Today is the last day of finals week at Kansas University, so teachers like Bill Self are assessing the performance of their pupils.

“I’m a pretty tough instructor, so I’d give us a B,” KU’s men’s basketball coach said Thursday.

His Jayhawks take a 5-1 record into this weekend’s Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nev.

“We’ve done fine. I don’t think we’ve been exceptional,” Self said. “We’ve had three games against some of the premier teams in the country and in those games we’ve graded A-plus (Michigan State), A-minus (Oregon) and D-plus (Stanford). It averages out to a B.”

Self thinks the Jayhawks will fare better when junior Michael Lee, sidelined because of a broken collarbone, returns, possibly for the Colorado game Jan. 5.

“A lot of people would say he averages (only) five points a game, but he is a glue guy,” Self said.

Self said it was important for senior center Jeff Graves to emerge and for junior forward Wayne Simien to stay healthy.

“We’ve played six games. In the games Wayne has been healthy, he’s had 28, 24 and 19 (points). When he’s healthy, I’ve been real happy. His health will be fine, I think,” Self said.

Simien, who has been slowed by a strained groin, practiced hard for the second straight day Thursday.

Graves, who was suspended for the Oregon game for disciplinary problems, has practiced all week and figures to play against UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“I expect Jeff needs to be ready to play. His number probably will be called. He’s showing his teammates he definitely wants to be part of everything going on,” Self said.

Self, by the way, indicated no Jayhawks were in academic trouble heading into finals.

• Break: After Sunday’s game, the Jayhawks will take four days off for Christmas before re-grouping in Lawrence the night of Dec. 26.

“It’s a pretty good break,” Self said. “I’ve had a lot of years the team gets a day and a half (off).”

The NCAA pays for players’ flights to their hometowns.

“It’s one great thing about playing a game away from home before Christmas,” Self said. “You can provide for them to get back to Lawrence so they can use the cost of that to go home. It’s a good rule by the NCAA.”

• Big win for Gauchos: KU’s upcoming foe, 5-2 UC Santa Barbara, beat UCLA, 61-60, Thursday in Los Angeles.

“I know UCLA isn’t quite as talented as some years past, but going into Pauley (Pavilion), that’s an awesome win for them,” Self said of the team that has defeated Hawaii, Pepperdine, Westmont and San Diego and lost to Saint Mary’s and SE Missouri State.

• Holiday wishes: Self was asked what he wanted for Christmas.

“It always in the past was to beat Missouri,” said Self, whose last three Illinois teams beat MU in games held prior to Christmas. “I’d say 7-1 (record) would be a great Christmas for me.”

What about beating Missouri?

“We always throw that one in there (as a wish), don’t we?” he said with a laugh.