UNC basketball’s supporting cast in spotlight with Tar Heels in Hollywood for Sweet 16
LOS ANGELES — They’re not on the cover of UNC basketball’s media guide inside Crypto.com Arena, but two players will be in the Hollywood spotlight Thursday in Los Angeles.
Those unheralded Tar Heels have played crucial roles as supporting cast for top-seeded UNC (29-7) in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. They’ll be asked to do it again Thursday (9:39 p.m. ET, CBS) in a Sweet 16 showdown against fourth-seeded Alabama (23-11).
Sophomore guard Seth Trimble and Louisville transfer Jae’Lyn Withers are averaging double-digit minutes as UNC’s top options off the bench. Both have experienced March Madness moments that helped the Heels move within two wins of a Final Four berth.
“We're not here today without the play of J-Wit and Seth, and the impact plays they have made on both ends of the floor,” UNC coach Hubert Davis said Wednesday.
“That's one of the cool things about a team; it comes from different parts. Everybody can celebrate each other's success. For us to be successful, everybody has to play their part. And J-Wit and Seth are doing a terrific job at that.”
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Their numbers don’t pop off the stat page, but Trimble and Withers have continued to make impactful plays while RJ Davis shines as an All-American and Armando Bacot racks up double-double performances.
“They waited their turn and they haven’t cheated the process,” Bacot said of Trimble and Withers. “In practice, they’ve been amazing. Once you practice well, you play well, too. … They showed up (in Charlotte).”
That they did. Withers had 16 points and 10 rebounds in UNC’s opener against Wagner before adding four points, four rebounds and two steals against Michigan State.
“It’s been crucial, honestly,” Withers said of UNC’s bench production.
“I know that in the times where the starters may need a little bit of a breather or some sort of assistance coming from the bench, those that do come in always try to make as big of an impact as possible to keep the momentum going up.”
Trimble had seven points across those two games, but made eye-popping plays as a defender, rising up for a pair of social-media-post worthy blocks against the Spartans.
“This is it. It’s do or die,” Trimble said. “Us coming off the bench, we have to leave it on the floor. We have to give all we got, because if we don’t, we might not win the game.”
UNC is 332nd in bench minutes, according to KenPom.com, but those minutes — as Withers put it — have been crucial for the Tar Heels.
“You know, the last two years for us (starters), it’s been 36-37 minutes a game. Now, you’re seeing us have the opportunity to play more guys,” Bacot said.
“It’s definitely helpful and I think we really learned our lesson in 2022, when we were down to the wire (in the national championship). I think if we would’ve had one or two more guys, we definitely would’ve won it.”
Staying ready and taking advantage of opportunities when they present themselves have been consistent messages from Davis throughout his tenure. Trimble and Withers haven’t wasted those chances this season as UNC chases its goal of getting to Phoenix.
“It's great for them to have that experience or that testimony of when your number is called being ready to play. That's an important trait that you have to have,” Davis said.
“. … And when that number is called, your job and responsibility is not only to be ready but to be at the best of your ability.”
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Jae'Lyn Withers, Seth Trimble star as UNC basketball's supporting cast
