SAN ANTONIO — It was no exaggeration when NCAA President Myles Brand termed yesterday's festivities at the Alamodome "The Battle of the Final Four Titans." But what he failed to mention was that those titans very quickly could be transformed into Lilliputians.

This is not to say UCLA, Memphis, Kansas and North Carolina are incapable of reloading, but they will be challenged.

The Bruins are expected to lose freshman center Kevin Love, sophomore guard Russell Westbrook and junior point guard Darren Collison to the NBA. Their other two starters, juniors Josh Shipp and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, are less likely to make that jump.

The Tigers are sure to lose senior forward Joey Dorsey and are expected to lose freshman guard Derrick Rose and junior guard Chris Douglas-Roberts.

The Jayhawks will be stripped of senior point guard Russell Robinson and senior forward Darnell Jackson, who almost certainly will be joined at the exit door by junior guard Brandon Rush. Sophomore forward Darrell Arthur and junior guard Mario Chalmers may also take that same door.

The Tar Heels are expected to lose junior forward Tyler Hansbrough and sophomore guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington.

The instant recap: It is a good bet that 12 of the 16 will not be back next season and that number could rise as high as 16.