While talking to Tyler Kepkay for today's article on his meeting with Team USA in an exhibition game in Las Vegas, the senior point guard was explaining that he wasn't worried about being worn down after spending the summer playing for his Canadian national team.

"After this, I have a month off, basically, before going back to Utah for school," he said. "So I won't do as much up-and-down stuff, I'll just work a lot on my skills and in the weight room and stuff, just relax a little bit, then get back down to Utah and get ready to win that championship this year."

Did he say "championship?"

Yes, he did. Believe me, I double-checked.

And though it might seem pretty bold to suggest such a thing for a team that finished 18-15 overall and just 7-9 in the Mountain West Conference last season, it's no doubt the confidence that coach Jim Boylen will love to see out of a player who struggled so mightily with that last season.

In any case, playing internationally is bound to help Kepkay -- as it will guard Luka Drca and forward Kim Tillie, who have played for their respective national teams this summer -- especially in adjusting to a faster game.

The international game "is a lot faster" than college, Kepkay said, noting the 24-second shot clock and the mere eight seconds allowed to advance past halfcourt. "Everybody is skilled. Every guy, from one through five, can shoot threes, put it on the floor. Everybody can do it. ... I learned a lot."