When you replay yesterday's triumph against Duke over and over in your mind (and perhaps your YouTube history), Seth Trimble's nearly buzzer-beater will figure prominently. Justifiably so! But another aspect of the senior guard's game, one he's known for more than perimeter shooting, was just as important.
Seth Trimble had three steals against Duke. None of them were from swiping at a ball handler he was guarding. He poked a pass to Veesaar when UNC went into a 1-2-2 three-quarters court press for his first. Then, Trimble grabbed two interceptions, picking them off with great vision and timing. Let's look at them in greater detail.
Interception #1: First half, 6:48
Dame Sarr gets the ball on the left wing on a dribble handoff. Derek Dixon and Henri Veesaar are combining on pick-and-roll defense, and Dixon is caught up trying to get around Patrick Ngongba's wide frame. Sarr dribbles left towards Veesaar with Dixon trailing. He gets Veesaar on his hip, but he's trapped himself on the baseline, and he's underneath the backboard, making a lay-up near impossible. Sarr's eyes look to the right wing where Isaiah Evans was cheating towards the corner, and Cam Boozer was moving towards the paint.
Sarr fired a pass to Evans (quite a strong pass!) but Seth Trimble, who was watching him the entire way in, launches like a praying mantis, grabs the ball with one hand (his right palm must have stung something fierce) and pushes the ball to Dixon to initiate the fast break.
Interception #2: Second half, 10:06
Cam Boozer was pushed off the left block by Caleb Wilson, so he took an entry pass too high to make a move towards the basket. He's in pass mode. Veesaar was making his way over to wall Boozer on the double-team, so Boozer was unable to make a pass in his spot. Boozer has excellent court awareness and passes well out of double-teams, but unfortunately for him, Trimble was on the floor.
Isaiah Evans was once again in the right corner waiting to snipe. Boozer had to dribble away from the basket to make the angle work. This should have been an easy assist. Trimble was guarding Caleb Foster at the top of the key, but had his eyes on the double-team the entire time. When Boozer started his dribble to get his pass angle right, Trimble sensed the corner danger, and bailed to support.
Trimble ignored Foster's cut into the paint and grabbed the skip pass to Evans. Duke was leading by six at that point, and a corner three by Evans would have been devastating to UNC's comeback bid.
If Seth Trimble doesn't have an NBA future, he should see if the NCAA will grant him an additional year of eligibility for a different sport. Surely Bill Belichick could use these instincts and athletic ability in his secondary this fall?