Tyler Kepkay called his time playing for Team Canada in its 120-65 exhibition loss to Team USA in Las Vegas last week "one of the funnest times I've had playing basketball."

And with some reason.

While Kepkay played only five minutes in the first half and hit just 1-of-5 shots -- why coach Leo Rautins didn't give him at least a few more minutes after halftime, I don't know -- he hardly embarrassed himself. Sure, his talent doesn't exactly measure up to some of the best players in the world, but he didn't get dunked on, didn't get burned, and didn't look anything close to starstruck. He even nearly drove to the rim on the Jazz's Deron Williams once, though his shot bounced away after Williams recovered.

"I thought I had him, but Deron just gave me a bump," Kepkay said. "He's pretty strong."

Overall, Kepkay said it was a great experience that will help him improve for his senior season with the Utes. "Yeah, I missed a couple of shots," he said, "but I was aggressive, I was getting by guys and into the lane. It was good."