Mass defections put a dent in UCLA's chances to end the 2008-09 season in a fourth straight Final Four.

Pac-10 Player of the Year Kevin Love, who was also voted the league's premium freshman, was the No. 5 pick in the NBA draft. He wound up in Minnesota via trade from Memphis. Russell Westbrook left too, and was taken one spot ahead of Love -- fourth overall -- in the draft. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute went No. 37.

Clearly, the Bruins lost a legion of talent.

But don't shed a tear for UCLA. The Bruins are bound to be loaded yet again.

With Josh Shipp and Darren Collison, who had reportedly decided he'd enter the NBA draft but did not, coach Ben Howland has enough to keep the Bruins in the conversation as Pac-10 contenders. Howland, who earned a new contract with his impressive string of current success, now has a seven-year deal with a guaranteed worth of $1.97 million per season until the value leaps to $2.3 million in the contract's final year. In an offseason of losses, that's a pretty big win for the 51-year-old Howland.

But there were other dings and dents. In addition to the three top-40 draft picks, Chace Stanback decided one year at UCLA was enough, too. Stanback, a touted swingman who could've stepped into a starring role considering the offseason exodus of Bruins stars, is transferring.

The Bruins have proven reloading isn't as overwhelming in L.A. as it is at some other Pac-10 locales and with the league's top recruiting class, betting against the Bruins wouldn't be wise.

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