During Saturday's game against Maryland, Penn State men's basketball coach Patrick Chambers had to change his defense in the second half to try to stop freshman point guard Melo Trimble.
It didn't work, and Trimble scored 20 points, including his team's last six, in a 76-73 win at Bryce Jordan Arena. Chambers complained afterward about how Trimble had gotten to the free-throw line 14 times, hitting 12.
Nebraska coach Tim Miles took a far different approach after Trimble scored 26 points, including 11 straight for the Terps in one late stretch, to lead No. 16 Maryland to a 69-65 win Thursday night at Xfinity Center.
"He's really a special player. He's a dynamic player. He's so clever with the ball. He's so strong to go in and be able to draw fouls," Miles said of Trimble, who was 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.
"And then he steps up and hits those two 3s, so obviously he's a gamer, too. That says a lot about his competitiveness. I heard Mark [Turgeon] talk about him this summer, and he's lived up to the billing, for sure."
Miles was asked about the difference between trying to prepare for him in practice and having to face him live. "The guy I got in practice couldn't hold his jock," he said.
Said Trimble: "That's what I do all the time. When the clock's going down, I want to take a 3 or get to the basket. Mostly, I just want to take a 3, and that's what I did today."