Mick Cronin gives update on UCLA's Amari Bailey ahead of ASU tilt
Mick Cronin compared the injury situation freshman guard Amari Bailey is currently dealing with to that of the one former UCLA wing Johnny Juzang dealt with during the 2020-21 campaign.
“It’s not serious, but it could be if you don’t let it calm down,” Cronin told reporters on Tuesday ahead of UCLA’s Thursday tilt with the red-hot Arizona State Sun Devils.
“It’s just constant bone scans and all that type of stuff,” Cronin said, according to The L.A. Times’ Ben Bolch.
Juzang had a stress reaction in his foot during the COVID campaign. Bailey has a foot issue that has kept him out of five straight games. Cronin said Kentucky big man Oscar Tshiebwe stepped on Bailey’s foot during the meeting on Dec. 17, and it was then aggravated in the Bruins’ win over UC Davis on Dec. 21.
Bailey hasn’t played since.
He’s considered day-to-day as UCLA readies for a trip to Tempe, per Bolch. Bailey was not on the practice floor when the team got started on Tuesday, Bolch added.
Mick Cronin said Amari Bailey is day to day with the foot issue. Don’t see him on court as Bruins start practice. Cronin said Oscar Tshiebwe stepped on his foot and it was aggravated against UC Davis.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) January 17, 2023
That would seem to portend he won’t play on Thursday, or at the very best be in a limited role. According to Bolch, Cronin says Bailey needs to practice before he returns to the court in-game.
The Bruins are 7-0 to open Pac-12 play, despite missing their McDonald’s All-American guard for five of those games. UCLA is ranked No. 5 in the latest AP poll and travels to a potentially dangerous Arizona State team for Thursday night’s game.
So far this season, Bailey has averaged 9.5 points and 3.3 rebounds a night. He had four straight games with double-digit points from Nov. 23 through Dec. 4.
In his absence, David Singleton has moved into the starting five. He’s producing a career-best 10.2 points a game this season.