Dollar proves value in first start since injury

Dollar proves value in first start since injury

Point guard’s aggression intact during recovery from temporary
setback

By Ross Bersot

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

While arch-rival USC’s fortunes have plunged, the UCLA men’s
basketball team is perched to take the Pacific 10 Conference crown
after sweeping the Arizona schools at home last weekend. And in
Saturday’s victory over Arizona State, Bruin fans may have noticed
something they have not seen for a while, besides a lopsided home
win.

No, Kris Johnson did not bring back the terrycloth headwrap.

It was Cameron Dollar, who wasn’t donning any new headwear
either, but who did start for the first time since the Kansas loss
on Dec. 2.

The junior point guard was coming off a career-high 14 points,
three assists and a steal in sparking the Bruin comeback in the
previous Thursday’s 76-75 decision over Arizona. The game left many
a spectator speculating as to who the man with the bandaged hand
was and what had he done with Dollar. It also earned him the start
against the Sun Devils, but more importantly signified his
almost-full recovery from injuries to both hands that left the
scrappy 6-foot-1-inch guard to fend without his most powerful
weapons.

"The guy was hurt," assistant coach Lorenzo Romar said. "In this
sport, so often people will assume, ‘Well, he’s out there, he must
be okay.’ This guy has the courage of a lion and I guarantee you
half the world’s population could not have done what he’s done up
to this point.

"This guy has been injured and he’s still injured. The fact that
he can get out there and give his whole heart, pour his heart on
the floor, is a major victory for Cameron Dollar."

Dollar dislocated his left pinky finger against the Jayhawks,
after sustaining a ligament tear in his right little finger during
the intra-squad game. Despite playing with an obscenely large
bandage on his shooting hand, Dollar has managed to consistently
contribute playing time and leadership to the young Bruin squad
while coming off the bench.

"It was kind of fun to tell you the truth, and it still is
because I still wear that thing," Dollar said. "To be able to
compete at a high level with my hand wrapped up, unorthodox as far
as having the bandage on it, is kind of neat. It’s like a
challenge, to be able to do that and still be able to help, and
play."

After leading the Bruins to victory in the national championship
game to end last season in place of the injured Tyus Edney, Dollar
appeared a confident and definitely capable heir to the point guard
position. He spent his summer getting in what he refers to as
"top-tip shape," but has been unable to fully capitalize on his
effort due to the condition of his hands.

Instead of starting him, the coaching staff has called Dollar’s
number in situations requiring his ball-handling or defensive
skills.

"I think if there was one possession to go in a game, and we had
to stop somebody, Cameron Dollar is probably the person we’d put on
the player because of his experience and because of his tenacious,
aggressive style," assistant coach Steve Lavin said.

It may be his aggressive nature that has caused Dollar’s
problems. Instead of sitting out a few games, or relaxing his
defensive intensity, Dollar has fueled his competitive fire with
his injury.

"You can see it in practice that his injury, it gets him so
fired up," forward Kevin Dempsey said. "He plays so hard that he’s
gonna get hurt. There’s no two ways about it. He’s got two
jacked-up hands and he’s still gonna go for those crazy steals and
things."

Dollar has managed to heal his hands, though he has not changed
his style of play, and appears near top physical condition. In
fact, conditioning is the main reason Dollar gives for his
difficulties this season, not his hands.

"My confidence level has always been at a high as far as knowing
what I can do," Dollar said. "But the thing that has kept me back
has been because I was out of shape … When I hurt my hand and I
got back out of shape again, that’s what was happening. So all the
while I was coming back I could see shots ahead, I could see where
I could cross a guy over and blow by him, but I wouldn’t have the
legs to do it."

In the last few games, Dollar has seen increased minutes and a
larger role on the court. Already established as the Bruin leader,
he hopes his greater presence during games will affect his
teammates.

"The better I get, the better we get as a team and when (my
teammates) are out of line, the more I can step up and fill a
hole," Dollar said. "Just because I’m more alive and doing more on
the court, I’m able to help, and actions speak louder than words.
When you’re able to go out there and compete hard and play your
best, they see that and they want to be a part of that and that
makes them take their game up another notch. That’s what I’m
working at right now, is getting to that level."

Dempsey believes that if UCLA is to succeed at the next level,
it needs Dollar at the point.

"I don’t think you can win the Pac-10 or a national championship
without a true point guard," he said. "Dollar is a true point
guard. He’s no other position than a point guard and he provides us
that leadership and that stability that other guys that play other
positions can’t seem to do."

FRED HE/Daily Bruin

Point guard Cameron Dollar, almost fully recovered, has regained
a starting spot.

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