Seth Trimble is facing a familiar scenario with UNC basketball as tries to rediscover his rhythm with the Tar Heels in the wake of another head injury. Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: […]
Seth Trimble is facing a familiar scenario with UNC basketball as tries to rediscover his rhythm with the Tar Heels in the wake of another head injury.
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.UNC VS ARIZONA?:UNC basketball NCAA Tournament résumé for March Madness: Jan. 13
Despite dealing with a second head injury in as many seasons, Trimble doesn’t plan on playing scared. As arguably the Tar Heels’ best athlete and top two-way player, he can’t afford to let those thoughts creep in.
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“If I could die anywhere, it would be on the basketball court. But at this point in my life, I can’t risk my life. I can’t risk anything coming back too soon or coming back too early. So I had to put my safety first. But I’m back now.”Following UNC’s 63-61 win at N.C. State on Jan. 11, Trimble explained his latest setback, how he’s handling the process and what he learned on the sideline from watching his team for three games.”It’s been tough. I went through it last year when I got hurt. I remember against Syracuse (last season), I felt like I had a horrible game,” said Trimble, who averaged 3.4 points in the seven games following his return before scoring 12 against Florida State at the ACC Tournament.
“One thing I noticed, I think we took a big jump that Notre Dame game. I think the Campbell and Louisville games, we were a little bit soft,” Trimble said. “I was really happy with Seth’s activity, especially in the second half. He was able to get steals, deflections, get into the open court, which Seth is really gifted and really good at. It just takes time to get back into that rhythm. I’m just happy that Seth is back, because he is a huge piece of our team. We need him in so many different areas out there on the floor. I’m just glad that he’s back in the lineup.”
“I got hit in the head. I felt good. I’ve been hit in the head before, but it was just a lot of precautionary things,” Trimble said in the away locker room at the Lenovo Center after the Tar Heels’ third win in a row. In addition to providing his first thoughts since being re-inserted into the rotation, Seth Trimble gave his perspective on what it’s been like watching the Tar Heels from the bench. Freshman standout Ian Jackson has become one of the top scorers in the nation since taking Trimble’s spot in the starting lineup. Jackson averaged 23 points in the last five games, including 25.3 points in the three games Trimble was sidelined. So, is Trimble ready to call the Tar Heels a tough team?
“But what will help me is just practice and continuing to get reps, and continuing to be the player I’ve been all year. So I’m not stressed about it too much. I didn’t expect myself to come back and be the version I was before I was hurt. It’s definitely frustrating, but we’re getting there. We’re taking baby steps.””No, it’s part of the game. Honestly, whatever happens, happens. Whatever’s meant to be will be meant to be,” Trimble said. The 6-foot-3 junior guard also led the team with 21 steals and an average of 4.8 rebounds per game before his three-game absence.
What Seth Trimble learned watching Ian Jackson, Tar Heels from bench
The roadblock reminded Trimble of his head injury last season. After scoring 10 points in a home win against Duke, Trimble missed two games because of a concussion sustained in practice. “. … We just weren’t establishing any identity, but I think that Notre Dame game, especially in that first half, we really kind of established some kind of defensive identity as a team and I think it’s carried over since.”
“Just the player I am, the physical kind of guy I am, I’m always going to be head first. Diving into everything on the ground, being aggressive. So it’s bound to happen, as it has a few times now.”Trimble sustained a head injury on Dec. 28 during a practice the day before UNC beat Campbell at the Smith Center. At the time of his injury, Trimble was the Tar Heels’ second-leading scorer at 14.8 points per game on 48% shooting, including 38.5% from 3-point range through 12 games. Those “baby steps” included a strong second half against the Wolfpack in which Trimble had two steals. He turned those takeaways into a fast-break dunk and layup in transition.But the defensive improvement is what stands out most to Trimble. Following its 83-70 loss at Louisville, UNC’s scoring defense has improved to 67 points per game on 38% shooting. They can go for a third straight positive result vs. California on Wednesday in Chapel Hill (7 p.m., ACC Network).“The two and a half weeks that he missed, you just have to find a rhythm. The only way that you can find a rhythm in basketball is actually playing. The only way that you can get into basketball shape is playing basketball,” UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis said Monday during the weekly ACC coaches Zoom teleconference.
“We’re heading in that direction,” he said. “I think we have a couple more steps to take, but we’re absolutely getting there.”
