North Carolina and Michigan State basketball have faced each other in each of the past two seasons, and this November will make it three years in a row.
Unfortunately for North Carolina, however, it will be without a star player.
Michigan State and North Carolina have split the past two matchups with the Tar Heels winning in the 2024 NCAA Tournament and the Spartans winning in Maui last November. On Thanksgiving, the two teams will meet for a third time in as many seasons, but the Tar Heels will be missing star guard Seth Trimble.
According to reports, Trimble is going to be out until late-December because of a freak injury that he suffered in the weight room this week. He reportedly broke his arm in the accident.
BREAKING: North Carolina's Seth Trimble suffered a broken arm in a weight room malfunction 😳
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) November 11, 2025
via @GoodmanHoops ⬇️https://t.co/qO2GguV0NQ pic.twitter.com/Ym8w2fTDsP
This is a major loss for North Carolina seeing as Trimble is the team’s leader in the backcourt, averaging 14.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists through two games this year. A season ago, he averaged 11.6 points, 5.0 boards, and 1.3 assists in 35 games (18 starts) with the Tar Heels.
And Michigan State is no stranger to Trimble.
In last season’s matchup in Maui, Trimble had nine points, two rebounds, and three assists in a losing effort. The prior season, he had two points, two blocks, a rebound, and a steal in 17 minutes in a huge NCAA Tournament win over the Spartans. While he hasn’t had a ton of success against the Spartans in his career, the senior was poised for a breakout season.
Down Trimble against Radford, North Carolina didn’t look quite as polished as when he’s on the floor, winning by just 15 without Trimble — keep in mind, the Tar Heels beat Kansas by 13 with him.
This is a major loss for North Carolina.