This edition of the Nova Notebook by Director of Media Relations Mike Sheridan looks back with Ryan Arcidiacono at his summer and the start to his senior year at Villanova.

The association began with a simple inquiry from Italian basketball officials in the spring of 2014 asking if Ryan Arcidiacono's family tree had roots in their country. When the question was answered in the affirmative, a whole new basketball world opened up for Arcidiacono.

In 2014, Arcidiacono spent a month representing Italy on one of its national teams. By all accounts, it was a positive experience, allowing one of the Wildcats' floor generals to expand his hoops horizons in the theater of international basketball.

Arcidiacono went on to help lead the Wildcats to BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles in 2014-15. His essential value to Villanova's success was illuminated when the league's coaches voted him as co-player of the year with Kris Dunn of Providence.

So when the call came asking "Arch" to return for another stint in Italy in June 2015, there was no hesitation from the guard who is now in the penultimate semester of his college career at Villanova. "I still need to learn the language," Arcidiacono says, "but I felt a little bit more comfortable this time because we had a couple of Americans who were going to practice with the Italian team."

Ironically, the two Americans were very familiar to Arcidiacono -- each of them had played in the BIG EAST last season: Creighton's Will Artino and Marquette's Matt Carlino (more on that later). Arcidiacono saw more of Italy in '15 and traveled with the squad to Switzerland.

"Switzerland was really nice and the area where we were in Italy is beautiful," he states. "It was really hot -- 95 degrees consistently and without any air conditioning in the gym, it was a bit of a struggle."

It was nothing that couldn't be surmounted, however, as the team won each of its contests, concluding with a summer league tournament in Rome.

As you might expect, a good bit of time was spent with his fellow Americans. Artino shared a room with Arcidiacono and Carlino was in a room nearby.

"It was pretty interesting to get to know them and their thoughts on the Big East," Arcidiacono states. "They're both good kids and we actually had some funny experiences together. It was a good bonding time and was a lot more comfortable for us to have each other, since we all didn't speak Italian."

Carlino and Arcidiacono had a prior link dating to a collision between the two during a Feb. 4 Wildcats' victory over Marquette at the Wells Fargo Center. Arcidiacono used a pump fake on a drive near the basket in the second half, drawing Carlino into the air. The ensuing collision caused Carlino to land awkwardly with what was later diagnosed as a concussion that sidelined the Golden Eagles' leading scorer for several weeks in February.

"I figured that would be brought up at some point," Arcidiacono states with a wry grin.

That moment came one evening while the trio was together in a hotel room. Arcidiacono had used another pump fake to draw Artino into the air and scored in that day's practice. That play was being discussed when Carlino offered that he hadn't gone for a shot fake since Feb. 4.

"We all kind of gave each other a half-laugh, half-nervous, like `my fault' thing," Arcidiacono explains. "But from that point on we were all cool. We're all still friends, we all still talk. It was a good experience to get to know those guys."

In his original experience in Italy, language had been a significant barrier. Arcidiacono has always enjoyed a give and take relationship with his coaches and frequently asks questions related to positioning and strategy. But that wasn't a simple matter when the predominant language spoken was Italian in his first foray overseas.

"It was probably easier this year," states Arcidiacono. "There were three coaches, two who were there last year. I was more comfortable with the coaches from last year and the third coach who came in probably spoke the best English of the three. I had the other two (Americans) and I was more used to the flow of the offense."

Villanova head coach Jay Wright spoke of the value of having his captains, Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu, spend a few summer weeks away from the team in another productive basketball environment. That offers them a fresh perspective, the coach believes, and allows the squad leaders to get a sense of basketball beyond the Davis Center.

"It's always good to get away from what you experience all year round," notes Arcidiacono. "Playing at Villanova, I just love it so much. I am just so accustomed to everything Coach (Wright) wants on and off the court. It's good to be able to get to play for another coach just to see their side of coaching.

"But by the end of the time over there, I'm always eager to get back."

Arcidiacono was named a captain midway through his freshman year so that role isn't new to him. But he does feel a very specific responsibility now that he is a senior.

"It's a little bit different just as you get older," he explains. "Last year, we had four captains. I was one of the vocal leaders but even then, at some point there are some things only seniors can say. Darrun (Hilliard) and JayVaughn (Pinkston) had been through a 13-19 season that Daniel and I had never been through.

"Now that we're the seniors we are in that position. We were there for the loss to Columbia our freshman year. I think we can help the younger guys who only have known 29 and 33 win seasons."

Having spent a good bit of time on the floor with the 2015-16 Wildcats, Arcidiacono is upbeat.

"We're coming along," he says. "It's a tougher group in one sense because we're a little bit younger. We only have two seniors and three juniors -- everyone else is underclassmen. We're trying to keep working on the little things.

"I think we're going to be fine offensively. I just think as a younger team we're going to need to focus a little bit more on defense leading up to the season and constantly throughout the season. I think we'll be able to score the ball and will keep the floor spaced because of all the shooters we have. But one of our main focuses needs to be on defense and overall toughness, the little things."

Arcidiacono's words remind us that, you can take the guard out of Villanova -- to Italy, even -- but you cannot take Villanova out of the guard.

"Italy was an awesome experience and I look forward to going back at some point," he says, "but it's great to be back."