COLLEGE

Welch played college basketball at Illinois from 1981 to 1986 and competed in the Big Ten during the 1981–82 through 1985–86 seasons.

As a freshman in 1981–82, Welch appeared in 26 games with 1 start and averaged 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 10.0 minutes per game while shooting 46.9% from the field and 77.3% at the line.

Welch’s 1981–82 season totals were 77 points, 39 rebounds, and 12 assists across 260 minutes, with 30 field goals made on 64 attempts and 17 free throws made on 22 attempts.

Illinois finished 18–11 overall (10–8 Big Ten) in 1981–82 under head coach Lou Henson.

As a sophomore in 1982–83, Welch moved into a primary role, playing 32 games with 31 starts and averaging 11.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 33.9 minutes per game while shooting 49.2% from the field and 70.1% on free throws.

Welch produced 377 points, 201 rebounds, and 44 assists in 1982–83, adding 17 steals and 15 blocks while logging 1,085 minutes and converting 158-of-321 field goals plus 61-of-87 free throws.

Illinois went 21–11 (11–7 Big Ten) in 1982–83, earned a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region, and lost in the first round to Utah by a 52–49 score under Lou Henson.

In 1983–84, Welch appeared in 2 games with 2 starts, averaging 7.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.0 assists in 12.5 minutes per game while shooting 50.0% from the field and making both free throws he attempted.

Welch’s 1983–84 totals were 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 0 assists in 25 minutes, with 6 made field goals on 12 attempts and 2-of-2 free throws.

Illinois finished 26–5 overall (15–3 Big Ten), won the Big Ten regular-season title, reached the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed in the Mideast Region, and advanced to the regional final before a 54–51 loss to Kentucky under Lou Henson.

Welch was listed as a redshirt junior in 1984–85 and played 35 games with 33 starts, averaging 11.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 31.2 minutes per game while shooting 52.0% from the field and 75.0% at the free-throw line.

Welch totaled 415 points, 189 rebounds, and 51 assists in 1984–85, with 26 steals and 9 blocks, playing 1,092 minutes and shooting 182-for-350 from the field plus 51-for-68 at the stripe.

Illinois went 26–9 (12–6 Big Ten) in 1984–85, earned an NCAA Tournament berth, and reached the Sweet Sixteen under head coach Lou Henson.

As a redshirt senior in 1985–86, Welch played 32 games with 29 starts and averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 29.1 minutes per game while shooting 53.4% from the field and 75.9% on free throws.

Welch’s 1985–86 season totals were 334 points, 147 rebounds, and 49 assists in 931 minutes, with 156 made field goals on 292 attempts and 22 made free throws on 29 attempts, along with 18 steals and 12 blocks.

Illinois finished 22–10 overall (11–7 Big Ten) in 1985–86 and reached the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the second round under Lou Henson.

Across Welch’s Illinois career, he appeared in 127 games with 96 starts and finished with career averages of 9.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.2 assists while shooting 51.2% from the field and 73.6% from the free-throw line.

Welch’s career totals at Illinois were 1,217 points, 580 rebounds, and 156 assists in 3,393 minutes, with 532 made field goals on 1,039 attempts and 153 made free throws on 208 attempts, plus 65 steals and 41 blocks.