Jimmy Martelli explains importance of The Palestra to college basketball

Jimmy Martelli has been around college basketball his entire life. His father, longtime Division I head coach Phil Martelli, taught him the in’s-and-out’s it — including the importance of The Palestra, where his Penn State Nittany Lions took the court against Michigan on Sunday.

“When you enter the Palestra. when you think about the history of this place and how many great players have come through, and great coaches. But to me, it’s the fans that make this place. It’s split down the middle. Today’s going be all wear white for Penn State fans and a lot of ‘We Are’ chants. To me, that’s what makes this place special.

“To know that all the 8,000 fans who come through this area and then to look at this sign, you know it boils down to ‘But to love the game the is greatest of all.’ We all compete to win. But when you have a love for the game that’s in you, that’s what my dad instilled in me and that’s why I’m here today.”

Even better for Jimmy Martelli — he was able to take the sideline across from his father, who is a coach on Michigan’s staff in the later stages of his career. In fact, the game is being played at the home of UPenn largely because of Phil Martelli. He’s Michigan’s acting head coach for the game over Juwan Howard for the day.

Martelli was promoted to acting head coach to begin the season as well after Howard was sidelined from coaching after undergoing a successful heart procedure in September.

To coach against his father in the same venue that has hosted the most NCAA games in history, a place where Wilt Chamberlain and Kobe Bryant cut their teeth in the early stages of their respective careers, means all the more to both Martelli generations. It’s a day neither will soon forget inside what has been tabbed as the cathedral of college basketball.

Penn State was able to overcome a double-digit halftime deficit in the second half to take a five-point lead at the under eight-minute timeout. The exciting finish is being aired live on the Big Ten Network.

A win would improve the Nittany Lions to 8-7 on the season ahead of Wednesday’s home matchup against 10-3 Northwestern, who holds an overtime win over No. 1 Purdue. Tip-off for the conference matchup is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET live on the Big Ten Network.