000 seaside town was about as giant as was the desire for ex German chancellor Helmut Schmidt´s zeal for the polar bear research there. None of the basketball fanatics in the city would of even dared to have predicted that the club would reach the playoffs four times in the first five years of their entry into the first division or have ever thought that they wouldn´t have a free weekend twice in the first three seasons on cup weekend where they reached the top 4. However success doesn´t always continue as there is always a time where things don´t just continue to go up hill, but actually go downhill as one could have asked Bill Russell and then Boston Celtics after their amazing NBA run in the 60´s didn´t continue as drastically in the 70´s. In the last six seasons, the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven have been in a rut never placing higher than position 11 as they continued to have the cash for top class players, but some bad decisions with coaches and never developing chemistry have made Eisbaeren basketball country for fans as sad as it is for zoo keepers to forget the daily fish ration for the polar bears in the zoo for a whole week. Not only would the cute and huggable polar bears be starving, but still not as bad as what the Eisbaeren fans have been going through as starving for success has been a part of life for them for years. If one just sees the list of top players from the last years with guys like Derrick Allen, Darius Adams, Deandre Liggins, Moses Ehambie, Larry Gordon, Kyle Fogg or Tyrus Thomas, one has to wonder what else this club has to do to bring success back to this totally deprived basketball city. Last season the club rewarded the basketball fireman Mulim Katzurin  a chance to start from the start of the season after he kept the team in the league in 2015, but he failed and the club brought in the next fireman Sebastian Machowski who also saved the team. Now he gets another chance, but the difference is he can start from scratch and with a very immaculate track record in Braunschweig where he led the team to back to back playoff appearances and the EWE Baskets Oldenburg into the BBL final, why can´t he do it for a third time in the BBL with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven? His biggest challenge is shaping a team and building a team chemistry with 10 new players. A few days before the start of the new season, highly anticipated new player ex NBA player Patrick Christopher failed the medical check and had to go. If that wasn´t a bad omen isn´t known yet, so let the season begin and let Machowski get to work.

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Larry Gordon (KT Sonic Boom) I Have A Chip On My Shoulder And That´s The Way I Will Play This Season In South Korea

Larry Gordon is a 28 year old 196cm forward that recently finished his first season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven playing 33 games averaging 10.1ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.4apg, FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 42.6%, FT: 84.3% This season he will take his talent east to South Korea. The American played a total of 101 games for Phoenix Hagen from 2012-2015 leading them into the playoffs once  He played at  Cal Poly Pomona (NCAA2) from 2005 to 2009 playing a total of  116 NCAA2 games. In his senior year, he played 33 games: 15.7ppg, 10.4rpg, 2.0apg, 1.7apg, FGP: 53.8%, 3PT: 38.5%, FT: 75.7%. He was a CCAA Player of the Year and NCAA D2 Finalist in 2009. In 2009-2010, he came to Europe as a rookie and played for Landstede Basketbal Zwolle (Holland-Eredivisie) playing  36 games and averaging 14.0ppg, 8.1rpg, 1.8apg, 1.2spg, FGP: 48.3%, 3PT: 33.7%, FT: 75.8%. He played for ECE Bulls Kapfenberg (Austria-A Bundesliga) from 2010-2012 before coming to Phoenix Hagen in 2012. Larry Gordon has been a regular for German Hoops as he gave his 39th interview for the website recently from South Korea.

Larry thanks for talking to German Hoops Where are you at the moment and how was your summer?

No problem sir it’s always a pleasure man. At the moment I’m in South Korea, preparing for my upcoming season in the KBL. I had an incredible summer, took a vacation, traveled a lot and of course worked on my game.

After 7 years in Europe and four in Germany, you are headed east to South Korea to play for KT Sonic Boom. How excited are you about this new adventure?

Man I’m real excited, it’s a new situation for me and my career. The league is a bit different than leagues in Europe, but I’m adjusting so far and just want to make big impact here my first year.

