Michael Kach update

If you weren't convinced by my sidebar that suggested that Penn's bench was improving, maybe this news will boost your spirits.

Michael Kach, the junior guard who took the last year and a half off before suffering a fractured ankle this summer, is almost back to full health. On Sunday, after the BCA Invitational, coach Glen Miller told me that Kach was shooting around, jogging, riding a stationary bike and making "amazing progress." He was optimistic the doctors would clear him this week.

I'm told that Kach has now been cleared for everything except 5-on-5 play. Don't expect to see him out there on Saturday, but it's good to know the recovery has gone well. No doubt Penn could probably find him some minutes, given the struggles of Darren Smith and unconvincing performances from a couple of the other guards.

I was at the Drexel basketball arena (however you spell it) today for the Drexel-FGCU game, and I was really impressed by Bruiser Flint's team. Maybe they looked good because they were towering over the decidedly overmatched Eagles, but I thought their big men, Frank Elegar and Chaz Crawford, were much improved from last year. Bashir Mason and Dominick Mejia might cause the Penn defense some trouble, as well. In any event, I think it'll be a stiffer test than it was last year, and a much better barometer for where Penn is as a team. I won't complain, though, since at least this one isn't smack in the middle of Thanksgiving break.