Seth Trimble’s Emergence Is No Accident - It’s the Product of Patience, Growth, and Grit
ATLANTA - Seth Trimble isn’t just finishing better at the rim - he’s finishing stronger, smarter, and with a sense of purpose that’s been building over time. What we saw in UNC’s 91-75 win over Georgia Tech wasn’t a flash in the pan. It was the continuation of a trend that’s been quietly brewing, and now it’s starting to take center stage.
Trimble dropped 18 points on the Yellow Jackets, adding four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. But the stat line only tells part of the story. What’s standing out lately is how he’s become one of the Tar Heels’ most dependable finishers in traffic - a role that’s been earned through repetition, resilience, and a clearer mindset, both physically and mentally.
“It’s been very satisfying,” Trimble said postgame. “I feel like I’ve always had spurts throughout the last few years, throughout the seasons, where I’m in struggling-to-finish mode... But I’m just efficient around the rim, providing that for my teammates, too.”
That efficiency didn’t just show up overnight. It’s been a process - one that’s included overcoming injuries and reworking his approach to the game.
Last season, Trimble suffered a concussion that forced him to step away and recalibrate. That experience, he says, required a different kind of recovery - one rooted in mental toughness.
“There’s so much mental work that you have to do,” he said. “But I was still watching film online. I was still able to work out and stay in a bit of rhythm.”
This year’s setback - a left forearm injury - was a different beast. But it allowed him to stay physically active, keep his shot in rhythm, and stay locked in with the team. That’s paid off in the way he’s attacking the rim now - with patience, timing, and purpose.
“I think I’m being patient with the right ones around the rim,” Trimble explained. “I’ve been realizing that you can’t just go up there because these guys are athletic. Trying to make the right plays and being patient.”
There’s a noticeable maturity in how he’s reading defenses and picking his spots. And UNC’s ball movement has only amplified that. The Tar Heels are creating cleaner lanes, and Trimble’s taking full advantage - turning aggressive drives into high-percentage looks.
“When I’m in that aggressive mindset, I just have to realize that, hey, there’s this play, too,” he said. “I continue to remind myself of that in the game. When I continue to make those plays, it just makes it look even better.”
And yes, if you noticed the new cornrows, that’s Trimble mixing it up - a new look he chalks up to being “bored with his hair.” But the shift in his game goes far deeper than style.
It’s about substance. It’s about knowing when to attack, when to pull back, and how to make the right play for the team.
That mentality is spreading across the roster. UNC, which earlier in the season struggled to close out games, is showing signs of growth in that department - especially in the second half of games.
“I feel like we’ve been locked in,” Trimble said. “The last few minutes of the first half, the second half especially, it’s about finishing games. We know how important that is.”
That’s the difference between good teams and great ones - how they finish. And Trimble sees the Tar Heels trending in the right direction, with a team-first mindset that’s starting to show up on both ends of the floor.
“We’ve come together as a team,” he said. “We aren’t making any selfish plays, trying to do it on our own.
We’re making the right play. We’re playing defense in the unit.
It’s not five guys out there playing defense [trying to] stop their man. [It’s] five guys coming against the other five to stop the opposing team.”
Trimble’s blend of controlled aggression and composure has become a key piece of that puzzle. He’s not just elevating his own game - he’s helping UNC sharpen its edge when it matters most. And for a team looking to hit its stride as the season heats up, his timing couldn’t be better.