Eighth-ranked Xavier needed something spectacular to stay unbeaten. Tu Holloway gave it to the Musketeers, three times over.
The senior point guard hit a clutch 3-pointer, then another, and yet another one, helping Xavier rally from a 19-point second-half deficit to a 66-63 win over Purdue on Saturday. With defenders right on him, Holloway hit three consecutive 3s and scored Xavier's final 11 points in the closing minute and 48 seconds.
Just like he'd been practicing it all along.
''I never did that before, but it felt like I did,'' Holloway said Tuesday. ''Plenty of times I'm shooting (in practice) and I make so many shots in a row and kind of act like I'm in game situations, so it felt like I did it before.
''So I'm really not going to look back at it right now as other people would.''
Everyone else saw something very rare.
''Those plays he made?'' coach Chris Mack said. ''Amazing. Amazing.''
Holloway has been doing things like that since he was a freshman, wanting to take the biggest shots in the most stressful moments. The Musketeers (6-0) don't need to rely on him as much this season with their deep and versatile offense.
In the pressure moments, he's still the one. And his ability to be at his best when others get tense is the main reason the Musketeers are still undefeated heading into Wednesday's game at Butler (4-4).
''I think it's pretty rare,'' Mack said Tuesday. ''I can't think of a moment in crunch time where Tu shied away, where he hasn't wanted the ball, where he hasn't made a play for himself or a teammate. The bigger the moment, the bigger Tu seems to shine.
''My challenge to Tu is to be a better player for the first 35 minutes, and then maybe we're not in such a predicament. Tu sets the tone for the entire team. He knows it.''
The Atlantic 10 Conference's player of the year for 2010-11 expected to have a lower profile this season with Xavier's more diversified offense. It worked out that way in the first few games, though not for the reasons he expected.
Holloway had to sit out the opening game as punishment for playing in too many summer league games. He had 24 points in his first game back, then was lightheaded in practice and managed only nine the next game.
A few days later, Holloway dived for a ball in practice and bent back a finger so badly that his hand was sore and swollen. He didn't event attempt a 3-pointer in a win over Georgia, taking only four shots overall because of the hand.
It was still bothering him three days later when the Musketeers went to Vanderbilt, overcame a 10-point deficit and took the game to overtime. That's when Holloway emerged, scoring 10 of Xavier's 16 points, including a pair of long 3s despite the sore hand.
Then came the win over Purdue that featured him shaking off a defender just enough to hit those three straight 3s.
''Pressure is natural for me,'' said Holloway, who is averaging 18 points per game. ''It's just natural. It's happened so many times. I've played sports my whole life. I've been the guy when my team needed a big hit in baseball. I remember pitching at age 11 and getting 15 strikeouts one time. I remember scoring five touchdowns on Thanksgiving when I was playing football as a kid. I was always the running back or quarterback or another important position in a sport.
''I like winning so much, so I feel like I'm in control. I've got a lot of faith in my team, but I like to control my own fate. I want other people to help me, but I feel I'm the one that controls it.''
Holloway watches the ends of games and sees some players diminish under the strain.
''You could just tell people aren't making the same plays,'' Holloway said. ''That's like someone short-arming a free throw. I'm not like that. It makes the game easier (for him) when someone's thinking about pressure.
''I think about it before the game all the time. When I'm warming up, I say, `Maybe this game's going to go two overtimes,' so I'm prepared to make the game-winning shot or the extra pass.''
With Holloway's knack for taking over tight games, the Musketeers are confident going into the final minutes of a close game.
''Everything is in his hands,'' said junior guard Mark Lyons, who is averaging 17.3 points per game. ''He likes it being in his hands. He's confident. When you see his confidence, it's going to motivate us to go out and do the things he's been doing. It rubs off.''
