Villanova Basketball: 5 Reasons We Can't Wait for Wildcats' 2014-15 Season

Following last week's schedule announcement for the 2014-15 season, the excitement level for the new season grew a bit for Villanova fans. 

Now that we know the who, what and where for the games played by the Wildcats, it is time to find more reasons to get excited for the season that is now just two months away.

Continue reading on for a look at the five reasons why we can't wait for the action to begin. 

The Exciting Nonconference Games

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As is always the case, Villanova will play the usual suspects from the Big Five during nonconference play, but it will also take on a few national powers. 

The obvious date to circle is December 20, when Syracuse comes to the Wells Fargo Center to renew the storied rivalry between the two teams. 

There are also three enticing games before the Orange come to town, all of which will occur in New York.

Jay Wright's Wildcats will face VCU and either Michigan or Oregon in the Legends Classic at the Barclays Center on November 24 and 25, while a matchup with Illinois is set up for December 9 at Madison Square Garden. 

The Presumably Easy Big East Slate

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Good news, Villanova fans. Doug McDermott and Ethan Wragge no longer play college ball. 

With those two Creighton studs out of the Big East, the Wildcats should face little to no trouble once the focus shifts to conference play. 

Just like last season, the Wildcats will begin their season with Butler, but this time around the game will take place at The Pavilion. 

There will be few challengers to Villanova's regular-season throne, unless some team pops out of the woodwork to surprise us all. 

With that being said, expect the Wildcats to win at least 15 games in the Big East with an expected upset or two occurring at some point. 

Continued Development of Star Players

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Entering this season, three players will see their names in the spotlight more than others. 

Ryan Arcidiacono, Darrun Hilliard and Daniel Ochefu will all have to improve on their 2013-14 season numbers for the Wildcats to advance further than last season in the NCAA tournament. 

We all know about what Arcidiacono and Hilliard can do in the backcourt, but the pressure will be on their shoulders more this season with James Bell graduating.

If the guard duo can combine for somewhere between 25 and 30 points per game, the Wildcats should have no worries about scoring.

As for the junior center, Ochefu will have to increase his production levels in the paint, which means averaging close to double digits per game in the rebounding department will be more than enough. 

Introduction of Fresh Faces

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Entering last season, we didn't know what to expect of the incoming freshmen, but Kris Jenkins and Josh Hart turned into solid contributors by the end of the year. 

Because of their performance late in the season, the expectations will be high for this year's newcomers to make some sort of impact on this season's squad. 

Phil Booth may not see too many minutes at the beginning of the season because of the depth at the guard position, but when conference play begins, he may be handed a chance if he looks good in practice. 

Mikal Bridges may have a bit more influence than Booth because of the need for a backup to Ochefu down low. 

The only problem with Bridges is that he is listed at 6'7" and 191 pounds, which isn't ideal for a big man. 

If he does contribute, Bridges could be used as more of a wing player as he puts on weight to help him cope with the physicality of the college game. 

The Hunger to Do More in the Postseason

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When the Wildcats were eliminated by UConn in the third round of the NCAA tournament, it left a bad taste in the mouths of the Villanova players, especially due to the regular-season success of the team. 

With most of the squad back from last season, expect the Wildcats to play with more hunger in search of attaining the ultimate goal of winning the national title. 

This team is certainly capable of earning a top seed when March comes around, but it will need to prove it is worthy of it in the nonconference games. 

With a few high-profile programs on the slate during the first two months of the season, the Wildcats will have to use the loss to UConn to motivate them to earn a few big wins. 

Those potential wins will go a long way in proving to the selection committee that they are worthy of a high seed, especially if they run rampant through the Big East as expected. 

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.