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Arizona reaches its first Final Four in 25 years, beating Purdue

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Arizona reaches its first Final Four in 25 years, beating Purdue

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Coach Tommy Lloyd climbed the ladder, cut the last strand of the net and waved to the Arizona fans while they chanted, “Tommy! Tommy!”

Lloyd and the Wildcats are back in the Final Four for the first time since Lute Olson’s heyday 25 years ago as Arizona once again looks like a threat to win it all.

Freshman Koa Peat scored 20 points with his strength inside and Arizona’s defense bottled up Purdue in the second half to give the top-seeded Wildcats a 79-64 victory in the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final on Saturday night.

“Just being a kid from Arizona, to take this team to a Final Four, man, it’s a blessing,” said Peat, who was named the region’s Most Outstanding Player. “I’m proud of these guys. We worked for this. We’re not done yet.”

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After years of disappointment in March, Lloyd has gotten Arizona (36-2) back to being a championship contender thanks to a talented freshman class led by Peat to go along with veterans like Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley.

The Wildcats showed they can win in almost any style. They used a nearly flawless performance on offense to beat Arkansas in the Sweet 16 and then shut down one of the nation’s most efficient offenses against second-seeded Purdue (30-9) in front of a large crowd of Arizona fans.

“Making it to the Final Four is big,” Bradley said. “We appreciate Tucson, the supporters, and everybody behind the scenes. We just are happy that we get to reward them with this.”

Arizona frustrated the NCAA record-holder in assists, Braden Smith, and prevented his fellow four-year seniors Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer from getting into a rhythm. Purdue was held to its second-lowest point total of the season and shot just 38% from the field.

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Arizona used an 16-3 run early in the second half to erase a seven-point halftime deficit and take a six-point lead on a 3-pointer from Anthony Dell’Orso. The Wildcats stayed in control from there. Brayden Burries hit a 3-pointer, and after a turnover by Smith, Ivan Kharchenkov made a layup for an 11-point lead.

Peat put the exclamation point on the win with dunk that made it 68-55 with less than six minutes remaining, sending the Wildcats to Indianapolis next week on a 13-game winning streak.

Peat became just the sixth freshman to score at least 20 points to help his team win in both the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.

“They call him Mr. Arizona,” Lloyd said. “Koa is special, and I know you guys hear it, but you got to hear it again. Four state championships at the same high school. Didn’t go to a prep school. Four gold medals with USA Basketball. No one in FIBA history has ever done that. And helped lead Arizona to a Final Four.”

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The trip to the Final Four is a long-awaited one for the Wildcats, who last made it to that stage in 2001 when they lost the title game to Duke under Olson. They had lost five straight times in the Elite Eight since — tied for the second-longest skid ever in that round — under the three coaches who followed Olson after he retired in 2007.

Lloyd replaced Sean Miller in 2021, and this year’s Wildcats have set the school’s single-season record for wins en route to the Final Four.

“Without Lute — without Sean doing what he did for those 12 years he was here, I wouldn’t be able to do what we did today. I fully understand that,” Lloyd said. “Those guys, this is for them too. You know, I have no problem sharing the success of this team with the coaches that came before me.”

Kharchenkov scored 18 points for Arizona, while Bradley and Burries each scored 14.

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Purdue withstood an early push from Arizona and quieted the large contingent of Wildcats fans with a strong finish to the first half. Smith returned from a rare five-minute stint on the bench to hit his third 3-pointer of the half. He set up C.J. Cox for a 3 and then drew an offensive foul before firing up the Boilermakers fans. Purdue led 38-31 to match Arizona’s largest halftime deficit of the season.

But the Boilermakers wilted in the second half as the senior trio that began their careers losing in the opening round as a No. 1 seed to Fairleigh Dickinson in 2023 and lost the title game the following year to UConn couldn’t get back to the Final Four.

Smith scored 13 points, Kaufman-Renn had 10 and Loyer just eight. The three combined to shoot 12 for 38 from the field.

“They’re obviously very talented,” Smith said. “They’re the No. 3 defensive team in the country. They rebound at a high, high level. I think that’s kind of where they got us. We would make a couple of plays, get a couple of blocks and then got it right back and were able to score. Obviously we didn’t make as much shots as we did in the first half in the second half. Then obviously those add up.”

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Arizona will take on the winner of Sunday’s game between Michigan and Tennessee in the national semifinals Saturday.

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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

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Everything you need to know about Easter bin collections in Cambridgeshire

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Cambridgeshire Live

Dates for putting out the bins over the Easter bank holiday may change in your area

Easter is here, meaning it’s the time of year to indulge in lots of chocolate and hot cross buns. It’s also the time to enjoy a few days off as there is the long weekend for bank holiday.

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This year, Good Friday is on April 3, with Easter Monday on April 6. The day you put out the bins may change over the bank holiday weekend in Cambridgeshire.

Here are the days you will need to put your bins out over the bank holiday, depending on your council area:

Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council

Those living in the Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council areas would normally expect to have their bins collected on Friday, April 3. However, this has been changed to Monday, March 30.

Fenland District Council

From Friday, April 3, people living in Fenland will have their bins collected a day later, with household waste bins set to be collected on Saturday, April 4, instead of Good Friday. Normal bin collections will resume from April 13.

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Huntingdonshire District Council

Those living in the Huntingdonshire District Council area will see no changes to their bin collection dates over Easter. Bins will be collected on Monday, April 6.

