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How did Billy Packer die? Popular analyst who called NCAA tournament for over 30 years dies at 82

Billy Packer was hospitalized in Charlotte, North Carolina for three weeks before his death, his son revealed

BETHLEM, PENNSYLVANIA: Billy Packer, a longtime college basketball analyst who called the NCAA tournament for more than 30 years, died at the age of 82 on Thursday night, January 26. Packer was a college basketball Zen master analyst who collaborated with illustrious play-by-play announcers like Curt Gowdy, Dick Enberg, Brent Musburger, and Jim Nantz.

Packer's death was announced by his son Mark on Twitter, who wrote, "The Packer Family would like to share some sad news. Our amazing father, Billy, has passed. We take peace knowing that he's in heaven with (wife) Barb. RIP, Billy."

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How did Billy Packer die?

Mark Packer said that his father had spent the previous three weeks in the hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, suffering from a number of medical conditions before his death on Thursday night due to kidney failure, as reported by USA news. Following his death, netizens took to Twitter to pay homage to the popular sportscaster. One of them wrote, "Rest in peace, Billy. Packer and play-by-play man Jim Thacker helped turn college hoops into a truly major sport in the '70s with their ACC coverage - when the ACC played the best college basketball."

Another tweeted, ""Simon says championship." RIP, Billy Packer. One of the great voices of college basketball for decades." A third wrote, "Those of us who watched college basketball and the esp. the NCAA Tourney, nobody will forget the knowledge and voice of Billy Packer. He loved those Runnin' Rebel teams. Rest In Peace."

"Billy Packer. He was honest, timely, informative and you got his best every game he did," another noted. "You will remember him mainly on NBC and CBS. In Maryland we always got the Saturday Jefferson-Pilot ACC game Jim Thacker and Billy Packer were two of my first broadcasting idols. RIP."

"Sad news," someone else wrote. "Billy Packer was part of the soundtrack of my youth and he'll forever be synonymous with his work in the NCAAT. Along with Gary Bender, his call of the 1983 NCAA Title game will be cemented in my mind for eternity. RIP and prayers up to the Packer family."

Billy Packer's career

Packer worked as an analyst for ACC games on Raycom in addition to being the lead college basketball analyst for 34 consecutive Final Fours, first at NBC and then at CBS. He won the Outstanding Sports Personality, Studio, and Sports Event Analyst Sports Emmy in 1993. He was the son of Anthony Packer, a longtime basketball coach who served as Lehigh's head coach for 16 years, as reported by ABC News.

When Packer was a high school student in Pennsylvania, he received all-state recognition. He then went on to Wake Forest, where he was named All-ACC in 1961 and 1962. In 1962, when Packer was selected to the all-region team, he assisted in leading the Demon Deacons to their first Final Four appearance and three ACC regular-season championships, as per reports.

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