Seth Trimble makes his stance very clear on the future of the Dean Smith Center

With all eyes on him during his senior night speech, Trimble used the platform to send a powerful message regarding the future of the Smith Center.
Feb 28, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) shoots as Virginia Tech Hokies center Christian Gurdak (32) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Feb 28, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) shoots as Virginia Tech Hokies center Christian Gurdak (32) defends in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

An iconic UNC basketball tradition returned on Tuesday night, one that ended on a very powerful note.

The tradition for the graduating seniors to address the home crowd following their final game was brought back into the fold, a tradition that was stopped once Hubert Davis took over as the program's head coach.

Following the exciting win over Clemson, both Elijah Davis and Seth Trimble addressed the crowd, providing some heartfelt thoughts as they officially have played their final home game at the legendary Dean Smith Center.

North Carolina clinches an undefeated record at home with a win over Clemson

Speaking of the Smith Center, there's been some... back and forth regarding the future of the beloved arena. We've all heard the noise, and many Tar Heels (both current and past) have provided their opinions on the matter.

Trimble used his Senior Night speech to help state his case.

Trimble sends a powerful Senior Night message

Before we get into Trimble's quote, in case you missed it, you can hear his full speech (courtesy of Inside Carolina) below:

As Trimble ended his speech and started to walk off the court, the senior guard held on tight to the microphone as if he had something else to say. After the public address announcer said his name for the crowd to give him another ovation, Trimble stopped the crowd to make one final statement.

"I really hope to see the Dean E. Smith Center here for a long, long time."

A common consensus among most players and coaches

For those who have had the honor of playing (or coaching) at the Dean Smith Center seem to all be in favor of renovating the iconic venue. While the chatter of building a new arena at the Carolina North location continues to build steam, the Tar Heels are not backing down without a fight.

Trimble used his special senior night moment to voice his opinion, reminding everyone that the home of the UNC basketball program is right where it belongs.

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