COLLEGE PARK — There was something different about Maryland freshman Melo Trimble during Saturday's 72-56 victory over Oakland at Xfinity Center.
Was it the 6 of 8 shooting from the field, including 5 of 6 on 3-point shots? It was the best the 6-foot-3 point guard had shot from long-range as a member of the Terps and his best overall shooting performance since going 6 for 6 from the field against VMI on Nov. 30.
It was reminiscent of some games Trimble had earlier this season, particularly when he hit 7 of 11 against Arizona State (and 4 of 6 from 3-point range) in a career-high 31-point performance Nov. 24.
Still, the most noticeable change for Trimble had little to do with his game.
It was all about the hair.
Trimble's black hair had been dyed brown, with some reddish-orange tints. Turns out that some of Trimble's teammates told him he resembled New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
"I decided to lighten my hair like he did," Trimble said, with a laugh.
Unlike the freakish athleticism of the rookie wide receiver whose one-handed touchdown catch earlier this season has been called among the greatest in NFL history, Trimble has gained a reputation of doing things quietly.
Trimble had a little more to say about his shooting, which also coincided with the return of senior guard Dez Wells from a fractured right wrist. Trimble had missed his last six 3-point attempts in the previous two games.
Asked to what he attributed his best 3-point performance at Maryland, Trimble said: "Just letting the game come to me and maybe relaxing, not trying to force anything, just like I normally do. Today I was hitting my shots."
Good thing he did, or else his ultra superstitious coach might have asked his freshman point guard to go back to his normal hair color for Tuesday's Big Ten opener at Michigan State.