Seth Trimble Embraces Final UNC-Duke Showdown with Veteran Perspective
CHAPEL HILL - When North Carolina and Duke square off, it’s never just another game. The rivalry runs deep - generations deep - and for Tar Heels senior guard Seth Trimble, Saturday’s matchup carries a weight that only someone in his shoes can fully understand.
Trimble has been with the program for all four of his collegiate seasons, a rarity in today’s era of transfers and one-and-done prospects. And as the only player on UNC’s roster who’s logged meaningful minutes in this rivalry, he knows exactly what’s coming - the intensity, the noise, the stakes - and he’s embracing every bit of it.
“I’m really just cherishing this matchup, this opportunity,” Trimble said Thursday during a media session. “It’s a blessing. There are a lot of people in this world that would die to be in my position.”
That perspective comes from experience. Trimble’s been through the fire of UNC-Duke battles before, and now he’s playing the role of mentor to a roster filled with newcomers - many of whom will be stepping into this iconic rivalry for the very first time. He’s been passing on what he can, helping his teammates understand what they’re walking into.
“You don’t really understand the stakes until you step out on that court,” he said. “Having that experience is a huge part of it. I think it’s really important that I’m here to share what I know.”
But Trimble’s leadership hasn’t just been about locker room talks or film sessions. He’s been a key part of the program’s culture-building, even playing a role in the recruitment process during the offseason. He met with most of the transfer targets UNC eventually landed, and yes - the Duke game came up more than once.
“It’s definitely part of the recruiting pitch,” Trimble said with a smile. “When you talk about North Carolina, you think about the history. And when you think about the history, you think about this matchup.”
It’s that kind of reverence for the rivalry that head coach Hubert Davis brings to the table, too. And according to Trimble, it’s not just the stories Davis tells about his own playing days or his time as an assistant that stick with the team - it’s the emotion behind them.
“You can just feel how much it means to him,” Trimble said. “It meant so much to him as a player, and it means just as much now as a coach.
He takes so much pride in representing the name on our chest during this matchup. You can tell he really, really wants it.”
Trimble remembers his own first taste of the rivalry as a freshman. The adrenaline.
The buzz. The sheer magnitude of it all.
But with time, he’s learned to manage the moment.
“You’ve got to approach it like another game,” he said. “That was hard for me when I was younger - blocking out the circus.
The fan messages, the calls from friends and family. But now?
It’s not hard for me to do anymore.”
That maturity will be key for a Tar Heels team that’s looking to impose its identity early. While Duke tends to slow things down and control tempo, UNC has made a point all season to play fast - and Trimble says that contrast in styles will be a major focus heading into Saturday.
“That’s a huge point of emphasis,” he said. “We feel like there aren’t a lot of teams in college basketball who can keep up with our pace.
So we’re going to try and use that to our advantage. If we can control that and do what we need to do, we can put ourselves in a good position.”
As for the new guys, Trimble sees their lack of experience in the rivalry not as a weakness, but as fuel.
“There are definitely positives to having new players in this game,” he said. “I think guys are going to be super hungry to get a win and put themselves into the history books - in the best way possible.”
For Seth Trimble, this might be his last dance in one of college basketball’s most storied rivalries. But he’s not just soaking it in - he’s setting the tone for everyone around him. And come Saturday, when the lights are brightest and the stakes are highest, don’t be surprised if the most seasoned Tar Heel on the floor is the one leading the charge.