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Senior Florida State Seminoles forward Phil Cofer is not expected to play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the Sweet 16 after his father passed away last week.
Leonard Hamilton tells me he doesn't expect Florida State to have Phil Cofer for Thursday's Sweet 16 game against Gonzaga. Hamilton: "We're going to respect Phil during this tragedy and the passing of his father. He knows where we are and we know where he is. We're here for him."
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 25, 2019
Cofer, who averages 7.4 points and started 19 games for the Seminoles this year, was notified of his father’s passing immediately after Florida State’s first round win over Vermont. Cofer missed the game due to an injured right foot. He did not play in Florida State’s win over Murray State in the second round. Cofer was FSU’s leading scorer last season.
On a personal level, as someone whose father passed away semi-recently, I cannot imagine attempting to process grief and compete in a basketball game, let alone a NCAA Tournament basketball game, at the same time. This is a stark reminder that much of life is bigger than basketball, and I offer my thoughts and support to the entire Cofer family during this incredibly difficult time. I would never wish my darkest moments of grief upon my worst enemy, and I hope Phil Cofer and his family can find the solace they need to push on.
The Cofer family set up a GoFundMe for medical and funeral expenses, which you can donate to if you are so inclined.