Seoul, South Korea ? Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, a Kansas University product, has survived the final cut for the U.S. basketball team, which begins play in the World Championships in Japan on Saturday.

Bruce Bowen was the final player cut for 12-man roster, which was announced Wednesday by USA Basketball managing director Jerry Colangelo and coach Mike Krzyzewski. The roster was: Carmelo Anthony, Shane Battier, Chris Bosh, Elton Brand, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Brad Miller, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and Hinrich.

When Bowen, who plays for San Antonio and is one of the top defensive players in the league, was selected to be part of the national team roster, Colangelo and Krzyzewski singled him out as the type of role player the U.S. squad had been lacking in recent poor international showings.

But Bowen scored just four points while playing four of the five tuneup games and had been outplayed by Battier, another defensive-minded small forward who made the cut.

After Gilbert Arenas dropped out due to a strained groin earlier in the week, Chicago’s Hinrich was all but assured a spot because the team needed another point guard behind rookie of the year Paul.

Bowen and Arenas remain part of the national-team program and are still in the pool of players who will compete for spot on the 2008 Olympic team.

“This has been a great process. It’s just we can only go forward with 12 players,” Krzyzewski said.