University of North Carolina senior guard Seth Trimble has been medically cleared and is expected to play against Ohio State in the CBS Sports Classic on December 20. Trimble missed nine games after fracturing his left forearm in November. His return gives the Tar Heels their full roster for the first time since early in the season.
Seth Trimble, UNC's senior guard from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, broke a bone in his left forearm on November 9 during a game and underwent surgery the following day. He missed the subsequent nine games, transitioning from a cast to a brace before being cleared for 5-on-5 practice earlier this week. The Tar Heels announced his return on December 19 via their official X account, posting a video of Trimble dunking with the caption “He’s back” and highlighting the December 20 matchup.
This will mark Trimble's first appearance since November 7, when UNC defeated Kansas at the Smith Center. In that game, Trimble scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds while primarily defending Kansas star Darryn Peterson, earning praise from both Kansas coach Bill Self and UNC coach Hubert Davis for his defensive effort. Prior to the injury, Trimble averaged 14.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists over UNC's first two games of the season.
No. 13/12 UNC enters the game with a 10-1 record, its best start since the 2017-18 season. Trimble's availability is expected to bolster the Tar Heels' defense, particularly against Ohio State's Bruce Thornton, who averages 21.8 points per game. As UNC's top on-ball defender, Trimble could draw that assignment, similar to his work on Peterson. Additionally, Trimble excels in transition, where UNC has struggled without him—scoring a season-high 26 fast-break points in the opener and 14 against Kansas, but surpassing 14 only once in the nine games he missed.
His absence did allow other players, such as freshman Derek Dixon and sophomore Jonathan Powell, to step up, though UNC suffered a loss to Michigan State during that stretch. With Trimble back, the Tar Heels will have their complete roster for the CBS Sports Classic showdown in Atlanta.