Kentucky Wildcats

Bobby Watson, part of Kentucky's 1951 NCAA title team, dies

Published Feb. 2, 2017 11:24 a.m. ET

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) Bobby Watson, a key player on Kentucky's 1951 NCAA championship team who also coached Owensboro High School to two state titles, has died. He was 86.

Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory director Glenn Taylor said Watson died Tuesday but did not specify a cause.

Watson was a Wildcats walk-on in 1949 and earned a scholarship under coach Adolph Rupp. The guard averaged 10.4 points a game during the 1951-52 season to help Kentucky win its third championship. He was an All-Southeastern Conference first team selection in 1951 and '52 and eventually became Kentucky's fifth 1,000-point scorer.

The Air Force veteran also played for the NBA's Milwaukee Hawks in 1954-55 before becoming Owensboro's coach three years later. Watson guided the school to state titles in 1972 and 1980 and 18 district and 14 regional championships.

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