Maryland Basketball: Melo Trimble to turn back clock to freshman year
Maryland basketball point guard Melo Trimble continues our “Comeback Season” series.
Over the next few weeks, Busting Brackets will be breaking down players who are set to rebound following a disappointing 2015-16 campaign.
Our “Comeback Season” series will highlight top players across the country who are set to positively re-emerge into the national spotlight.
In 2014-15, the Terps were coming off a 17-15 season that saw them finish ninth in the ACC in their last year in the conference. Not much was expected of Maryland as they entered their first year in the Big Ten. Many preseason predictions had Maryland finishing in the bottom half of their new 14-team league.
These predictions looked insane by the time March rolled around.
Maryland went 12-1 in non-conference action, moved into the top-25 in December and was ranked for the rest of the season. The Terps finished the 2015 season, 28-7, and more importantly, 14-4 in the Big Ten. That was good enough for second in the conference.
None of Maryland’s success would’ve been possible without their freshman star, Melo Trimble.
Trimble led Maryland in scoring and assists. The freshman point guard proved to be one of the most fearless guards in the country, attacking the basket relentlessly and finishing third in the country in free-throw attempts. Trimble capped off his stellar freshman campaign with Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
Maryland’s 2015 team was tied for second in school history in wins. The graduation of First Team All-Big Ten member Dez Wells would be a huge loss, but the Terps looked to be headed for even more success the following season.
Maryland was returning two of their three leading scorers in Trimble and Jake Layman. They were also bringing in transfers Robert Carter Jr. and Rasheed Sulaimon, along with five-star, freshman center Diamond Stone.
Maryland had some great moments in the 2015-16 season. They started 15-1 and won their first four conference games. The Terps got by on talent alone for most of the year (finishing third in the Big Ten), but they never seemed to find a rhythm and were eventually outclassed by a tough Kansas team in the Sweet 16.
Maryland, overall, did have a solid campaign. They did not, however, live up to the lofty expectations placed upon their supremely talented roster. A lot of their key players looked to be out of sync with each other throughout the season and Trimble struggled as much as anyone.
Trimble just never seemed to find a rhythm during his sophomore season. In what many thought would be a defining year for the second year point guard, Trimble ended up taking a step back. With more offensive weapons, it was expected that his scoring would drop (as it did), but nobody could’ve expected the severe drop-off in his shooting efficiency.
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Trimble’s field goal percentage went down three points. That’s a noticeable decline, but isn’t anything too worrisome. What was an issue was the steep decline in his three-point shooting, which went down by about 10 percent. Trimble was taking a full three-pointer more than he was the previous season and actually making slightly less.
Trimble’s struggles were unexpected. But, they can be explained.
During his freshman season, Trimble was the Terps’ primary offensive option. Sure, Wells was a First Team All-Big Ten selection and Jake Layman had a terrific season, but Trimble was without question the team’s most important player. When the offense broke down, Trimble would be the one to make a play.
Last season, Trimble was still Maryland’s best playmaker, but sometimes it didn’t seem like the rest of the team knew it.
All too often Sulaimon and Carter would try to create for themselves late in close games. This would lead to offensive stagnation, as the two may be proficient in creating their own shots, but they can’t create for others. When Trimble makes plays, they are for his teammates just as often as himself.
Headed into the 2016-17 season, the Terps don’t look to be nearly as talented as a season ago. They lost four double-digit scorers and will need veterans who are unaccustomed to the spotlight to step into key roles.
If Maryland wants to continue to build on their success from the last two years, it begins and ends with Trimble. He won’t have the supporting cast he did a season ago, but that might be a good thing for both him and the Terps. There will be no question about who will get the ball in crunch time.
Trimble will be Maryland’s unquestioned leader next season. They will go as far as he takes them.
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