After his team’s 68-66 win over Indiana on Wednesday night, Maryland coach Mark Turgeon revealed that freshman point guard Melo Trimble has been playing through an injury for “about three games.”
Trimble said the injury — back soreness that has at times also weakened his left leg — has lingered since the beginning of conference play. He said he first noticed it in the Terrapins’ conference opener against Michigan State, and it began affecting his leg after a win over Minnesota on Jan. 3.
“I pulled something in my back and it kind of like escalated down to my leg,” Trimble explained. “My leg’s been really weak. I haven’t been able to move on it how I wanted to and be explosive.”
The leg didn’t appear to bother Trimble on Wednesday. Facing off against stellar Indiana point guard Yogi Ferrell, Trimble finished with 18 points and five rebounds, his second quality performance in a row. He scored 20 points in a loss to Iowa on Sunday, ending a two-game stretch in which he didn’t make a field goal.
When asked about the difference in Trimble’s play between then and now, Turgeon was honest.
“I don’t want to make excuses for him: Melo was playing hurt,” Turgeon said. “He’s feeling better. We’re getting really healthy right now. Dez is 100 percent. Evan’s not wearing his thing on his thumb anymore. We’re getting really healthy, and Melo’s healthy.”
Trimble said he felt the injury at times Wednesday night. Though he is confident the malady will improve over time, it might be something he has to deal with the rest of the year.
“My trainer said there’s going to be up and down days,” Trimble said. “Just take care of it and keep moving on.”
• Tom Schad can be reached at tschad@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.