East Cambridgeshire District Council

Dates for bins being collected in the East Cambridgeshire District Council area have been changed for several days. These are:

  • Friday, April 3 will be collected on Tuesday, April 7;
  • Monday, April 6 will be collected on Wednesday, April 8;
  • Tuesday, April 7 will be collected on Thursday, April 9;
  • Wednesday, April 8 will be collected on Friday, April 10;
  • Thursday, April 9 will be collected on Saturday, April 11;
  • Friday, April 10 will be collected on Monday, April 13;
  • Monday, April 13 will be collected on Tuesday, April 14;
  • Tuesday, April 14 will be collected on Wednesday, April 15;
  • Wednesday, April 15 will be collected on Thursday, April 16;
  • Thursday, April 16 will be collected on Friday, April 17;
  • Friday, April 17 will be collected on Saturday, April 18.

Peterborough City Council

People living in the Peterborough area will have their bins collected as normal on Friday, April 3. Bins are not collected on Monday, so Easter Monday will not be affected.

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Woman who ‘spent a lifetime struggling with weight’ loses nearly 3st with ‘game-changing’ app

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Daily Record

Susan Rae, 58, lost over 40 pounds using the Simple app’s intermittent fasting approach, describing it as a ‘total life-changing’ experience

The pressure to revamp health routines can feel daunting, particularly when quick fixes and restrictive diets promise dramatic results but seldom deliver long-term change. For many, the cycle of repeatedly starting anew becomes tiring, which is why more people are opting for simpler, more sustainable approaches that fit into real life.

That’s precisely what attracted one user to the Simple app, which has quietly amassed a loyal following due to its personalised plans and emphasis on realistic habits rather than extremes. Instead of strict calorie counting or eliminating entire food groups, the Simple app focuses on small, manageable changes.

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It’s worth mentioning that new users can currently benefit from significant savings, with up to 80% off plans using the code ‘REACH’ . There’s also a two-for-one offer that allows them to share their subscription with a friend or family member.

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User Susan Rae, 58, has experienced incredible results with Simple , and she said: “I have lost over 40 pounds and 40 inches from my body using the Simple app.”

What began as a casual download quickly evolved into a complete lifestyle shift. She continued: “I started using it 284 days ago, when I found it on Facebook, and I downloaded it, thinking it was going to be an app for women over 40 to do yoga, and I quickly found the intermittent fasting component and things took off from there.”

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Instead of strict calorie counting or cutting out entire food groups, the Simple app centres around small, manageable changes

Within just a couple of months, she had already achieved her target . “It started in December, and by February, I had hit my goal weight,” she explained, adding that she has since gone even further without feeling restricted, reports the Mirror .

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“I’m 15 pounds less than my goal weight today through no effort, no grinding, no obsessing.” Like many, Susan had battled with her weight for years and had growing health concerns before trying the app. She said her cholesterol had been rising and her blood sugar levels were becoming a concern, but since making the switch to Simple, she has noticed significant improvements.

“My energy has been through the roof. I feel a million times better,” she said. At the core of the app is its personalised approach. After taking a short quiz, users receive a tailored plan designed around their goals, lifestyle and preferences. It includes features such as intermittent fasting tracking, daily workout plans and easy food logging, whether by typing, voice or simply taking a photo.

A standout feature is Avo, the app’s AI-powered coach, which provides real-time advice, recipe ideas and support. Susan described it as a game-changer in helping her stay on track and make better choices without feeling deprived.

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The platform also avoids rigid dieting rules, instead focusing on behaviour changes and sustainable habits. Users are encouraged to build routines that work for them, making it easier to maintain results long-term rather than slipping back into old patterns. Of course, intermittent fasting may not work for everyone but Susan has achieved impressive results.

Speaking about her advice to others, Susan added: “Lean in, lean into the program, lean into the community if you enjoy that stuff. You can do this, and it will be so worth it. Total life-changing, game-changing experience.”

She added: “I want you to know that if I can do it, anyone can do it, because I have spent a lifetime struggling with weight and trying to find something that felt easy enough to continue.”

For an alternative, there’s Noom , a weight loss platform that focuses on mindful eating, not strict diets. Highly scientific, Noom offers plenty of support to clients, stating it creates ‘fun’ personalised courses for people – with pricing depending on the plan and the individual.

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Or there’s MyFitnessPal – a food and fitness tracker designed to help people meet their targets and monitor their nutritional intake. There are premium options, but also some free sections available on the app.

Those who are using Simple shared their views on Trustpilot, too, with one person saying: “This app is one of the easiest ones to see if your food is on target without counting calories. It also reminds you when your eating window that you chose starts and ends. Must say it’s worth picking a coach. Really positive experience and gives you ideas on how to tweak what you eat to make it better for a balanced meal.”

Another user shared their progress, stating: “Absolutely amazing app. I have lost over one stone using this. There is always help at hand when I had my struggles. The app is very easy to use. Love it.”

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One individual outlined what they’d like to see improved, saying: “Honestly a super supportive app that doesn’t make me feel bad if I miss a day or something. I do wish it had more options for drinks (lemonade for example is hard to track accurately) or an option to write in a drink or activities. Otherwise it’s great.”

However, another user was particularly impressed with the customer service, writing: “Results are key in my 5-star review. The excellent customer service is a HUGE plus; and the intuitive, interactive interface actively encourages users to try harder, without shaming. A few tweaks to customisation (diet options, exercise editing) will given an even richer experience.”

Simple is currently offering a discount with the code REACH.

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Key points after ninth week of Noah Donohoe inquest

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Belfast Live
Key points after ninth week of Noah Donohoe inquest | Belfast Live