There are many who think that the Palesta is haunted. Haunted by basketball players who never left. Who decided that the great unknown was not for them and that instead they wanted to stay and play. It makes sense. The arena has been around since 1927 so there’s been a lot of folks who have played here who are no longer with us.
Purdue fans are haunted, of course, by their last trip to Philadelphia. You all know the story so I won’t rehash it here. St. Peter’s and Purdue for a trip to the Elite 8 on the line against a team that Purdue had already beaten that season.