UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis says senior guard Seth Trimble is practicing 5-on-5 with the Tar Heels.
During his weekly radio show on Dec. 15, Davis was asked by play-by-play announcer Jones Angell how the fifth-year coach plans to “reintegrate” Trimble back into the lineup?
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“When he’s ready, put him in the game,” Davis said with a laugh from inside Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery.
“There’s no decision-making. He’s progressing nicely. I told you before, last week, that he’s doing individual workouts, nothing 5-on-5. But the last couple of days, he’s been 5-on-5 and been practicing with us. He’s progressing and I like the way that he is.”
It’s been just over a month since Trimble broke a bone in his left forearm, which required surgery. He averaged 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in the first two games of the season for the 12th/13th-ranked Tar Heels (9-1) before the injury sidelined him for the last eight games.
The Tar Heels host East Tennessee State (8-3) on Tuesday, Dec. 16 (8 p.m., ACC Network) at the Smith Center.
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Seth Trimble injury update
Hubert Davis didn’t provide a definitive timeline on Trimble’s return, but it’s a positive sign that UNC’s senior captain is getting full-contact work on the court. He wasn’t wearing a brace during the Tar Heels’ win against USC Upstate, which means he could be very close to returning to the court.
Will Seth Trimble play vs East Tennessee State?
Hubert Davis didn’t say whether Trimble would or wouldn’t play for the Tar Heels’ vs. East Tennessee State, but it’s clear Trimble is getting close to a return.
Seth Trimble stats
UNC’s top defender on the perimeter and its most experienced player, Seth Trimble averaged 14.5 points, 5 rebounds and 3.5 assists the first two games of the season. Trimble had 17 points and eight rebounds in the Tar Heels’ win against then-No. 19 Kansas at the Smith Center, guarding Jayhawk star Darryn Peterson for most of the game. UNC lost to Michigan State with Trimble sidelined, but the absence could be a beneficial thing for the rest of Tar Heels once Trimble returns to the lineup.
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Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Seth Trimble injury update — UNC basketball guard returns to practice
