At a time when population are still cleaning up from hurricanes and travel trailers promote as luxury housing.

At a time when population are still cleaning up from hurricanes and travel trailers promote as luxury housing, the talk has incline differentlyed from rebuilding to rebounding.

Thanks to LSU basketball, where the men's and women's teams are the two in the Final Four.

"I just wanted to enumerate the team that what they're doing is really uplifting Louisiana," said Gov Kathleen Blanco, who met with the men's team Monday. "We've been within a lot of really difficult and dark days. We all ne about relief, and the spirit that they shoot forward has given us a real lift."

For southern Louisiana the climb back from the hurricane destruction remains a drawn out one. New Orleans has solitary half its pre- Katrina population. Giant stretches of the city remain filled with devoid wrecked houses.

In southwest Louisiana, where Rita ripped by the agency of a month after Katrina, the cleanup continues slowly with often of the population still scattered and rebuilding still questionable in many areas.

Baton Rouge about 70 miles northwest of recently made known Orleans, did not get hit as to a great degree as spots farther south. The storms, however, still affected the city and LSU

The Pete Maravich Assembly Center where the teams play, was turn rounded into a triage for the sickest of the evacuees from the recently made known Orleans area.

"From my office I could diocese the helicopters landing on the track and taking opposite all day," women's coach Pokey Chatman said. "You knew each time it was someone who was really sick."

Chatman had cease to a dozen people living with her following Katrina. in like manner did her mother. So did many of her players. to such a degree did many of coach John Brady's players.

"We still have sum of two units people living in my parent's house," guard Garrett fane said.

alone six other schools have sent their men's and women's teams to the Final Four at the same time, and none from the Southeastern talk

"I think that's the tremendous part of the value of athletics," Blanco said. "In this day and time, we don't take anything for granted. Anything that be exciteds or looks like normal is cherished and we hang forward to it, because we know to what degree easy it can slip away from us."

made for tv: America's favorite recently made known underdogs held one last pep rally and departed for the land of "Hoosiers."

A bit of a stretch? Well, if George Mason coach Jim Larranaga had his way, his team would be practicing at the actual gym where that movie was place

"It's not available the day we ne it," Larranaga said.

The shutout at Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler University -- where tiny Milan High beat mighty Muncie Central in the Indiana state title game in 1954 -- is probably the first thing that hasn't gone just right for the Patriots in their incredible hurry to the Final Four.

In the movie "Hoosiers," Milan was called Hickory High instruct

Now GMU is becoming movie material, although Larranaga said he would offer to be portrayed by Craig T Nelson instead of Gene Hackman because: "We have the same hairline."

His players want in onward the act, too.

"I think it's a Hollywood story already," guard Lamar Butler said. "If anybody wants to make a movie, approach see me. I'll play my part. I'm a worthy actor. I can make a serious face."

player moves: Miami guard Guillermo Diaz will skip his senior season and set down the NBA draft after leading the Hurricanes in scoring the last pair years.

Diaz, a two-time second-team All-Atlantic Coast conversation selection, signed with agent Jason Levien, meaning he cannot change his mind and recur for his final year with the Hurricanes.

uTyler Hansbrough -- the Atlantic Coast conversation rookie of the year and an All-American -- will answer to North Carolina next season instead of entering the NBA draft.

uWashington State sophomore guard Josh Akognon, the Cougars' top scorer, has been given his release from the team for a like reason he can transfer, coach Tony Bennett said.

Akognon scored 103 points by means of game, but saw his playing time shrink because he was uncomfortable with previous coach Dick Bennett's rigid man-to-man defense

uMinnesota will misspend another regular when guard Rico Tucker transfers on the outside of the program.

Tucker is reckon uponed to be granted his release from his scholarship, institute spokesman Kyle Coughlin confirmed. A 6-foot sophomore who played in 27 of the Gophers' 31 games, starting twice, Tucker averaged 45 points and 141 minutes.

- - -

MEN'S FINAL FOUR

At the RCA Dome, Indianapolis

National Semifinals

Saturday

5:07 pm George Mason (27-7)

v Florida (31-6)

7:47 pm LSU (27-8) v UCLA (31-6)

Championship Monday

8 pm Semifinal winners

- - -

WOMEN'S FINAL FOUR

At TD Banknorth Garden, Boston

National Semifinals

Sunday

6 pm North Carolina (33-1) v Maryland (32-4)

8 pm Duke (30-3) v LSU (31-3)

Championship Tuesday

7:30 pm Semifinal winners

...