Michael Kidd-Gilchrist scores on a drive to the basket in UK's win over Florida earlier this week at Rupp Arena. (Photo by Bo Morris) |
LEXINGTON — Anthony Davis knows where to turn for inspiration on the court.
All it takes is one glimpse of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist in motion on a fast break or just a crack of a smile from the freshman forward for Davis to settle into a steady routine on the hardwood. The presence of Kidd-Gilchrist provided a soothing feeling for Davis following a 78-58 rout of Florida earlier this week at Rupp¿Arena, extending the school’s winning streak to 16 games and stretching the team’s record to a perfect 10-0 in the Southeastern Conference.
“When we’re struggling, we’re always going to turn to Michael to get us going,” Davis said. “He can post (up), shoot, dribble and take people off the dribble.¿We always look for him to get us going.”
Kidd-Gilchrist has posted five double-doubles this season and has developed a knack for prime time contests. He scored 17 points and had 11 rebounds in a win over North Carolina. He posted even bigger numbers with a career-high 24 points and 19 rebounds against Louisville. In his last outing, Kidd-Gilchrist scored 13 points and had 13 boards against the Gators and provided a spark for the Wildcats in the first half that led to the convincing double-digit victory.
“(Michael) steps up in the big games and gives it his all,” Kentucky point guard Marquis Teague said following the win Florida. “He steps up for every game, but he is a different person when we play better teams. He just steps up to a whole different level.”
Kentucky coach John Calipari said Kidd-Gilchrist has a “fierceness to him.” The Kentucky coach challeged Kidd-Gilchrist to focus on rebounding and he did just that, grabbing a team-high nine defensive rebounds against Florida.
“I told him this game was a rebound game,” the Kentucky coach said. “The reason was (Florida’s) Bradley Beal rebounds. He’s like their leading rebounder, like a percentage behind (Patric) Young. That’s why we put Michael on him and we didn’t put him on (Erving) Walker.”
He also dazzled his way to the basket and scored at will on fast-break opportunities against the Gators, a trait that no other player on Kentucky’s roster can duplicate.
“When he gets the ball in the open court, he takes two strides (and) he’s about to (the) NBA¿line (in) two strides,” he said. “he’s laying it (in the basket) through traffic, tucking the ball. He’s pretty good ... he’s always going to make make something good happen (on a fast break).”
Although he’s provided a dose of supernatural moves on the court this season and figures to be an NBA lottery pick if he forgoes his sophomore campaign next year, he’s endured some tough times. He scored just one point and missed all five of his field-goal attempts in a 74-50 win at Lousiana State University on Jan. 28. He scored single digits in four-straight games following the career-high outing against Louisville.
“I want to make sure he’s smiling,” Calipari said. “A couple of games ago (against LSU), he wasn’t smiling. I’m like, ‘you should be smiling every game.’” He’s a good kid and takes everything in. He reminds me of Derrick Rose in that he’s tougher on himself than I am on him.”
At one point in his last outing, Kidd-Gilchrist apologized to Calipari for an unknown reason. The Kentucky coach turned a deaf ear to his freshman forward.
“I said, ‘stop (and) just have fun and go play,’” the Kentucky coach recalled. “He’s a great kid.”
