Kevin Johnson celebrated the conclusion of his academic career soaking up rays poolside at the ARC on Wednesday. All that stands between the senior right-hander and his degree is an internship in the fall — a requirement for all recreation, sports and tourism majors. He completed the last final he’ll ever take on Tuesday for RST 100 — Society and Leisure.

“It was a toughie, a doozy,” a noticeably more tan Johnson quipped before practice Wednesday. “I feel free, ya know? It feels nice.”

Fellow senior Bryan Roberts and junior Alex Lincoln joined Johnson among the scores of University students taking in the 82-degree heat. The weather as of late has served as a welcomed reprieve from the dreary April conditions.

Wednesday marked the last day of leisure for many students, with Thursday being Reading Day before final exams start. And while those pesky assessments are no longer a reality for Johnson, the Illinois baseball team’s No. 1 starting pitcher’s biggest tests in many ways have yet to come.

Johnson will return to the mound for the first time in two weeks Friday against Michigan State after he was scratched as a result of discomfort in his forearm from last week’s start against Northwestern — Illinois’ lone loss in its three-game series against the Wildcats.

Johnson and Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb insist the scratch was nothing more than a precautionary measure. Johnson said he could have pitched last Friday if completely necessary, but that sitting will ensure he’s fresh for the rest of the season.

While Johnson is expected to have a renewed disposition Friday, other players may be fatigued with the addition of final exams to their already hectic schedules. Reading Day will last until just 2 p.m. for the Illini, who will leave for East Lansing, Mich., on Thursday.

“There’s a lot to manage throughout the year,” Hartleb said. “They’ll have plenty of time to read on the bus.”

Finals will eliminate the Illini’s usual midweek matchup from their schedules next week. Practices will also be held earlier in the day. Hartleb said he prefers midweek games because they provide continuity within team.

“I don’t think any coach likes long layoffs,” Hartleb said. “At times with football, the bye week is good just to get healthy, but most coaches want to play and would rather their teams get out there and see live pitching and see live hitters all of the time.”

Michigan State (24-13, 7-5 Big Ten) currently sits one spot ahead of Illinois (26-13, 8-7) in the Big Ten standings and should prove to be a worthy adversary for the Illini, who are tied with Michigan for the sixth and final spot for a conference tournament bid. Illinois was left out of last tournament because of the tiebreaker format.

Illinois can improve its chances at the tournament and additional postseason play with a series win or a sweep against the Spartans. If they succeed, they can expect their own moment in the sun.

Jeff can be reached at [email protected] and @jkirsh91.