SEOUL, South Korea - Coach Mike Krzyzewski will only have to make one more cut for Team USA before the start of the World Championships.

Guard Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards was forced to leave the team after suffering a groin strain during practice on Monday.

Arenas had played in all four World Championship exhibition games and averaged 3.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 11.0 minutes.

“We know Gilbert is really disappointed, he’s done a great job,” Team USA managing director Jerry Colangelo said.  “It’s an unfortunate situation but he is not going to be able to continue on.  We’re concerned because he has had a history of groin pulls. This is a precautionary move but it is important that he return home and get treatment.”

Arenas will continue to participate in training camps with Team USA over the next two years and compete for a spot in the 2008 Olympics.

“It’s unfortunate that Gilbert sustained this injury,” Wizards president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld said.  “He is so proud to be a member of Team USA and he was excited for this opportunity. 

“Our doctors will re-evaluate his condition.  It is our understanding from Team USA officials that Gilbert’s injury is not serious.”

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The loss of Arenas leaves just four guards on Team USA - Chris Paul of New Orleans/Oklahoma City and Kirk Hinrich of Chicago at the point and Dwyane Wade of Miami and Joe Johnson of Atlanta at shooting guard.  Forward LeBron James of Cleveland can also play point guard.

Krzyzewski is less likely to make a guard his final cut. Team USA has James, Carmelo Anthony of Denver, Elton Brand of the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Bosh of Toronto, Bruce Bowen of San Antonio, Antawn Jamison of Washington and Shane Battier of Houston at forward and Dwight Howard of Orlando and Brad Miller of Sacramento at center.

Anthony scored 19 points and Wade added 14 to lead Team USA to its fourth exhibition victory prior to the World Championships, a 104-90 triumph over Lithuania on Sunday.

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The team will conclude the exhibition schedule with a game on Tuesday against Korea.  Following that game, Krzyzewski must trim his roster from 13 players to 12 prior to the opening game of the tournament against Puerto Rico on August 19.

In the World Championships, Team USA is in Group D with Puerto Rico, China, Senegal, Slovenia and Olympic silver medalist Italy, which routed the Americans in an exhibition prior to the 2004 Games.

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In 2002, the U.S. finished an embarrassing sixth at the World Championships, losing an astonishing three times despite the presence of NBA stars.  It was more of the same at the 2004 Olympics, where the Americans lost three more games and settled for the bronze medal.

The fall from the top prompted wholesale changes within USA Basketball, including the appointment of Colangelo and a tryout process which had not been used since the 1980s.

Only the winner of the 24-team World Championships and the Olympic hosts automatically qualify for the 2008 Games in Beijing.  If Team USA does not win the World Championships -which it has not done since 1994 - it must qualify through the 2007 FIBA Tournament of the Americas in Venezuela.

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