When folks talk about North Carolina’s thrilling win over Duke, Seth Trimble’s near-buzzer-beater is going to get a lot of the spotlight - and rightfully so. It was a moment that had fans on their feet and YouTube highlight reels working overtime. But if you zoom out a bit, there’s another part of Trimble’s game that played just as big a role in UNC’s victory - and it didn’t come from behind the arc.
Trimble’s calling card has always been defense, and he showed exactly why in this one. He racked up three steals against Duke, and not a single one came from simply hounding a ball handler.
These were instinctive, high-IQ plays - the kind that flip momentum and frustrate even the most disciplined offenses. Let’s break down two of those steals that helped turn the tide for the Tar Heels.
Interception No. 1 - First Half, 6:48
This one was all anticipation. Duke’s Dame Sarr had the ball on the left wing after a dribble handoff.
Meanwhile, Derek Dixon and Henri Veesaar were working through a pick-and-roll, with Dixon trying to navigate around Patrick Ngongba’s massive screen. Sarr drove left, got Veesaar on his hip, and ended up stuck under the backboard - not exactly prime real estate for a clean shot.
Sarr scanned the court and tried to fire a pass out to Isaiah Evans on the right wing. Evans had drifted toward the corner, and Cam Boozer was cutting into the lane, drawing attention.
But Trimble had read the whole sequence like a veteran safety reading a quarterback’s eyes. He broke on the pass mid-flight, launched himself into the lane, and snatched it one-handed - a play that probably left his right palm buzzing.
Then, without hesitation, he pushed it ahead to Dixon to ignite the fast break.
Interception No. 2 - Second Half, 10:06
This one came with Duke holding a six-point lead - a critical juncture in the game. Cam Boozer had been forced off the left block by Caleb Wilson and caught an entry pass too high to do anything with it offensively.
As Veesaar slid over to double, Boozer looked to pass out - something he usually does well. But Trimble was lurking.
Evans was again parked in that right corner, ready to let it fly. Boozer began to dribble away from the double-team to create a better passing angle.
Trimble, who had been guarding Caleb Foster at the top of the key, never took his eyes off the developing play. The moment Boozer shifted to make that skip pass, Trimble pounced.
He left Foster - who was cutting toward the paint - and jumped the passing lane, picking off the ball before it could reach Evans.
That steal didn’t just prevent a potential dagger three - it kept UNC within striking distance and preserved momentum during a crucial stretch. Plays like that don’t show up in the box score as game-winners, but they’re the backbone of comeback efforts.
Trimble’s defensive instincts, timing, and commitment to team defense were on full display. He didn’t just react - he anticipated, studied, and executed. It’s the kind of defensive performance that doesn’t just change games - it defines them.
So while that near buzzer-beater will live on in highlight reels, don’t forget the defensive clinic Trimble put on. Because without those steals, UNC might not have had a shot to win it at all.