For the moment, a three-man race at point guard is down to two.

Junior guard Anthony Salter was out with an injured left foot during the Hawaii men’s basketball team’s morning practice yesterday. His absence comes at a critical time in the preseason, with UH coach Gib Arnold deciding on starters, rotations and minutes.

"It’s been bothering me for a while, but I didn’t think it was serious until close to the end of practice (Monday)," Salter said. "I took off running and felt my heel pop."

Salter had an MRI last night but is awaiting the results.

With Salter out, Arnold was forced to run the team’s new drills on zone offense through only senior Hiram Thompson and true freshman Bobby Miles.

Salter’s injury was the latest in a recent spate of ailments to befall the Rainbow Warriors.

"Injuries do happen; it’s a part of sports," Arnold said. "We’ve got two key guys out right now; Dom (Brumfield, knee) still hasn’t gotten back. Anthony’s out … just had Joston (Thomas, heel) out. You just take them and you move on. And with those guys, part of what they’re here to do is get themselves back on the floor. They gotta get to rehab and they gotta get back, soon as (they can). I tell the guys all the time, learn to play hurt, don’t ever play injured. If you’re injured, get yourself better and come back. If it just hurts, you gotta play through it."

A lingering foot ailment could be a problem for Salter, who is 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. The Tallahassee, Fla., native relies on his quickness to get around bigger, stronger players, or pull off a crossover into a jump shot.

"I feel like it’s bad timing because things are going to start jumping off in a couple of weeks (with a Nov. 6 exhibition vs. Chaminade)," Salter said. "I know he (Arnold) expects a lot from me and I expect a lot from myself, so for me not to be able to get out there and at least compete, or at least have a chance to even be wrong … it’s tough man. It’s real tough."