Shooting coach? Comic? Advance scout? He’s all three for Kentucky basketball.
Earlier this season, Riley Welch noticed how Keion Brooks could improve his shooting motion. Brooks’ right elbow did not stay under the ball. And Brooks stood too upright when he shot. So, Welch spliced together a video of Brooks shooting to show him how to improve.
On another occasion, Welch reinforced the point by using his phone to shoot video of Brooks’ shooting in a pregame warm-up. Then, Welch showed the freshman that video, too.
Welch and Immanuel Quickley have a pregame routine. With about 20 minutes on the clock ticking down to player introductions, Welch begins feeding passes that set up Quickley for catch-and-shoot repetitions.
The clutch three-pointer Quickley made from the corner in the final minute against Alabama last weekend replicated the first shot Quickley takes in this warm-up routine.
“So, it’s nice to see him utilize that,” Welch said of Quickley’s big shot. “He came into the locker room and he told me.” In the excitement of the moment, Welch had forgotten to make the connection.
Before UK played Alabama last weekend, Welch passed to Brooks for shots from the wing, the top of the key and the corners. He also worked with Brooks on initiating contact with the defender as part of post-up offense.
During games, Welch calls out plays and actions he anticipates opponents will attempt against Kentucky.
Welch’s instinct to be something of a walk-on player/coach is probably due to heredity and environment. His father, John Welch, is a longtime coach now working as an assistant for the Los Angeles Clippers. Aspiring to be a coach himself someday, Riley Welch came to Kentucky to add new experiences to what has been practically a lifetime in basketball.
“Riley has been a great addition to our team,” Brooks said prior to UK’s game at Georgia. “He goes out of his way to make sure we’re all comfortable and making sure we’re trying to get better at the things we want to get better at. …
“Riley is very intelligent. You ask him anything about basketball. He’ll come up with an answer for you.”
Quickley all but gushed about Welch.
“One of my best friends, man,” he said. “I sit next to him on the bench every time I’m on the bench. Because, first of all, he’s funny. But, (also) he has a really good basketball mind.”
Welch smiled when told his sense of humor helped drew Quickley to his side.
“I just try to stay goofy and light-hearted,” Welch said. “Not taking away from anything that’s (happening) on the court. But just keeping our guys in a good frame of mind. It’s a long game. There’s a lot of time on the bench (and) a lot of stuff going on. And I just try to keep everybody up and engaged. If I see something funny, I’ll make a joke.”
Welch might show his “goofy” side in individual workouts. Quickley recalled one-on-one competitions with Welch.
“If he gets a stop on me, he’ll start screaming,” Quickley said as bemused expression appeared on his face. “And there will be nobody in the gym.”
There’s a method to the screaming and yelling. “Keeping the energy up and keeping ‘Quick’ going,” Welch said. “An hour after practice, we’re still going. (I try to) make it enjoyable for everyone.”
During games, Welch is doing more than cracking wise about, say, UK Coach John Calipari’s tie.
“When we’re on the defensive side, he’s always talking and screaming,” Quickley said. “(He) knows the other team’s plays because he’s on the scout team. So, he’s screaming and yelling stuff before it even happens.”
Welch said that UK assistant coach Joel Justus plays point guard as the scout team gives the players a sense of the opponent’s approach.
“Be as helpful and communicative as I can be from the bench,” he said. “There’s a limited impact I can have on the game. But I’ll do anything I can with the role I have.”
Welch said he’s trying to build Brooks’ confidence during a time when the freshman is not making a large percentage of shots. He called Quickley “the hardest-working guy I’ve ever been around.”
Welch said he does not coordinate his volunteerism with UK coaches. He tries to complement what the coaches instruct. He’s mindful of not overstepping his bounds.
“Like, I don’t ever want to get in the coaches’ way (or) say something that goes against what they believe …,” Welch said. “But anytime I can help someone on my team, help a friend, help a teammate, I’m going to look for an opportunity to.”
Ex-Cat update
Kentucky’s game against Georgia on Tuesday will reunite the two main rooting interests of former UK player Roy Roberts.
Roberts, who played for UK in the early 1960s, is from Atlanta and raises cattle on a farm 25 miles from Athens. He attended the first UK-Georgia game on Jan. 7, but he will not make the trip to Lexington for the second game.
Roberts said his father, James, and two brothers, James Jr. and William, played football for Georgia. He decided football was too “brutal,” so he opted to play basketball. He considered transferring after playing only 11 minutes as a sophomore and not at all halfway through his junior season.
Then teammate Billy Ray Lickert was asked at a Rotary Club meeting to name the best defender he had faced. Lickert said Roberts in practice.
Afterward, UK coach Adolph Rupp told Roberts he would re-evaluate the player from Atlanta. Rupp decided to redshirt Roberts that season. Roberts scored 407 total points in the following two seasons.
“Coach Rupp liked me,” Roberts said. “And I was one of the few people who liked Coach Rupp real well.”
Rupp offered Roberts an assistant coach position that paid $6,000. “Coach Rupp was only making $17,000,” Roberts said. Roberts turned down the offer and decided to make a living raising cattle in Georgia.
Ultimately, Rupp hired Joe B. Hall as an assistant. The rest is history.
No regrets, Roberts said. “Joe was a great coach. I got to know him real well. He’s a good friend.”
Inter-nut
Before the game against Kentucky, a reporter asked South Carolina Coach Frank Martin about the team’s ability to tune out fan frustration. The Gamecocks had lost three straight after winning at No. 9 Virginia.
“I do everything the opposite of you,” Martin told the reporter. “That means I don’t read chat rooms. I’m not into gossip. … Tell me one positive thing that comes out of social media. So why do you worry about it?
“You’ve got a job to do: interview me (and) interview players. Why do you listen to people who have no idea what we go through? Why don’t you go call the people that were positive three games ago? We’d just beaten Virginia. Call them or email them, send them a tweet or something. See what they’ve got to say.”
Incoming 7-year-old?
UK’s freshmen probably seem like old-timers to Transylvania’s new recruit. He is Bentley Barber, who is 7 years old.
Barber and Transylvania got together through Pioneers by Team Impact, a national organization that connects children battling serious or chronic illnesses with college teams.
Barber, who is from Lexington, signed a letter of intent with Transylvania on Monday. The school said Barber would attend some practices and games, plus interact with players.
Big Blue Slam
The 12th annual competition for blood donations between UK and Florida fans will be Monday through Friday. Donations can be made at all Kentucky Blood Center sites.
Sickness and weather have adversely impacted blood supplies, the KBC said.
A donation can be scheduled at kybloodcenter.org or by calling 800-775-2522.
Happy birthday
To Richard Madison. He turned 55 on Thursday. … To James Lee. He turned 64 on Friday. … To Dirk Minniefield. He turned 59 on Friday. … To Oliver Simmons. He turned 44 on Saturday. … To Tyler Herro. He turns 20 on Monday. … To former Alabama player and coach Mark Gottfried. He turns 56 on Monday. … To Larry Conley. He turns 76 on Wednesday.
