The Eastern men’s basketball team will be missing a key component in its two Ohio Valley Conference games this week – head coach Rick Samuels.

Samuels’ father, Pete, died Sunday night in Laramie, Wyo. He was 83 years old.

Assistant coach Steve Weemer said the team is trying to focus on Eastern’s two conference games this week, Thursday at Murray State and Saturday at Tennessee-Martin.

Weemer said he would collaborate with assistant coaches Barry Stevens and Mike Church during Samuels’ absence.

“It’s really going to be like a committee,” he said. “We’re just going to put our heads together and try and do what’s best for the team.”

In Weemer’s seven years as an assistant coach at Eastern, Samuels has been on the bench for every Panther contest.

“It’s going to be different,” Weemer said. “He’s been here for 25 years, so not having him there on the bench will be different. We’re going to have overcome any differences as a team.”

Senior forward Andy Gobczynski said the team has to try to stay focused on the upcoming games, but it would still be emotional.

“We’re kind of saddened for Coach by the whole things,” Gobczynski said. “And I don’t think feelings about Coach (Samuels) will settle in until we get to Murray and he’s not there to talk to us before the game.”

The Panthers (8-11, 3-5 OVC) head onto the road after winning two-straight OVC games at Lantz Arena.

Weemer said the assistant coaches wouldn’t deviate from any of Samuels’ principles.

“We can’t change anything now, and we wouldn’t change anything now,” Weemer said. “We’ve got to keep things going the way they have been, coming off two wins.”