Before Saturday's game at Syracuse, Seth Trimble found himself in an elevator with Voice of the Tar Heels Jones Angell and assistant coach Pat Sullivan. Sullivan greeted him warmly, calling him a "legend." Trimble, however, was feeling the weight of recent performances and humbly disagreed.
Trimble's name is already etched in Tar Heel lore for his game-winning shot against Duke, a moment that will live on in Carolina history. But what happens when the spotlight dims and the grind continues?
For Trimble, it meant facing some struggles. He went 0-for-5 at Miami, followed by a 5-for-13 performance against Pitt with a couple of turnovers.
Things didn't improve much at NC State, where he shot 1-of-9, and he missed his only shot attempt in the first half against Syracuse.
That's a tough 6-of-28 stretch over 99 minutes. But something clicked at halftime on Saturday.
Trimble came alive, shooting 5-for-6 and grabbing five rebounds in the second half against Syracuse. He then delivered perhaps his finest performance yet in a 77-74 victory over Louisville on Monday night.
It wasn't just about his career-high 30 points or leading the team with four assists. It was his defensive contribution against Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., who was held to 24 points on 25 shots, while Trimble's 30 came on just 16 attempts. His two clutch free throws with 12.3 seconds left sealed a critical win for the Heels.
This victory was pivotal for Carolina, marking their third ranked win at the Smith Center this season-the first time since 2019. It's a significant boost to their postseason prospects for both the ACC and NCAA tournaments.
More importantly, it proved they could beat strong opponents even without Caleb Wilson. While Wilson's return will be a major boost, the team has shown resilience and quality play in his absence.
Trimble has emerged stronger from a challenging month, learning to brush aside his iconic game-winner against Duke. "It was a huge play, but I don't care about it right now," he said. "I've been focusing on being myself since that second half at Syracuse."
Being himself means attacking the basket with determination. Since that halftime shift, Trimble has taken 22 shots, with only three from beyond the arc. Ironically, his most memorable moment came from a three-pointer, but the Tar Heels thrive when he's driving to the hoop and finishing strong.
"His ability to attack the basket is special," said Hubert Davis on the Tar Heel Sports Network. "When he's aggressive, he makes good plays-scoring, drawing fouls, or creating opportunities for teammates."
With only two home games left and one last shot at an ACC Tournament title and a Final Four appearance, Trimble is focused on adding more banners to his Tar Heel legacy. Even as a legend, he's still writing his story.