News & Observer | newsobserver.com | 2008 NCAA Men's Bracket

DURHAM — New Orleans Hornets center Tyson Chandler will serve as alternate to the U.S. basketball team, coach Mike Krzyzewski said Wednesday during a meeting with local reporters at Duke's Scharf Hall.

Chandler was a member of the U.S. team last summer when they qualified for the Beijing Olympics.

"He'd be the alternate no matter who he'd be replacing," Krzyzewski said.

Chandler will be with the team through training in Las Vegas at the end
of the month before they start making their way to China.

The U.S. team has three true big men on the roster so Chandler was a good addition. He can only be added to the roster if another player is injured and cannot play. The cutoff date for injury replacements for the Olympics is Aug. 6.

Injury update: Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard is recovering from a stress fracture in his sternum. Howard did not practice when the U.S. met for a brief training camp in Las Vegas over the weekend.

Howard just began getting back on the court, Krzyzewski said, but would have been ready for a playoff game. Ditto for Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who will continue to play with the same finger injury he nursed throughout the NBA playoffs.

NBA's No. 1 pick on U.S. Select Team: Derrick Rose, picked first by the Chicago Bulls in the recent NBA Draft, will be part of the U.S. Select team that will scrimmage against and help prepare the U.S. basketball team in Las Vegas at the end of the month.

Krzyzewski said Seattle's Kevin Durant and Portland's LaMarcus Aldridge will also be on the team.