WATCH: Amari Bailey Talks Return From Injury, UCLA-Oregon Rematch

The Bruins' star freshman missed seven games with a foot injury, but was back on the floor for their recent wins over the Washington schools.

UCLA men's basketball guard Amari Bailey spoke to reporters ahead of Tuesday morning's practice session at the Mo Ostin Basketball Center. Bailey talked about getting back in the flow after missing a month with a foot injury, taking more outside shots, his breakout performance last time the Bruins played Oregon, what challenges Oregon State presents and his new nail art.

Feel like you're completely back in the flow of everything?

I would say so. Um, got my legs under me and we're getting in the flow, so.

How hard was being out so long, not being able to contribute?

Um, it was definitely tough, just wanting to be there for my guys. Um, and beyond the floor, I love this game, so anytime you're sidelined, there are frustrations that come with it. But it gave me a lot of time to just step back and take in what's going on and see where I can be productive on the floor.

More comfortable looking for your outside shot since you got back? Is that an elevated comfort level, or have the coaches told you to look to shoot more?

Um, really just trusting my work, trusting the time and energy that I've put into this game. Um, I'm not shooting the shot in hopes of making it, I'm just taking the shot that's given to me. If it swings to me and I'm wide open, I'm gonna shoot it. And so if that's what my team needs.

Had a big block and some key shots down the stretch last time against Oregon – what do you remember from that game and are you excited to play them again?

Um, I'm excited to play Oregon State first, cause that's the game that we have, but, um, it was an exciting game, one of my breakout games, I can say, for my freshman season. But we'll put it in the past, I gotta do it all over again, so.

What do you see from Oregon State that presents a challenge?

I mean, they're a great team at home and they can shoot it very well and get hot quick, so keeping their shooters off the line and just playing UCLA basketball.

Valentine's Day nail art you've got there?

Yeah. Lover boy art, or something like that.

Did you do that or did someone else?

No, one of my friends did it.

What's the significance of it?

There's no significance of it, just I've been doing my nails since I was a little kid, so something I do with my little sister, we can bond over it.

Do it differently for different games? Or does that not matter?

No, I haven't done my nails since, like, probably like October, so it's been a couple months.

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