UNC Basketball: 3 takeaways from an 85-69 Carolina victory over Michigan State

2. Seth Trimble proved his worth to this team in a big way

Peruse Carolina's stats and you won't come away with the impression that Seth Trimble is an overly important player. As the unofficial president of the Seth Trimble Fan Club, let me tell you: you couldn't be more wrong. Trimble is the best defensive player on the team, and he provides a wonderfully different set of skills than RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau.

Trimble gave the Heels invaluable minutes in a game in which Cadeau really struggled. The Spartans sagged off the freshman to an almost comical degree, daring him to shoot from deep. Cadeau, who is gifted at many skills one needs to be a great basketball player, is not even a mediocre shooter, and yet he obliged four times, hoisting four bombs that all missed the mark. For Carolina fans, it was eerily reminiscent of how Kansas dared Stillman White to beat them in the 2012 Elite Eight, only this time, the Heels had an option waiting on the bench to get them back on track.

That option was Trimble, who used his team-best leaping ability to record two highlight reel blocks that visibly demoralized Michigan State. He pestered Tyson Walker and gummed up the MSU offense even when he wasn't making those blocks, and gave Carolina a steadying presence that the Heels desperately needed as Cadeau scuffled.

If Alabama holds serve against Grand Canyon, Trimble will again play an important role in the Sweet 16. The Crimson Tide have one of the most electric offenses in the country, and they're led by Mark Sears, who averages over 21 points a game.

The Tar Heels are going to need Cadeau to bounce back if they want to win four more games in the next two weeks. In this game, though, it was the Seth Trimble show. Never would have guessed it from a guy who scored two points and played 17 minutes, would you?