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Here are five reasons why Seth Trimble entered the transfer portal.
The news has been met with widespread debate that runs from understanding the move to being blindsided by it. So here is my speculation on why the athletic, 6-3, 195-pound Trimble will be wearing a different uniform next season.
1) As an upperclassman, Trimble faced the possibility of again being a sixth man (where he finished third in the All-ACC voting for the honor). If not starting, most college basketball subs want to play more, and it is no secret that the Tar Heels need bigger, stronger shooting guards who, like UConn’s, are also physically imposing while setting screens and guarding man-to-man.
2) Trimble portal-ing could be a sign that R.J. Davis will come back for his fifth “COVID” season, which with the prospect of both Elliot Cadeau and Davis returning would leave UNC and Trimble in the same place. If Davis doesn’t return, the hunt for a bigger backcourt escalates.
3) When Cadeau reclassified last summer and announced he would be coming to UNC a year early, signee Simeon Wilcher asked for release from his letter of intent and received it. Trimble is a competitor and said he welcomed contending for more playing time at point guard. With two years of eligibility remaining, he has every right to think he might wind up playing fewer minutes.
4) Hubert Davis is reportedly looking for proven outside shooters in the portal, and if R.J. turns pro or transfers, the head coach would have even more reasons to recruit others who are proven marksmen. The days of UNC not “recruiting over” returning players are gone, because the personnel has become so fluid that coaches aren’t doing their jobs if they don’t look for available players who better fill a defined need.
5) Although Trimble improved his 3-point shooting to 42 percent as a sophomore, he is still known more for his defense and passing. And even if Cadeau shoots 100,000 three balls over the summer, opponents will still “lay off” him until he knocks them down consistently in games. That might indeed result in LESS playing time for Trimble behind a new, bigger shooting guard.
The angry post by Trimble’s mother didn’t help after her son (and Cadeau) sat for most of the second half against Alabama.
Parents can call the head coach, scream at him and storm into his office. But the one thing they shouldn’t do in this crazy world of social media is send out a tweet that puts their child, the one they love, in the worst possible position that turns a reasoned decision harder to explain for their flesh and blood.
Featured image via Dakota Moyer
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
I knew nothing of an angry post by Trimble’s mother about Seth not playing. How dare she do that when sitting was in his best interest, him needing his rest and all. I also think it makes perfect sense not to play your best (only) point guard and to put in a 22 percent three point shooter and not play a 40 percent three point shooter. What’s all the fuss about? I personally don’t think Bacot and Davis should have played at all. They should be resting for the next game. I say, go to Morrison, Hinton James, and a couple other dorms and see who is ready to suit up so our players can get their rest.
Let us know when you get a team to top ten status.
Or to an NCAA tournament.
Or an ACC season championship.
Lets be honest…… Tremble and Cadeau minutes disappeared in the 2nd half because Davis panicked and made a very poor coaching decision. That is the reason after the game, my thoughts were that Davis was in danger of Tremble and Cadeau both leaving the program.
Let’s be honest…..You have no idea why Coach Davis played others.
Let’s be honest, that was an exhibition of poor coaching in the 2nd half similar to the championship game against Kansas where he had no clue how to stop them and made poor use of his timeouts.
How many games did Coach Smith and Coach Williams exhibit “poor coaching” in losses?
The only thing I find “poor” is the quality of opinion regarding the coaching staff at UNC.
Didn’t know about the Moms tweet. Right or wrong, bad decision on her part IMO.
Trimble is a good kid, but he may not be good enough to win a national championship, and that is the goal of every Carolina team.
I wish he would have been smart enough to stay. He should have looked around at what happens to the vast majority of players that leave UNC.
I wish him all the best.
Perhaps Seth took a good hard look at the result of leaving Carolina –
Obscurity almost always.
Happy he changed his mind as he makes a fine Tar Heel!
Love Chansky, his insights are consistently relevant and on point. As for Seth Trimble, he is one of my favorite Tarheels and it breaks my heart the he will not be wearing the “True Blue” next year. That being said I support him with doing what is right for him and will be a fan of his regardless what colors he dons next year. Unless it’s that team from Durham. In that case all bets are off, but I know he has more sense than that…
Any season where UNC defeats Duke twice is a good accomplishment! I will miss Seth Trimble’s defense.
And state twice. Hard to beat a good team 3 times though.
Yea, good year. Really good year.
I should note that Carolina swept the regular season in state teams. Add the single game against Wake for a 5&0 record. That doesn’t happen very often if my memory serves well.