With the start of the 2024-25 college basketball season inching closer, we're getting our first look at various polls and rankings. One site that released its initial rankings for the upcoming season is KenPom, and Villanova landed at a somewhat surprising spot.

KenPom has the Wildcats ranked No. 20 to start the season, with 'Nova checking at No. 33 offensively and No. 14 defensively. Few viewed the 'Cats as a top 25 program to start the season, so this result certainly raised some eyebrows.

The No. 20 ranking is the fourth best among Big East teams, trailing only UConn (No. 5), Creighton (No. 12) and St. John's (No. 19). The 'Cats are just ahead of Marquette (No. 22), while Xavier checks in at No. 30.

The fact that the KenPom metrics are so high on the 'Cats certainly generates some optimism for the upcoming season, one that comes with a lot of new faces and just as many questions. If 'Nova were able to finish the season somewhere in the range of where KenPom has it starting the season, it would mark a significant uptick for the program. The Wildcats finished at No. 51 and No. 37 in Kyle Neptune's first two seasons.

Other KenPom tidbits

Checking in on some of Villanova's more prominent non-conference opponents, we find Cincinnati at No. 17, Maryland at No. 37, Virginia at No. 78 and St. Joe's at No. 86. KenPom has Villanova favored in all of those matchups.