After over a month out, Penn men’s basketball senior guard Clark Slajchert makes return from injury

After spending nearly half the Ivy League season on the sideline, Penn men's basketball's leader is back in action.

On Saturday, senior guard and leading scorer Clark Slajchert made his return to the court after missing over a month with an ankle injury. Slajchert was hurt during the Quakers' Dec. 30 loss to Houston and had not played since, missing Penn's first six conference matchups. Though the Red and Blue fell to Princeton 77-70 in Slajchert's first game back, coach Steve Donahue said Slajchert’s impact could be felt up and down the roster.

“A lot of it is Clark,” Donahue said of Penn’s improved performance against the Tigers compared to their other Ivy League games. “It’s having someone that’s been through it, someone that’s at the top of the scouting report that they have to worry about. And then everyone else can do their thing.”

Slajchert, who is averaging just under 17 points per game on the season, appeared to be a full participant in Saturday’s contest, starting the game and playing 35 minutes, tied for the third most on the team. He wore a brace, but was fully cleared by Penn’s medical staff and showed no noticeable signs of impediment. Donahue also noted that Penn’s last place Ivy League standing had nothing to do with Slajchert’s return and that it was just a matter of getting him approved to play.

The Quakers have struggled mightily during Slajchert’s absence. After defeating Dartmouth in the first game of the Ancient Eight slate, Penn has since dropped six in a row and currently sits two games behind Columbia for the final spot in Ivy Madness. But with Slajchert back in tow and five of their final seven games at home, Donahue is confident the Quakers have what it takes to turn things around.

“We’re a good basketball team that lost its best player for almost six weeks,” Donahue said. “And now we’re feeling like we’ve got something to build on.”