Seth Trimble channels intensity in No. 20 UNC men's basketball win over Georgia Tech

Seth Trimble stepped to the free throw line. North Carolina led Georgia Tech by three with 18 seconds on the clock. Trimble took a deep breath, then two dribbles.

Swish.

He lightly high-fived his teammates and then walked to the bench after the Yellow Jackets called timeout. 

After the stoppage, Trimble stepped back to the line. Same routine. Same sense of calm. Same result to put the game on ice. 

“Now that I’m older, being able to have a sense of calmness and a motor is huge,” Trimble said. “If guys are anxious and antsy, I’m there to calm them down. But if guys need the energy, I’m there to bring the motor. Best of both worlds."

Whatever presence the Tar Heels need in a moment, the now junior guard provides it. On Saturday afternoon, in a chaotic and ugly game, they needed both to avoid a fourth straight loss in the ACC opener. North Carolina walked away with a 68-65 victory in the Dean E. Smith Center. Trimble led North Carolina with 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals. He was 5-6 from the field and 8-9 from the line.

Trimble has scored in double figures in eight of UNC’s nine games this season, averaging 16 points per game. He's averaging 10.4 more points than last year. He played a key role in a 92-90 comeback victory over Dayton in Maui with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Trimble has also become a vocal leader after withdrawing from the transfer portal.

“Seth has tried to bring that [voice] consistently every day,” head coach Hubert Davis said. “And I think he’s doing a terrific job of it.”

Leading up to the Georgia Tech game, Trimble had a conversation with assistant coach Marcus Paige. They talked about what made last year’s UNC team so good. Trimble feels like the energy he brought off the bench was a big reason. He made a commitment to Paige that he would bring it, starting against Georgia Tech, for the rest of the season.

UNC got off to another slow and sloppy start on Saturday, like they had in all four losses this season. The Tar Heels did not lead in the first 12 minutes of the game, despite Trimble being active on defense and recording two of his steals.

“That first half, I was making sure my motor was up, my intensity was there,” Trimble said. “I was getting out in passing lanes and running the floor.”

The turning point in the first half came with just under eight minutes to go. Sophomore guard Elliot Cadeau collected a steal and started a fast break. Trimble finished at the rim in transition with a one-handed tomahawk slam to tie the game.

Timeout, Georgia Tech. Trimble had brought his team to life.

Trimble has seen his minutes double and his role on offense increase this season. He acknowledges it’s difficult to bring the same energy on every single possession on both ends of the floor. He feels he’s been playing well on offense, but has dropped off some on defense. It’s something he’s learning to manage and getting better at. 

In the second half, with the game coming down to the wire, Trimble delivered big plays when his team needed them. He was calm.

He hit a corner three to tie the game with 8:49 to go. With under two minutes to play, he secured a crucial offensive rebound and then created another on the same trip. 

With his team up five, Trimble clapped his hands when the ball went out of bounds of a Yellow Jacket.

“Handle the pressure, get to the basket, use his athleticism, and make easy plays,” graduate guard RJ Davis said. “Seth was phenomenal.”

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