ISU women's hoops roster thin

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POCATELLO -- The Idaho State women's basketball team will run its first practice Friday with two fewer players than when they left for summer break.

Bianca Cheever, whom coach Seton Sobolewski had projected to start at either shooting guard or small forward, has transferred to North Idaho College in the hopes of catching on with another four-year college next season, Sobolewski confirmed Monday.

Andrea Videbeck, who was slated to back up Jenna Brown at point guard, will stay at home in Gilbert, Ariz., at least through the fall to recover from an illness.

The Bengals are down to 11 players and now have four open scholarships.

"I feel OK with what we have," Sobolewski said. "I think we're going to be all right."

Cheever, who started eight of the Bengals' 30 games last season as a freshman, averaged 5.9 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. She was often the first player called off the bench by former coach Jon Newlee and was one of the team's best defenders.

Sobolewski first found out about Cheever's intentions to transfer in mid-July, and after re-considering several times, she finally made her decision in early August. Cheever used her redshirt season during the 2006-2007 season, and transferring to a junior college is the only way she can join another program without losing a year of eligibility.

Cheever never gave Sobolewski a specific reason for her decision not to play for him.

"At first, it was kind of frustrating not knowing why," Sobolewski said. "From what I hear about Bianca, she's not a very confrontational person. I don't think she's going to say anything that might hurt your feelings. She just would generally say, 'It's in my best interests.'"

Videbeck, who finished third on the team with 72 total assists last season, is suffering from mysterious spells of dizziness and abdominal pains that flared up this summer.

Blood tests proved inconclusive, and Videbeck decided to stay close to home and her family doctor, Sobolewski said. She may return in the spring or use her redshirt this season and return next fall for her final year of eligibility.

"I understand, and I wish her the best," Sobolewski said. "We hope that she gets healthy enough to come back. We'll see."

The Bengals are covered at point guard with junior college transfer Andrea Blodgett backing up Brown, but Cheever's departure figures to be a bigger blow to their lineup.

Sophomore Chelsea Pickering now moves to the top of Sobolewski's depth chart at the shooting guard position, with freshman Sheila Adams moving into the backup spot.

At 5-foot-9, Pickering has a build similar to Cheever's, and her athleticism has impressed Sobolewski so far during their individual workouts. Sobolewski said he's confident Pickering will turn out to be every bit the perimeter defender that Cheever was.

"I like what I've seen out of some other people," Sobolewski said. "I can maybe even say we're no worse off with or without her. I don't think it's something devastating to us."

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