Kentucky, South Carolina try to break through

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA - Kentucky linebacker Chad Anderson didn&#39;t think he could feel worse about falling to Florida two weeks ago until he watched Mississippi do what the Wildcats couldn&#39;t and beat the Gators last Saturday. <br> <br> ``I felt bad when I saw Ole Miss win,&#39;&#39; Anderson said of Mississippi&#39;s 20-17 win. ``Stuff like that just makes me think, &#39;What are we not doing to take care of the win?&#39; `` <br> <br> South Carolina players might ask themselves the same thing. Despite outplaying Tennessee throughout, the Gamecocks fell 23-20 in overtime at Neyland Stadium two weeks back. Then they, too, could only wonder what might have been when the Vols fell to Auburn in their next game. <br> <br> Gamecocks quarterback Dondrial Pinkins said there was some small satisfaction watching Tennessee lose. ``I wish it would&#39;ve been a week earlier, though,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> Now, South Carolina (3-2, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) and Kentucky (2-3, 0-2) try and jump start their conference seasons Thursday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. <br> <br> Even during the long break between games, Anderson says he and his teammates couldn&#39;t totally escape the questions. They led Florida 21-3 through three quarters and appeared on the way to a stunning victory. Instead, the Gators got three touchdowns to post yet another win over Kentucky. <br> <br> ``You just look at the game film and you try and figure out what are we doing that is making us not win the fourth quarter,&#39;&#39; Anderson said. ``Everybody at the game was like, &#39;I&#39;d rather have gotten blown out 55-3 than lose 24-21.&#39; `` <br> <br> South Carolina coach Lou Holtz gave his team until the Monday morning after the Tennessee loss to get past it. He has rarely spoken about the defeat since, focusing the off-week on fundamentals. <br> <br> Gamecocks cornerback Dunta Robinson says the attention to details should help in all games especially those against big-time opponents. ``If we make the correct blocks and do the things that we know we&#39;re capable of doing, then we&#39;ll be fine,&#39;&#39; Robinson said. <br> <br> Kentucky&#39;s first year coach, Rich Brooks, says the Wildcats postseason chances certainly took a hit with the Florida loss. They can&#39;t afford to let down against anyone, starting with South Carolina. <br> <br> ``We&#39;re running out of games where we can make up for it in the future,&#39;&#39; Brooks said. ``We need to step to the plate here.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Holtz has pushed most of the right buttons with his young Gamecocks so far. The offensive line rebounded from a poor opening week to dominate Virginia in its second game. The past two games, Holtz coaxed better performances out of quarterback Pinkins and kicker Daniel Weaver by challenging their starting spots. <br> <br> This time, Holtz is after the defense. The group ranks eighth in the nation, but Holtz says there are too many lingering injures and too few sacks and turnovers. Defensive end George Gause is expected to miss the game with a knee sprain, something Holtz didn&#39;t count on last week. <br> <br> ``Because of all the various ailments, it&#39;s caused us to move too many people around,&#39;&#39; Holtz says, ``and we really haven&#39;t been able to fall into a system.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Gamecocks are going to need consistency against the Wildcats&#39; attack. Quarterback Jared Lorenzen is third in the SEC in pass efficiency with nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. Derek Abney tops the league in all-purpose yards at more than 163 yards a game. His next kick return touchdown will be the eighth of his career an NCAA record. <br> <br> South Carolina has won its past three games against Kentucky, overcoming Wildcat leads in two of them. <br> <br> Anderson, the sophomore linebacker, says he has seen enough Florida-like folds during his Kentucky career. ``That&#39;s not going to happen in this game,&#39;&#39; he said.