Then came Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyler Ulis and Kentucky. And out went any momentum Providence had built through the first month of the season.
The Wildcats smothered PC that afternoon, holding them to a mere 38 points and sending the Friars into a tailspin that included losses to Brown and struggling Boston College the next two times out.
That Friar outfit recovered by winning seven of their next eight games, but the trouncing at Kentucky knocked them off course for nearly two weeks and threatened to derail their season.
Fast forward two years and it looks like a 25-2 run by Boston College last week has had a similar effect.