After suffering its first loss of the season, Kentucky needs to guard against an emotional letdown when the No. 13 Wildcats host a rejuvenated South Carolina team in a Southeastern Conference matchup Saturday night in Lexington, Ky.

"I will coach against it, guard against it, talk about it, but one of the first things I said in the locker room is one (loss) can't become two," Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said at his weekly media briefing, referring to last weekend's 22-19 setback at then-No. 14 Ole Miss. "Everybody is heated and emotional after a big game like that, and our guys know the belief is there. I think the intensity needs to come back."

Kentucky (4-1, 1-1) welcomed back Chris Rodriguez from an early season suspension, and he rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown. But the Wildcats' last two possessions ended with fumbles that cost them a shot at the win or a tie that would have forced overtime.