In the aftermath of another Michael Kidd-Gilchrist coup d'etat of Kentucky's runaway victory over Florida, the first legitimate challenger to the Cats in a month, the freshman had left little doubt he shines brightest on the biggest of stages.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist drew contact from Florida's Kenny Boynton while driving to the basket in Tuesday's game at Rupp Arena. (247Sports Photo by Jeff Drummond)

“Guaranteed,” freshman forward Anthony Davis said simply.

Kidd-Gilchrist, Kentucky's whirling dervish of energy and irrepressible spirit, took flight again in what was billed as a measuring stick game for the young Cats. By any measure possible the Cats' wide-eyed and wider-grinned freshman forward imposed his will on the game without the breathtaking shot blocking of Davis, velvet shooting of Doron Lamb, or physicality of Terrence Jones. Instead, Kidd-Gilchrist just did what he always does – prove effort, desire and an aptitude for the moment is every bit as important as raw talent, of which he has plenty.

“He has a fierceness to him,” Calipari said. “He reminds me of Derrick Rose in that he's tougher on himself than I am on him. He came running over during the game and said to me, 'Coach, I'm sorry.' I said, 'Stop, just have fun and go play.' He's a great kid.'”

When the dust settled on the Cats' dismantling of No. 8 Florida there was giant Kidd-Gilchrist shoe-print on the Gators' reptilian backs. When UK was straining to find its way early on it was Kidd-Gilchrist who attacked the glass and sprinted past defenders in transition for easy buckets. When the Cats were ready to blow the scales off the Gators it was Kidd-Gilchrist who found delivered a mesmerizing spinning drive for an old-fashioned – would this Kidd have it any other way – three-point play. When Rupp Arena was ready to party and send Florida slithering back to Gainesville with its tail between its legs it was Kidd-Gilchrist who lofted back-to-back lobs for gracious teammates.

“He's always the energy guy. He's always telling us, 'Let's go!'” Davis said. “He always does the little things (to win), makes easy plays, looks for other guys. He's just got that motor always going. We know that when we're struggling we'll run a play for Michael to get us going. We always look for him because once he gets going we become a whole different ball club.”

“That's what he does,” freshman guard Marquis Teague added. “He steps up for the big game and gives it his all. I mean, he steps up for every game but he looks like a different person when we play the better teams. He just steps it up to a totally different level.”

The evidence is easy to find. In the Cats' five most prominent games – Kansas, North Carolina, Indiana, Louisville and Florida – their unrelenting man child averaged 16.8 points and 12.2 rebounds, both well above his season averages. Kidd-Gilchrist had 17 points and 11 rebounds against North Carolina's future NBA frontcourt. He added a ridiculous 24 points and 19 rebounds against rival Louisville. Then delivered a baker's dozen in both points and rebounds against the Gators.

And none of that includes the 17 points, 12 rebounds and cold-blooded three-pointer he produced at Tennessee when it appeared the Cats were in major danger of suffering an upset.

The building resume left Florida coach Billy Donovan raving about Kidd-Gilchrist and his cohorts, comparing them favorable to his back-to-back national championship teams that had, remarkably, many of the same parts and characteristics.

“I love their disposition on the floor,” Donovan said. “I’ve got a lot of respect and admiration for Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, just his disposition out there. In 2006 and ’07 for us, there is a certain disposition that you have to have. I’m not talking about an arrogance or cockiness, but there is a focus level in terms of what really goes into winning at that level. There is a mentality there that’s just different.

“I think a lot of their guys – Davis, Gilchrist and I’ve always been a (Darius) Miller fan – just the way those guys carry themselves. I’m impressed with that.”

With every passing virtuoso performance Kidd-Gilchrist is leaving everyone with a lasting impression.