Las Vegas — Former Kansas University basketball guard Kirk Hinrich has made the U.S. national team's 15-man traveling roster, announced by coach Mike Krzyzewski on Tuesday.

Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls beat out Luke Ridnour for what is expected to be the third-string point guard spot behind Chris Paul and Gilbert Arenas.

Hinrich was slowed by a hamstring injury during training camp, but apparently did enough to impress Krzyzewski.

"I'm just glad I have an opportunity to represent our country," Hinrich said Tuesday. "It's a big deal. We have to go to the world championships, which is where you qualify for the Olympics. It's something I'm really excited about."

Hinrich believes with players like LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, the U.S. will soon be back on top of the world.

"We have to use our length and athleticism. We are the most talented team out there. We have to do the best we can playing as a team and take advantage of it," Hinrich said.

The roster also includes Amare Stoudemire, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson and Brad Miller.

Ridnour, Adam Morrison and Shawn Marion were not included on the 15-man roster, but weren't cut from the U.S. team in the new selection system championed by Jerry Colangelo. Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups and Paul Pierce, who couldn't play next month because of injuries or family commitments, still are candidates for future U.S. teams as well.

In all, 24 players and non-roster invitee Greg Oden will be in the mix for training and competition for at least the next three years, through the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

As for now, Krzyzewski and his staff must trim the roster to 12 players by Aug. 18 - one day before his club begins the world championships in Sapporo, Japan.

"This week was more about putting in the foundation for a system and building camaraderie," Krzyzewski said. "We accomplished that this week, and now we have to start doing some more basketball stuff so we look like we know what we're doing."

Krzyzewski revealed a few nuggets of strategy for the tournament: He doesn't plan to have a regular starting lineup, and nobody will play all 40 minutes in any game. The Duke coach wouldn't mind using all 12 players in most games - another way to keep his players' legs fresh and confidence high.

That sounds OK to perhaps the team's best player - the Cleveland Cavaliers' James, thrilled to make the squad.

"I wasn't sweating, but it makes basketball a lot more fun when you're with a great team, and when you're around guys you know," James said as the players departed for a short break before resuming camp Monday.

"Guys were great about coming in here and not having a personal agenda. We're just all here to make a team, and we've got to do it as quickly as possible."