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Phil Cofer not expected to play in Sweet 16 after father’s death

Florida State v Miami

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: Phil Cofer #0 of the Florida State Seminoles shoots a three pointer over Anthony Lawrence II #3 of the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 27, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

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Florida State senior Phil Cofer is not expected to play Thursday in the Seminoles’ Sweet 16 matchup against Gonzaga as he mourns the passing of his father, Sports Illustrated’s Jon Rothstein reported Monday.

“We’re going to respect Phil during this tragedy and the passing of his father,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton told Rothstein. “He knows where we are and we know where he is. We’re here for him.”

Cofer was sitting out the Seminoles’ first-round win against Vermont with a foot injury, and was alerted after the game of his father’s passing in a phone call from his mother.

Michael Cofer, who attended Tennessee and played ten seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions, was 58 years old.

Florida State defeated Vermont, 76-69, and then defeated Murray State, 90-62, in a game in which Cofer also did not play, to make the second weekend for the second-straight season.

Cofer has averaged 26.1 minutes per game this season for the Seminoles, who will face the top-seeded Bulldogs on Thursday at 7:09 p.m.