Year out of basketball tough for ex-Rutgers standout

   CHAMPAIGN  Alicia Sheeler wasn''t naive. The 6-foot-3 center knew what she was getting into by transferring to a new school.

   She knew it would mean sitting out an entire basketball season, as mandated by NCAA transfer rules.

   She knew there would be no familiar faces, other than among the coaching staff.

   She knew that, without basketball, her motivation in the classroom would be put to the test. Her emotional outlook, too.

   Alicia Sheeler knew all this when she decided to follow head coach Theresa Grentz from Rutgers University to the University of Illinois in the fall of 1995.

   That knowledge, Sheeler would discover, didn''t make the transition one bit easier.

   "I''m used to playing and getting out there and being part of the team," the Illini''s starting center said recently in recalling her season in eligibility exile last year. "Not being able to do that was really, really hard.

   "Even academically, you''re not used to having to just study, and that''s all you have to do. And practice."

   Which left plenty of time to think. Too much time, to Sheeler''s liking. And with no outlet  by Sheeler''s choice, she admits  to hash out her feelings.

   "I kind of didn''t deal with it," the Pittsford, N.Y., native said. "The way I deal with things is kind of hold it inside and don''t say much. I kind of kept it to myself and beat up myself inside."

   One year later, the internal turmoil is just a bad memory. Now Sheeler is happily keeping on-court company with a Big Ten Conference title contender, and a bit wiser about herself for the experience.

   "I got through it and we''re doing well now and I''m doing well," said Sheeler, who is no small reason Illinois is 12-4 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten.

   "I''m pleased that I went through that year because I learned a lot about myself. I learned that I can be confident in myself and I can do the things I need to do, whether it''s on the court or in the classroom."

   In the classroom, Sheeler is coming off a semester in which she earned Bs or better in every class but one.

   "My best semester ever," said the leisure studies major.

   On the court, the sophomore has been a rock of stability. In 16 games, Sheeler has scored in double figures all but three times, with a high of 22 points. She leads Illinois in rebounding (8.1 average) and blocked shots (14) and ranks second in scoring (13.3).

   "And as we go through the next part of this season, I think we''ll see even more improvement," Grentz said.

   Sheeler hopes so. That season in basketball limbo did take its toll on her skills, she assures people who had not seen her play before this year. Sheeler, who once scored 42 points against Temple while at Rutgers, says she''s still not the player she was by the end of her freshman season.

   "I''ve definitely had to catch up," said Sheeler, who was the Knights'' second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1994-95. "I just have to basically work harder."

   The challenge of catching up, Sheeler discovered, has been as much cerebral as physical.

   "On the court, I have to think about what I do, and that wasn''t me," she said. "I''ve never had to do that. I think it did hurt me a little sitting out that year, but I think it''ll come along."

   It will, Grentz said, if Sheeler simply keeps working. That and becoming more aggressive around the basket.

   "You want somebody of that ability and potential to always work hard, to keep moving (forward)," Grentz said. "Her strength and her size are her assets. ... Sometimes she wants to be nice and not pound somebody or whatever, and I think that causes her problems.

   "This is a different game at this level than what she''s used to. The whole thing has been a learning process for her."

   Learning how to guard quicker post players has been one such process.

   "No question, she''s not the quickest person," Grentz said. "She doesn''t have a great first step, but that doesn''t mean you don''t play positioning. That''s what she''s learning right now."

   And she''s learning to play a couple of positions. It''s becoming more common for Sheeler to shift over to a forward spot when 6-5 freshman center Casey Leonhardt enters a game.

   As Leonhardt continues to develop, Sheeler''s time at forward undoubtedly will increase. That''s as Grentz always has foreseen things with this duo.

   "Casey''s a center, Alicia''s not a center," the UI coach said. "Alicia''s really a forward."

   Wherever she ends up on the court, Sheeler''s just glad to be playing in general and specifically playing for Grentz. The second-year UI coach is the reason Sheeler is here.

   "The minute I thought she was going, I didn''t have to think twice," Sheeler said. "That''s the reason I went to Rutgers, that''s the reason I came out here."

   Even at the price of sitting out last season. Even at the cost of a hefty out-of-state tuition bill being footed by her parents, Albert and Patricia.

   "They''re very supportive," said Sheeler, who came to the UI without guarantee of a scholarship and remains without one. "They wanted me to be happy and they knew for me to come out here with Coach Grentz, I probably would be the happiest.

   "I wouldn''t have been happy at Rutgers, I don''t believe."

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