Providence, playing with its highest ranking in 39 years, joined perpetual powerhouse Kentucky as upset victims Tuesday in their first games since the latest polls were released one day earlier.
The eighth-ranked Friars (14-2, 2-1 Big East) suffered a 65-64 home upset to unranked conference foe Marquette (11-4, 1-2). LSU meanwhile trounced the No. 9 Wildcats, even with freshman phenom Ben Simmons being held in check.
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Kentucky (11-3, 1-1 SEC) shot 41.4 percent from the field and struggled in foul trouble for much of its 85-67 loss.
Simmons averaged 20.5 points per game prior to playing Kentucky. He faced constant double- and triple-teams, managing just five shots from the floor. He made all five and finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and three assists after being relegated to the bench for most of the first half because of foul trouble.
That opened the door for teammates Tim Quarterman and Craig Victor II to score 21 and 15 points, respectively. Simmons, Quarterman and Victor all had double-doubles for LSU (9-5, 2-0).
Tyler Ulis (23 points) and Jamal Murray (21 points) were the only Kentucky players to crack double figures in points or rebounds.
For Providence, it was more a story of what could have been.
Star guard Kris Dunn had the ball in his hands in the final seconds, but a triple-team forced a poor shot attempt that was swatted by Marquette's Henry Ellenson as time expired.
Dunn finished with 20 points, shooting 7 of 14 from the field. He was outperformed by Friars forward Ben Bentil, whose 28 points were a game high.
Ellenson, a freshman, had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Golden Eagles. It was their second win over a ranked opponent this season after beating then-No. 22 LSU in November.