By Logan Moyer
As a young boy, Frank Marcinek watched two games from the wooden bleachers of the cathedral of college basketball – the Palestra.
Now, over fifty years later, Marcinek will get to coach there.
On Wednesday, the Landmark Conference announced that the SU men’s basketball team will play Drew at the Palestra – a venue that opened in 1927 and has since hosted more NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) tournament games than any other venue.
“As a young boy growing up, the only basketball we got on TV was Big Five (Pennsylvania, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova) basketball on channel 70,” said Marcinek, the coach of the SU men’s team since 1989. “So every Saturday night, I’d watch the Big Five doubleheader, usually with my mom. That’s really how I learned to love basketball, so (the Palestra) has a very special place in my heart.”
The contest will be played at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14, replacing SU’s home game against the Rangers that was originally scheduled for Jan. 3 at O.W. Houts Gymnasium. It will count for the Landmark Conference standings.
“I’m really excited about (playing at) the Palestra,” Marcinek said. “When you walk into that place, it’s kind of magical. So, I think that the day of the game, once we’re there, we’ll have the magical feeling. I hope we have a great turnout.”
It is the third oldest Division I basketball arena. Notable basketball legends such as Wilt Chamberlin, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson have all played at the Palestra.
“I’ve tried to promote it a little bit,” Marcinek said. “I’ve heard from a lot of alumni, a lot of friends, a lot of parents about the excitement of coming to watch this.”
Three other Landmark contests will also be held at The Palestra on the same day. The Elizabethtown and Goucher women will play at noon, followed by the Catholic and Juniata women at 2:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., after the SU game, the Moravian and Scranton men will face off.
This marks the second time that the Landmark Conference is playing games at the historic venue. Last year, four games were held there on Jan. 15. The SU women’s team participated, dropping a 64-48 contest to Scranton.
“I think that our girls had a great experience,” said SU women’s coach Gabby Holko. “We’re super excited that our men are going to get that opportunity to go there and play on a legendary floor where so many legendary players and coaches have been. I think that Landmark is doing a wonderful job of getting us there and keeping the promotion going. I hope it continues.”
Marcinek said that he’s particularly excited for those on the team that are from the Philadelphia area. Team members Noah Klinewski, Luke Edwards, Allen Cieslak and Seamus Rogers all attended high school less than an hour away from the historic venue.
“For our guys from Philly, I’m sure it has a different meaning,” he said. “People from other areas may not be as familiar with the Palestra. So, I think prior to that time I need to do a little history lesson on the Palestra.”
The men’s basketball season starts on Nov. 14 when they travel to Doylestown. There, they will face Delaware Valley in a non-conference matchup. The home opener is at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 when the River Hawks host Cabrini in the annual Susquehanna Tip-off Tournament.
