UNC’s Seth Trimble Nearing Return as Tar Heels Eye Conference Stretch
After missing eight straight games with a broken arm suffered during a weight room accident, Seth Trimble is closing in on a return to the floor-and for North Carolina, the timing couldn’t be better.
The senior guard and team captain has been steadily working his way back, and the signs are all pointing in the right direction. Over the weekend in Chapel Hill, Trimble was spotted without a brace on his arm for the first time in public settings. While he remained in street clothes during the Tar Heels’ game against USC Upstate, the absence of any visible support on his injured arm was a clear sign of progress.
And then came the update from head coach Hubert Davis-an update that escalated the optimism surrounding Trimble’s return.
Just two days after Davis said Trimble was limited to individual workouts and hadn’t yet been cleared for contact, the tone shifted. Speaking on his weekly radio show with Jones Angell, Davis revealed that Trimble had advanced to full five-on-five practice.
“When he’s ready, put him in the game,” Davis said. “There’s no decision-making.
He’s progressing nicely. He was doing individual workouts, nothing five-on-five, but the last couple of days, he’s been five-on-five and been practicing with us.
And so he’s progressing, and I like the way that he is.”
That’s a major development for a Tar Heels team that’s managed to stay afloat in Trimble’s absence, but knows his return could be a difference-maker-especially with conference play looming.
Trimble’s leadership, defensive versatility, and ability to handle the ball bring a level of poise and stability that’s tough to replicate. Even if he’s not the team’s primary scorer, his presence alone gives North Carolina another layer of depth and maturity on both ends of the floor.
As for when we’ll see him suit up again? Tuesday night’s matchup against East Tennessee State might be a bit soon, but it’s not entirely off the table. A more realistic target could be this weekend’s CBS Sports Classic showdown in Atlanta against Ohio State-a game that would give Trimble a high-level tune-up before the grind of ACC play begins.
If not then, the Dec. 22 non-conference finale against East Carolina could serve as the ideal re-entry point. That would give him a game to get his legs back under him before the Tar Heels dive into the heart of their ACC schedule.
Bottom line: Trimble’s return isn’t a question of “if” anymore-it’s “when.” And with the Tar Heels already building momentum, getting their senior captain back in the mix could be the boost they need to elevate from solid to serious contenders.