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Brandyn Curry (I Just Need A Situation On A Team Where I Am Just Able To Play My Game)

Brandyn Curry is a 24 year old 187cm point guard from Huntersville, North Carolina that recently finished his second professional season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven where he played 27 games averaging 3.9ppg, 1.6rpg, 2.0ap As a rookie he  completed his first season in Europe for the SPM Shoeters Den Bosch (Holland-Eredivisie). In his rookie season in Holland he played 33 games averaging 14.9ppg, 4.1rpg, Assists-2(5.0apg), 2.0spg, FGP: 58.9%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 83.7%; EuroChallenge: 12 games: 16.2ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.9apg, Steals-5(1.8spg), FGP: 49.0%, 3PT: 40.6%, FT: 72.7% He played four years at Harvard(NCAA) playing a total of 113 NCAA games and as a senior played 23 games averaging 9.3ppg, 2.9rpg, 2.8apg, 1.4spg, FGP: 53.6%, 3PT: 37.8%, FT: 58.5%. He had the chance to talk with German Hoops after his second professional season in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven.

Brandyn thanks for talking to German Hoops. Where are you at the moment and how has summer been so far?

Hey Miles no problem at all. I am currently home in Charlotte, NC. Summer has been great so far just been getting after it in the gym. Glad to be back after a long 9 months away

Was it a bit strange being home so early after playing into the end of May in your rookie season with Den Bosch?

It was a bit strange but honestly was a relief. It was a pretty quick turnaround to not get home until June after the season ended in Den Bosch and then have to go to Germany in the beginning of August.

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Brandyn Curry Skips The Cheese Cake For Curry Wurst While Overcoming Growing Pains In His Second Professional Season With Bremerhaven

One of the oldest tricks of a woman to get the attention of that desired man is with “the way to a man´s heart is through the stomach” approach and that is the same also for a professional basketball player who has battled for 35 minutes on the floor hitting jumpers, getting into passing lanes, diving into the fourth row or going coast to coast. If it´s a Quantez Robertson, Jordan Taylor, Brad Wanamaker or Brandyn Curry on the road, all depart the floor after 40 minutes soaked in sweat and win or lose are already thinking what will be served on the bus? Usually it´s pre ordered pizza´s or will the club make a pit stop at the local Mcdonalds or Burger King. For a guy like North Carolina native Brandyn Curry who is a 24 year old 187cm point guard from Huntersville and playing his second professional season, he became used to the shorter road trips in Holland last season and the longer ones in Germany this season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven and knows what to expect on the post-game menu. However last season what he surely didn´t expect was getting an ear full of something out of his food closet from high school something he figured had been long buried in time just as the music from J-Kwon. Back in high school a totally innocent daily ration of cheese cake evolved into a total fascination of having fans shout it at his high school games. And just when the personable American thought that this nickname had forever been forgotten and would at tops be mentioned at the 10 year high school reunion, he actually had to hear about it last season first with an interview before an Eurochallenge clash against the Fraport Skyliners and then from the same guy a very energetic play by play guy who had done his homework and didn´t refrain from yelling Brandyn “Mr cheese cake” Curry for three every time he hit from the parking lot. In terms of his production in that unforgettable Eurochallenge game in Frankfurt, he couldn´t complain as he hit for 27 points nailing seven three pointers and in the return game notched 26 points having the number of the Fraport Skyliners, but in the end the cheese cake name must have had a sweet sour effect, because the rookie lost both games with Den Bosch. Despite the tasty cheese cake from high school being years removed from his diet, he did have the audacity to give it a try in Holland last season as it is a specialty. “The cheese cake is good in Holland, but actually I am not a big fan. That was a practical joke in high school and somehow the nickname stuck. I just liked the cheese cake at school and ate it not being a fan of it. A chant was started at games and there were signs, but it didn´t follow me to Harvard”, smiled Brandyn Curry. In Bremerhaven he actually has stayed true to his own name and traded in the local favorite crabs for the famous German dish Curry Wurst. “To be completely honest I haven’t even had the crabs yet! I am not a huge seafood fan and I especially don’t like raw seafood. I made the mistake of ordering the seafood platter at one of the restaurants in the city only to have to send it back because there was no way I could eat so much uncooked seafood. The best food I have discovered here is the Curry Wurst. They have it every home game in the buffet after the game”, expressed Brandyn Curry.

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