Shed no tears for Michael Lee. The Kansas University basketball player can’t go home to Portland, Ore., but he won’t be alone for today’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Lee, who scored 13 points in Tuesday’s 91-51 victory over Saint Joseph’s, and a handful of teammates will eat to their hearts’ content today at the home of KU coach Bill Self.

“It’s not sad. I wish I could be with my family, (but) I’m going to be with extended family,” Lee said. “The food is always good. I never complain about eating.”

Turkey and ham will be on the menu at the Selfs, with the coach’s wife, Cindy, in charge.

“It could be a big day,” Self said. “There will be a lot of people — 15 or so family members, four to five players and some of their families. My wife has a lot of work ahead of her.”

The same could be said for the parents of some of the Jayhawks who live closest to Lawrence.

KU senior Wayne Simien’s mom will cook for Wayne and perhaps a teammate or two, plus relatives, in Leavenworth.

“I’m definitely excited,” said Simien who scored 20 points and had 13 points against St. Joe’s. “I’m going to pig out, take a nap, have a good time.”

Freshman Matt Kleinmann will play host to some of his fellow freshmen.

“Mom will be cooking a lot of stuff,” said the red-shirt freshman, who has issued an open invitation to any Jayhawks who want to dine at his parents’ home in Overland Park.

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Kleinmann expects Darnell Jackson to join the feast.

“Darnell sounds interested,” he said. “My mom cooks big no matter what. Either players will join me, or I’ve got a lot to bring back.”

Most of the Jayhawks will go home for the winter break, but they can’t go home for Thanksgiving because the Jayhawks must continue to practice after taking today off in order to prepare for Monday’s home game against Nevada.

For Lee, staying in Lawrence won’t be anything new. The 6-foot-3 senior hasn’t been home for Thanksgiving since he enrolled at KU.

“My first year, we ate Thanksgiving dinner in Maui,” he said. “My sophomore year, we were in New York. Last year, I don’t remember where we were. This is the time of year you’re playing basketball, so we’re used to not being home.”

Aaron Miles, Lee’s pal from Portland, is in the same boat.

“I’m staying here with my family,” he said, pointing to his teammates. “But one of my older brothers is going to come down here and chill with me, so it’ll be all good.”

Freshman Sasha Kaun, a native of Siberia, obviously won’t make the trip to see his mother.

“Too expensive and too far, and it takes a while to get there,” he said with a laugh.

He’ll be in good hands with his teammates and the Selfs.

“I was homesick at the beginning, yes, then it got a lot easier,” said Kaun who spent three years in high school in Florida. “I talk to my mom once or twice a week. I talk to her all the time. That kind of eases my homesickness a lot. Anything I’m worried about or thinking about, I can just call and ask her advice.”

Practice will resume Friday. With no game scheduled until Monday, the Jayhawks will have plenty of time to shake the excess poundage they’re likely to acquire today.